Each day for the past two weeks, temperatures in my city have reached at least 95 degrees. Translation … Hot as H-E-Double Hockey Sticks! I have decided I will not sizzle in the sun this weekend. As soon as I get off of work today, I am packing the family up and heading to Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

Since this decision was made only an hour ago, hopefully I will be able to find some last minute deals on transportation. I prefer to fly. I searched for deals on plane tickets. But with all of the recently added surcharges, $2000 was the best deal I find. It is not feasible for us to spend $2,000 on transportation for a weekend gateway.

So I guess we’ll have to make it a road trip. Road trips are not too bad. We get to see the country side. We can let the top down, take in the breeze and titillate our olfactory senses with the unique aromas of the open road. I am trying to be optimistic here. But I know two kids, a husband and two dogs all on a road trip will make this an interesting drive.

Schlitterbahn is about an 8 hour drive from where I live. In order for us to have a comfortable ride, we’ll need a bigger vehicle. So we’ll have to rent one.

There are some many rental car companies around. How did I choose one? Well there was no rational reason behind my selection process. I looked in the phone book under rental car, wrote down the company name of the first 5 ads I saw, put the names in a cup and pulled one out. And so, Alamo it is.

Even though I’m putting this trip together willy-nilly, the inner discount diva in me won’t let me rest until I have found at least one good deal. I have decided to pick apart Alamo’s prices to calm the diva since my process in choosing a car rental company was so whimsical.

We’ll be leaving in about 6 hours. So before that time gets here, I have to find a good Alamo deal. I start my savings search the way that I normally do. I peruse the internet to see what other folks are saying. And believe it or not, folks are saying a lot about Alamo.

So give me a few minutes PFA… I need to work out a deal.

Ok, I am back. By blog-land calculation, I was gone for only a millisecond. But in real time, it took about 30 minutes and I saved a lot of money.

Here is what I found:

If I use my VISA card, I can save up to 20% plus get $25 off a mini-van rental.

If I use my American Express card, I can get the 5^th day free on a 5 day rental.

If I prepay online, I’ll save 10%.

Here are 3 printable coupons that will surely save me.

Mousesavers has the most up-to-date, comprehensive list of Alamo deals. Not only do they list current coupons, but they also have corporate discount codes.

And signing up for Alamo’s Quick Silver program allows me additional perks.

So if you don’t hear from me this weekend, it is because I am in my Alamo rental, heading to Schlitterbahn’s so I can cool off on the Dragon Blaster.