Car Hire MCO

variant on the earlier question,

I don't mind paying a little extra for speed and convenience when it comes to car hire and usually use Hertz Gold or Avis Pref - I like to get and go as it were.

I can see that Hertz is off Airport, any recomendations for a speedy on airport rental experience. Don't want to get fleeced but not averse to paying for 'express/get and go'.

thanks

andrew

Hi

I use Alamo or Dollar really fast quick on airport service

Have a good trip

Hertz are supposed to be moving on-airport at MCO soon - March or thereabouts I believe.

In that case Dollar Express. I got a good price from carhire3000 and got Dollar. I had to phone up to be sure I was allocated a car with Dollar and it did cost a little bit more (a total of 10 extra for 8 days) but like you, I do it for the convenience.

quote:Originally posted by 747340
Hi

I use Alamo or Dollar really fast quick on airport service

Have a good trip


I assume you are joking? - Alamo and/or Dollar have the longest queues at MCO.

Without doubt the quickest way at MCO is Avis preferred which is on airport. You simply walk straight out to the car park and pick up your waiting keys.

Paul

[Neil]

I usually use Dollar, sign up for the free Dollar Express Card, there is a separate queue for those members and every time we have used it we have been through really quickly. Each time we have either been upgraded (twice) and last time we got a brand new vehicle in our booked category, only 3miles on the clock.

Saying that however, as soon as Hertz move on site at MCO like Bill has said, I will be using them instead, as they are my preferred car hire company in the US.

Dollar are an awful, awful company to be avoided at all costs. Their cars are generally much older than those of Avis/Alamo and their customer service is non-existent.

Stick with Alamo/Avis. As for queues, maybe I have been lucky with Alamo but haven't been stuck for too long (<20 minutes) on most trips.

[Nottingham Nick]

I have found Dollar to be a lot better than Alamo in every respect - cars, customer service, queues, the lot.

I stopped using Alamo a few years ago after a number of bad experiences, and switched to Hertz, but found them to be so much more expensive then other firms. Yes, the cars are nicer but the price differential for me was too much.

I have had about a dozen cars from Dollar in the past couple of years, albeit none in MCO. Whilst none were close to brand new - all had less than 25K miles on the clock and were perfectly serviceable for my needs.

I use a small broker - Vacation Cars Ltd Tel. 01889 500687. He tells me that at a recent trade show - the World Travel Market Event in London, they were told that car hire fleets for 2010 will be depleted by up to 40% because of the anticipated reduction in booking caused by the recession.

This year - expect older cars and book early to guarantee availability.

Nick

[Neil]

No complaints here with Dollar either, as I mentioned above, we got a brand new vehicle last time, and the agent was telling me they were just about to take delivery of another large batch. It is now Dollar/Thrifty all joined as one company, using the same cars, not sure if that has had any impact, but certainly no problems.

Avis Preferred is exceptionaly quick - walk up and go.

quote:Originally posted by albertlord
Avis Preferred is exceptionaly quick - walk up and go.


Cheers guys - based on the above - looks like I'll give Avis a go -- assuming of course we get there! Due out on VS27 Friday morning, right now Southern England is under a blanket of snow! I'm just outside Reading (East) and it is still snowing and LGW appears closed.

A

Go on net for Avis to register in Preferrred programme.
You would need to book but I have found them excellent. They are situated in the building next to the terminal where you collect your baggage. As you go down the escalator,the walkway enters the tunnel which leads to the lift for the Avis outlet.

Yep, also suffered the dollar lack of customer service;

Offered a car that someone had just been sick in
Had a car where the aircon didnt work
Given a car with no windscreen water!

Also they tried to persuade me to upgrade to a bigger van. Declined, but got then upgrade anyway because they didnt have my vehicle available!

Hie Andrew
I used Car Hire 300 and collected from Alamo on 16/12/09 and had no problems. There were about 3 people in front of me but queue moved quickly because staff from the hire company next to Alamo, Budget i think had no customers so they served Alamo customers which i thought was great. Have a great trip lucky you, if you manage to get on a plane the snow problems will soon be behind you.
Bon voyage[:D]

Another possibility - http://www.uscarhire will rent out satnav equipment prior to trip at what seems a reasonable rate compared to $11.95 per day charged in Florida. They say that they will deliver to your home. You may not need it but I find it quite handy.