V-Flyer

Hi all, can I ask for some more advice please!

On our trip to MCO this year with Virgin all went smoothly until we went to pick up our Hertz hire car. We had booked it months in advance online in the `global sale' fully inclusive with insurance etc paid in full upfront. We had to then wait at the airport an appalling 3 hours for our hire car, no apology. We waited in a line of others basically for cars to be returned before they could be released. We've hired previously with Alamo and Dollar and have never experienced a delay, we are usually sorted and off within 20mins max. Having travelled with our two toddlers and had a 3hr drive to gatwick and 9hr flight we were in good shape until the 3hr delay for our hire car.... very keen to avoid that on our next trip!! n(

Any tips on the best options?, I think I've read on here you can pre-buy tokens and skip a line altogether? Think we will need a SUV or similar ( 2 toddlers, buggy & cases).

To add to insult, Hertz then overcharged us on our fuel (we paid upfront in the package, but were charged again (at a high premium) on returning the car). I've since got this refunded after several months and letters! Offered us $50 coupon off our next rental with them as compensation for the 3hr delay! ii) We are #1 Hertz club members, but not Gold club members (so can't go straight up to the lot and collect).

Grateful for tips, thanks

Can't comment on Hertz as we haven't used them but we have been getting very good service from Budget at MCO. We have used them for 6 trips over the last two years and have never waited more than 20 mins. We book through USRentacar and always complete pre-registration before we leave the UK, enabling us to go straight to the kiosk in the garage.

I have to say I find Hertz very good, but every time we have rented through them I have either being Gold or now President Circle member, so appreciate that is slightly different.

The other times I have rented at MCO (including this Easter), I have used Dollar, booked through USRentacar. The rates are usually cheaper than direct and the cars we have had from Dollar have been fantastic. You can sign up for Dollar Express online and then just go straight to the Dollar Express counters in the lot. USrentacar will add your DE number on to your booking also, which solves any potential issues when you get to the lot.

Neil