Alamo Car hire

[Ruth B]

Hi
have just booked a car through Alamo using the Brit guide code. I was hoping to be able to pay for it ( so could do on-line check in)but they said they do not take payment until the other end.

In your experience....... how long do you have to wait at the desk?
I have heard people say, that one adult go and cue and another gets the bag. I am travelling on my own with my 12 y/o son- so this isn't possible.
Is the check in desk on the same level as the luggage?

Afetr we have done the paper work, i thought we just walked to the car, the girl on the phone said we then had to get a shuttle bus to chose the car. I asked if we could take the luggae and she suggested leaving my son with it when i went to get the car!!! .
will it be possible to take our luggage on the bus? or can we just walk?

how long does this whole thing take?, we land at 14:55- hope to be through by 16:00, when do you think we are likely to leave the airport?,

we're going in July- what time does it begin to get dark?

sorry for all the question, but have never rented a car and am wondering if i should revert back to town cars?!, but do think we'd enjoy the experience of having more freedom with the car

Thanks and best wishes
Ruth

 

[WDW Traveler]

I'm assuming you are flying into MCO? The Alamo desk is on one of the lower levels I think one level below luggage pickup (don't quote me on that though - can't remember). We were there in Feb and it took us about 1/2 hour to get a car from Alamo. And you can walk right to where you pick out your car. No shuttle - unless you rented from an off airport branch location of Alamo.

You are probably right guessing it will talk you at least an hour to get your luggage and get a car.

 

[SimonV]

Hi Ruth. You should be able to take full advantage of the Brit's Guide Alamo offer before you go, either online at www.alamo.co.uk/brits or on our dedicated phoneline, 0870 400 4571. However, this only makes the booking for you and provides a booking reference; you have to pay when you collect the car from Alamo in Orlando.

However, there is certainly NO shuttle required either at Orlando International or Sanford Airport. The OIA desk is down on the first level (one below baggage claim), and you then walk across the street to their parking garage and collect your car. With just the two of you, can still both go straight to the Alamo desk first to do your paperwork, then go back upstairs to collect your luggage, and this will save you some time. At Sanford, you have to collect luggage first, then exit the Customs hall and go across the road and along a covered walkway to the Alamo depot, a distance of about 100 yards or so. You should get through immigration and customs at Sanford in about 45minutes, and it is then about 45-50 minutes' drive to the main tourist areas.

And no-one should be suggesting you leave your son while you collect the car That is a terrible suggestion and one you can happily ignore.

If you arrive on time at OIA, you need to allow at last an hour from arrival to getting to the car hire desk, and the queue there can vary from 10 minutes to half an hour, if you are unlucky (again, if you go there before collecting your luggage, you will save some time - your luggage will just continue merrily around on the baggage carousel until you pick it up!). From OIA, it will be about 30 minutes to most of the main tourist areas, but you needn't worry about it getting dark - that doesn't happen until nealy 9pm in July

PS: OIA = Orlando International Airport, otherwise known as MCO (for McCoy), its international airport designation!

 

[Ruth B]

Thanks very much. I am landing in MCO, so will take my son and get the paperwork done and then pick the luggae up. Thanks for the reassurance, Best wishes, Ruth

 

[marbella_chris]

dont take the LDW - loss damage waiver
they will screw you fro about another 3-400 dollars, loads of people get caught out with this. tell them NO to this, its not compulsary

chris

 

[martina857]

Out of interest how much is it costing ?

Martina