? about shuttle to rental car services

[tolookaa5]

at MCO airport. Is this a long process? How does it work? Isn't it a pain having to get all your luggage and transport it a few times? Those who have used those rental companies, would you use them again being that they are not at MCO and have to use a shuttle to get to them?
I am a little nervous about doing this since I will be alone with three kids 13, 11, and 6.
Thanks

 

[NancyIL]

That's why I prefer to rent with someone at the terminal - such as National, Avis, or Alamo (haven't rented from Budget or Dollar). I rode the shuttle bus to Hertz with my sister and BIL in June, and yes - waiting for the bus and schlepping your luggage on and off are kind of a pain.

 

[safetymom]

The Hertz bus is usually always sitting outside the terminal at MCO. Even over at the Hertz lot you don't wait too long for the bus. I am usually driving away from Hertz in less than 10 mins.

When I go to return the car I do curbside check in with the luggage so I don't have to take the luggage on the bus.

We found Hertz quicker than using National at the airport.

 

[NancyIL]

I think quickness at the airport depends on whether or not you have National Emerald Aisle membership/Alamo QS/Avis Preferred, etc. If you have to wait in line at MCO at the car rental counters, you could very well spend more time there than if you rented with Hertz.

For my purposes, I almost always rent from National/Alamo because I drop-off my rental car at the Dolphin.

 

[NancyIL]

When I go to return the car I do curbside check in with the luggage so I don't have to take the luggage on the bus.

Not sure I understand this. Do you drive to MCO, drop-off the luggage at curbside check-in, THEN drive to Hertz to drop-off the car?

 

[OKW Lover]

Not sure I understand this. Do you drive to MCO, drop-off the luggage at curbside check-in, THEN drive to Hertz to drop-off the car?

I'm sure that's exactly what they do. We use this trick with Avis as well even though they are on-site.

 

[havencruiser]

For almost ANY difference in price, it's well worth it to use any rental company in the airport rather than those off-site. I have used off-site companies twice when trying to save money and both times literally spent over an hour trying to find the site to return the car. The airport area is very confusing and not in any way worth the money to me anymore that it saves. In contrast, the times I have used in-airport companies, I just walked across the street to get the car. Upon return, I dropped off the luggage at curbside check-in and then returned the car. It worked great. It's probably possible to do that with an off-site rental as well but I was so lost in the first place (EACH TIME) all I wanted to do was get rid of the car!

 

[Northstar]

I always use Hertz (because I drop my car off in Fort Myers and they have the most convenient location for me there... nothing against other car rental companies in Orlando).

The shuttle is fast and frequent during normal daytime hours... but yes, if you've got lots of luggage, it is a pain to get it onto the shuttle. Since you've got older kids, I wouldn't worry about it. They can help you carry.

The procedure:
Go to luggage carrousel and pick up your luggage from your flight. Look for "ground transportation" signs and go out to the street. There are taxi ranks, bus stops, and shuttle stops, none of them too far away from where you exit. Look for signs to show you where to wait or ask one of the airport employees... there are usually a few helping people to find their transport.

Go to the stop for courtesy shuttles and wait for your company's shuttle... They're clearly identified, much easier to identify than buses that do different routes. When yours arrives, hop on with your luggage.

How long it takes depends on how many more airport stops come after you. The Hertz place is quite convenient to the airport, but it can take a while if they have to make a lot of pickups after you.

One nice thing I find about the off-airport site, once you get there it's much more peaceful and less crowded than an airport... very calming before you get behind the wheel of a car. Make sure you get a map and directions when you're completing the paperwork for your car, since you need to know exactly where the rental place is.

 

[safetymom]

NancyIL, that is exactly what I do. It is very easy to drop off the luggage first and then return the car. I had National Emerald Aisle and found it took longer than Hertz with their program.

 

[tmt martins]

We're just using ME now and getting a rental at either the DTD hotels or CCC whatever is cheaper.

But as far as the shuttles and so forth the time is almost the same either way and they will help you with your bags.

 

[NancyIL]

NancyIL, that is exactly what I do. It is very easy to drop off the luggage first and then return the car. I had National Emerald Aisle and found it took longer than Hertz with their program.

I can't imagine that driving to the airport to drop-off luggage, driving to Hertz to drop-off the car, and taking the shuttle back to the airport is faster than returning a car to National, or any other on-site rental company at the airport. You return your on-site car to the airport, the employee gives you your receipt, and you walk across the street to the terminal - with or without luggage. Same with picking-up the car with National Emerald Aisle: you walk across the street, choose a car, and leave the airport.

 

[safetymom]

Personally I hope people don't discover how quick Hertz is. Makes it easier for the rest of us.

I bought into the National story from everyone here until I went to rent from them several times. The cars were dirty, the check engine light kept coming on, and it took awhile to get out of the garage. For the few extra minutes that going to Hertz took it was well worth it. My sisters rented from National and I rented from Hertz and I got to the resort before them.

 

[tolookaa5]

Thanks for all your replies.
I have been researching and found that it will be cheaper if I take the Mears shuttle(since I will be staying offsite the first part of our trip) and picking up a rental car from the Grosvenor Resort(free shuttle service from hotel to DTD). Then I will take ME back to the airport.
Now, does ME check-in your luggage on the return flight?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[carl59]

MCO "on-site" are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar and National. Off-site are Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty. I will not rent from a "off-site" company. The last time I used one had to many problems. Dropped DW with suitcases by shuttle bus as I went to return the car. By the time I got back to the bus it was leaving down the street. Had to wait 20 minutes for the next bus. When I got to the airport as DW what happen? She told me the bus driver would not wait and or stop. She could not get off because he would not remove the suitcases from the bus as they were behind others. So she had to go with them, than had to deal with all the suitcase by herself at the airport. That was the last time that company will ever get a dime from me.