Airfare to Tampa and then to Port Canaveral Help

[kellydizfan]

Hi, this is our problem. Airfare right now is very expensive from Upstate NY to Fl April 12th to the 19th. If I change my plans and fly down night before our cruise into Tampa and then fly out of Tampa to NY, savings is big time for the 6 of us. My problem is, car rental from Tampa to Port Canaveral. Has anyone done this - rent a car for the day to get to the ship, drop off close by - where would I do this and then do the same thing on the way back? Airtan has a flight back at 6 p.m. on the 19th so I think we should be safe with this - don't you think? Cheaper flights seem to be a night with Airtran. Or do I do the train into Orlando or is there a closer station to Port Canaveral. What is close to Port Canaveral? Then I am in the same situation with getting to the cruise. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I would like to get this over with. I don't like to wait until last minute. I want to feel safe in my decision. Thanks!!!

 

[wiggles]

We did this last year. We got good rates into Orlando but the going out from Tampa was a steal. We rented from budget. We had a late afternoon flight like you. Tampa is easy to get to and not that long a drive. You would probably have time to stop at downtown disney to do some shopping and then head on over from there.

 

[mimusco@aol.com]

WE have done this. At coco beach there are several rental companies. 10 min. drive at the most. Some of them even run shuttles to and from their place to the boat terminal and then when you get off the boat you can take a shuttle to go pick up a a car to drive back to the airport. Drive from Tampa should be about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

 

[olewnikpe]

We will be flying in and out of Tampa in February due to USAirway's miles redemption prevention program (as I like to call it). We'll rent from Avis and take advantage of the shuttle from the agency to the port.

I'm expecting about a 2.5 hour drive across the state. Note for those worried about filling the gas tank prior to dropping off the car, that between the port and the agency, there are several gas stations.

 

[kcashner]

Renting from Budget is easy. The van was at the port to pick us up when we got off the ship. They shuttled us to their office where it took about 10 minutes to pick up the car (which of course had been reserved in advance). WDW to Tampa is about an hour, so port to Tampa should be about 2. It's an easy drive--expressway all the way. You could even stop at WDW (Downtown Disney is free unless you shop) on your way to the airport.

Check prices--I've always found it better to turn the car in at the port and re-rent for the return trip, but others have reported it just as good to keep the car at the port for shorter trips (we only do 7 day, so no price checks for shorter). Parking at port is $12 per day.

Most of the car rental places are only a mile or so from the port.

 

[kellydizfan]

Thanks for the replys as I now have something to go by. The airfare into Tampa is so much cheaper than Orlando - I don't mind the drive as it is expressway all the way. I was just concerned over the cost of rental but it must be cheaper than flying all 6 of us into Orlando. We will see. Thanks Again!!!!

 

[MCourtney]

TIA to Port Canaveral should be right about a 2 hour drive. Also, TIA is much easier to get in/out of than Orlando - most of the rental car companies (not Alamo however) are right in the terminal (parking garage) so no shuttle to get your car, you just walk over from baggage claim.