Alamo car hire

[Ruth B]

Hi
has any one had experinec of Alamo Car hire. I know the brit guide reccomenmds it but wanted to check if any of you had good or bad experinces with them?
any advice woud be great
Thanks
Ruth

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Yes, used them before. fast, efficient, very good.

 

[lizzysmith]

Used them probably 50 times at Sanford. Definitely gone down the pan over the past couple of years and will probably now give them a miss next time.
Last few times the standard of car presentation has been deplorable. Since self selection started at Sanford there have been problems and you should have a good look at the vehicle before you choose and accept it. We have found all sorts of things wrong with them. Obvious damage, not so obvious damage and things like the boot refusing to open, vomit all over the seats and similar stupid things including a number of things that could cause problems on return.
Unfortunately whilst some guides will recommend certain companies just bear in mind that things can change fairly rapidly and the experience of people who actually use them and use them frequently is often a bit more more reliable. Another reason why certain companies are recommended in some guides is that the guides are either paid to recommend them or they get commission from sales made. There is often more to these things than at first glance!!
The main benefit of Alamo and why we have up to now continued to use them is that they have far fewer customers than say Dollar and its usually quicker to sort out the paperwork with often no queues.

 

[mikki.young]

I have used them from Orlando international Airport, Disney Car Care centre and the Whyndam Palace (think thats what it was called) at Downtown Disney and been very happy for the past 20 years. Only had one problem which was my fault but they replaced the car with no trouble. Another time a warning light came on which they said didn't matter but again they were happy to exchange the car if I wanted. Not used it at Sanford.

 

[Hilary]

We used to always use Dollar, but then used Alamo one trip and have stuck with Alamo ever since - mainly because we look forward to the self-selection process!

We used Alamo at Sanford for the first time last month and didn't think they were as good as at Orlando International. Staff were generally surlier, and we were left completely to our own devices when we returned the car - no receipt or confirmation that we'd returned it in one piece. With hindsight, we should have insisted that someone check the car and sign something but, at the time, we were one of half a dozen or so cars coming back in and we all just wanted to get to check-in and accepted the Alamo desk clerk's disinterested "yes, you're good to go".

I'll definitely use them again at International, but would probably opt for Dollar at Sanford. Alamo are also the furthest depot from the terminal at Sanford - quite a walk in the heat!

p.s. I'd also check the regular rate as well as the promotional rate before booking anything

 

[alisonbestford]

We used them, last year, from MCO
No problems whatsoever.
Used a code from Walmart which I found on the Mousesavers site for a good deal

We got to choose our own vehicle and used our Annual Insurance from www.insurance4carhire.com

 

[**Laura**]

ok im using them from sanford in a couple of weeks and im now wishing i hadnt read this! Im already dreading the long flight due to globespan messing around hope I dont have a nightmare with car hire when i get there!

 

[Hilary]

ok im using them from sanford in a couple of weeks and im now wishing i hadnt read this! Im already dreading the long flight due to globespan messing around hope I dont have a nightmare with car hire when i get there!

Please don't let anything I've said make you concerned about the car hire! My slightly negative view of Alamo at Sanford is only in comparison to Alamo and Dollar in other locations - it wouldn't put me off using them if I'd already booked. We certainly didn't 'have a nightmare' with them, just not a particularly friendly desk clerk.

However, I would suggest making sure you get some kind of acknowledgement / recipt when you return the car Have great trip!

 

[Mermaid2sea]

We used them...no problem...we called for a shuttle service from Alamo to take us to the Car Hire Center. The only thing we had to queue for nearly an hour.....this maybe due it was bank holiday weekend.....

 

[poggs]

Mixed results. Used then 5 times from mco. each time there has been a significant queue at the desk. About 20 to 30 minutes. Apart from the last time. (24th nov 06) when I endured a 4 1/2 hour wait due to a computer fritz (not fun after 18hours journey from north scotland). However, once you have passed the desk, its very good to be able to go out into the garage and just pick whatever car you want from your aisle. Far more likely to go with avis or hertz in the future. A bit more expensive, but no queues at MCO. It seemed to me that all the american use alamo, thus the big queues. Also big, if not bigger queues at dollar. Avoid them at MCO.

 

[Ruth B]

Thanks for all the advice, Best wishes
Ruth

 

[Graeme]

Self selection is far better than the lottery at Dollar, but I've found the Dollar cars to be slightly cleaner. Both are fine really.

 

[jjpenguin]

used them many times from MCO. Last time DH got the hard sell on insurance and ended up paying through the nose - I wasn't there to complain

we'll be using them again this year as we're picking up a car mid-holiday from the car care centre.