V-Flyer

Bit a advice please.

We are flying VS into Orlando in 10 days, staying at the Hyatt Airport Hotel overnight and hiring a car to head North to St Augustine for a wedding (judging by the current weather, wish we were heading south ).

I enrolled my partner with Dollar Express last year, which was brilliant advice from v-flyers y), so planning to book with Dollar again.

Two queries, do we still go direct to the Dollar kiosk over in the car pickup area although pickup time will be about 7am? and we're thinking of using USRentacar - do folks still have positive comments about them?

Thanks. Hev

We used usrentacar in December for the first time - they had previously been recommended on v-flyer. They took by dollar express number on booking and we went straight to the expess line in the car park at Orlando on arrival. All paperwork was printed and 2 mins later we were in the car.

We will be using them again when we go to LA in July

Sharon

Used usrentacar in Orlando and at Cape Canaveral last September. Renting with Dollar via usrentacar I think they make you pay a full tank of fuel at the rental desk if you didn't prepay. I fell for that when I was only renting the car for 1 day. The clerk said there is nothing he could do to cancel the charge. In the end I got home and sent an email to customer service requesting a refund on my fuel which they did.

It does say in their FAQ about paying for the fuel.

US Rentacar still get a vote from me as being a good offering in certain destinations especially when used with the Dollar Express benefits (and I'm a Hertz PC ).
Hope the weather improves .
DL

Cheers folks, just the info I needed.
Off to book right now y)

All I will add is that Mrs Buns and I always stay overnight at MCO before picking up the Hire Car the next day.

For those picking up from the VS / VH "sponsored" Car Hire Firm (currently Alamo), whist that desk is closed, the lines tend to be shorter at the regular desks.

Remember you can choose between the Desks on either the A Side or the B Side

buns

Hertz all the way for us, good rates and better vehicles IMO then Dollar.

Neil wrote:Hertz all the way for us, good rates and better vehicles IMO then Dollar.

I agree.

Hertz tends, in my opinion, to have a better vehicle range than Dollar, and particularly Alamo. I suspect the rate may be more attractive due to the #1 Club Gold card, and preferential rates from Amex.

Ive read some horror stories on the web about them, but thankfully have never experienced one myself - other than a brief cock-up at MIA last year.

i use hertz, the no1 gold club is a great extra-straight into the car with no desk/check in

Using Hertz this April from Fort Myers RSW.

Went via Quidco (10% cash back) and quoted AA number (another 10% off).

Intermediate car 2 drivers 8 days £138.

stevebrass wrote:Using Hertz this April from Fort Myers RSW.

Went via Quidco (10% cash back) and quoted AA number (another 10% off).

Intermediate car 2 drivers 8 days £138.

Wow that is a good deal.

I have held off booking as I was really interested in all the positive comments regarding Hertz.

I went on the Hertz.co.uk site and was a little confused what their package includes - We've always booked an 'inclusive' with either Dollar or Alamo in the past but quite happy to change direction,

Over the years, we've learnt to ignore all the 'must haves' being offered by the carhire agents. Is there anything I need to purchase as an extra if we end up booking with Hertz. Thankyou.

No, a Hertz prepaid rate made through their .co.uk site will give you all the cover you need. The only thing to be a little careful of is the fact that you can prepay for more than one driver, you have to pay the daily rate when collecting the car.

However, if you sign up to their No1 Club Gold (there are loads of free ways to get gold with a quick search online), and ensure that your gold number is given when making the booking (it cannot be added later) it includes free partner/spouse driver so it's an easy way round that issue.

you will love RSW Steve its such a great easy airport...where is your destination?

Hev60 wrote:
I went on the Hertz.co.uk site and was a little confused what their package includes - We've always booked an 'inclusive' with either Dollar or Alamo in the past but quite happy to change direction,

The plat inclusive packages with Dollar / Alamo etc include a free tank of fuel which can be a significant saving if you're renting a large SUV or similar (you won't have this with Hertz). I would price up both Hertz and others and see what the difference is (factoring in the "free" tank of fuel for Dollar/ Alamo). I don't find the cars that much of a difference between the rental companies, the only real bonus for me is that as a Hertz PC I'm guaranteed a free car upgrade at certain depots (the USA ones that are not franchises) and I get extra bonus rewards points on rentals .
DL

I've used Dollar a couple of times and i've been happy with the service. However, i now use Alamo, as i prefer their policy of choosing your vehicle from a line in your chosen category. I also like using Alamo's Kiosks at Mco, which, via their "Save Time" facility, eliminating the need to visit any Desks. ( VH/VS Customers have Alamo's dedicated on-line check-in).

I managed to bag a bargain last August with Alamo.co.uk, using a 30% promotion discount- Luxury Car with Gold cover ( Upto 3 drivers prepaid initial tank of fuel), full CDW, all taxes, for a 17-day rental- £376.

flabound wrote:you will love RSW Steve its such a great easy airport...where is your destination?

Fort Myers beach.


11 nights at the Best Western.

55 days to go.

beautiful, enjoy it

I recently used the facility on VS site to search for a car and it proved to be the cheapest around for a SUV. I then went to CarHire 3000 who undercut that price with their price match. I am booked for a SUV for 3 weeks at £417.00 with Dollar from MCO.

Neil wrote:However, if you sign up to their No1 Club Gold (there are loads of free ways to get gold with a quick search online), and ensure that your gold number is given when making the booking (it cannot be added later) it includes free partner/spouse driver so it's an easy way round that issue.

I tried searching but couldn't really find anythinguseful.
Could I ask you to point me in the right direction on the free gold membership?
Thanks

stevebrass wrote:

flabound wrote:you will love RSW Steve its such a great easy airport...where is your destination?

Fort Myers beach.


11 nights at the Best Western.

55 days to go.

RSW - yes totally agree it is a wonderful airport to fly into, made even better over recent years with the introduction of the car rental desks on site and the new exits roads y)

The location of Fort Myers beach is so central with plenty of things to do and see. Also its right on top of the Miromar & Sanibel Island outlets and not far to drive to the fabulous 'must see' Everglades.

You'll have a wonderful trip, enjoy

Thank you all so much for the information regarding car rental companies.

Choice is between Dollar & Hertz at present, with very little in terms of cost between them. That VIP treatment we got from Dollar Express last year, when we picked up a top of the range brand new people-carrier, maybe the deciding factor.

Has anyone ever hired a vehicle from Thrifty at MCO? Are they reasonable? Just hope I've not made a mistake booking with them. I'm going over to Florida for the first time in just under 2 weeks and I'm having some of those last minute type panics about things.

MadeiraViolet wrote:Has anyone ever hired a vehicle from Thrifty at MCO? Are they reasonable? Just hope I've not made a mistake booking with them. I'm going over to Florida for the first time in just under 2 weeks and I'm having some of those last minute type panics about things.

Yes I have. Three years in a row to be exact (and booked for a fourth) and never had a problem so don't worry! They usually come out the cheapest.

The first year their desk was off airport and we had to get a shuttle bus which was a pain, but they're now in the terminal which is a massive bonus.

One year we did a pre-check of the vehicle before we took it and one tyre had quite low tread so we chose another! Don't mean to teach you to suck eggs but check it before you take it. That's probably a general rule rather than a Thrifty related one!

MadeiraViolet wrote:Has anyone ever hired a vehicle from Thrifty at MCO? Are they reasonable? Just hope I've not made a mistake booking with them. I'm going over to Florida for the first time in just under 2 weeks and I'm having some of those last minute type panics about things.

We've used them plenty of times. It's actually just another dollar brand name.

MadeiraViolet wrote:Has anyone ever hired a vehicle from Thrifty at MCO? Are they reasonable? Just hope I've not made a mistake booking with them. I'm going over to Florida for the first time in just under 2 weeks and I'm having some of those last minute type panics about things.

As others have said, Thrifty are fine. More to the point have a good first time in Florida - I imagine it will not be the last.