Alamo experience 5/3

[Lyndarella]

We have rented cars from a resort and off-site, and thought the Alamo at MCO would be easier -- WRONG! The long line of customers was not even the worst part. They had recently rearranged the cars in the lot across the street, and not put up all the signs. We had no idea where to look for a full size car, and neither did the people who work there! They said we could take a mid-size and the price would be adjusted on our way out, so we looked all over for one of those. Finally we figured out that the signs (few that there were) for mid-size cars read INTERMEDIATE. We asked again for help finding the right row of cars, and were directed to a row where the last cars were being taken! So we went up to the booth, and were given an upgrade to a Premium, and managed to find a few of those. All this time we were dragging our luggage through the huge lot. We were there a good part of the afternoon, I am not exaggerating.

BTW, what's with all the charges? Our travel agent assured us that she got us the best deal, I think $160 for a mid-size for the week, plus FL taxes. When we got there, it cost another $130 ($49 to upgrade to full size and $29 for gas @ 1.60) We did not buy insurance. That means we paid $50 in taxes? Does that sound right? I don't think we've ever spent so much on car rental before. Tell me what you think about this...

 

[seashoreCM]

The $50 for taxes sounds about right, but you should check your arithmetic.

What kind of car did you reserve? If you already reserved a full size you should not have been charged an upgrade.

Also you probably should have declined the prepaid $29. tankful of gas. (Some folks find the prepaid gas more convenient so I won't disparage it that much, but prepaid gas is far from cheapest.)

More useful hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/carrent.htm

 

[sgtdisney]

Thanks for the update on your rental. Lately we have been hearing that things at Alamo had improved over experiences in the past but it doesn't sound like you had an easy rental experience.

The taxes on Car Rentals are very high in Florida. There is a 9.8% concession fee, sales tax of 6.5%, and florida surcharges for waste tires and vehicle licence recoupment of 2.54 per day. It always ends up being 20% or more taxes..

I also have to concur that the prepaid gas is usually not your best bet unless you are concerned with the ease. You are paying 1.60 per gallon for the total gallons (estimated) in the car. This means if you have an 18 gallon tank (per the car manufacturer) you will pay 28.80. Any time a car reads 'empty' on the gauge it still has about 2 or 3 gallons left in the tank as a reserve. When was the last time you went 40 or 50 miles past empty? Plus you have to time your rental driving just right to bring the car back as empty as possible to make it worth the money.

 

[Lewisc]

If they didn't have any intermediate cars you should have gotten a FREE upgrade. If you needed a full size car (for luggage) your travel agent should have had you reserve one, you might have gotten a better rate.

 

[dvc guy]

Florida has a neat scam on taxes. You pay a tax surchage for bus use, battery/tire disposal and a few other charges. The they add that to your rental charge and then charge sales tax on the total bill.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by dvc guy
Florida has a neat scam on taxes. You pay a tax surchage for bus use, battery/tire disposal and a few other charges. The they add that to your rental charge and then charge sales tax on the total bill.

They do charge you tax on this, but, some of it is considered a "service", IE: battery disposal, bus use and license recoup fee, not a lot different than a lot of states.

 

[inkkognito]

You DEFINITELY should have gotten a free upgrade if they were out of your car class! When we rent a car, we do it through Priceline and have gotten Avis twice and Alamo twice. Avis upgraded us for free, even at the Priceline rate. Alamo wasn't out of our car size, but if they had been, I would have expected the same. I agree, their signs are mega-confusing. I would have thought that they would have fixed that by now. We used them right after they first moved on-site at the airport, and the signs were all goofed up then. The employees were more confused than we were. I like Avis better, but I will take Alamo when the price is right. I like the fact that Avis assigns you to a specific car, and there is no second line on the way out of the garage. But with Priceline, beggars like me can't be choosers.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[MK Familystone]

Hi!
I don't mean to seem stupid but I was under the impression from the res at ALAMO the cars are parked in the lot in the center of the terminal loop across the street from the checkin deckand no bus was needed to get to the lot, is this true?
It's been sometime since we rented from ALAMO.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I like the fact that Avis assigns you to a specific car, and there is no second line on the way out of the garage. But with Priceline, beggars like me can't be choosers.

If Alamo handed you the keys rather than left them in the cars, then they would have no need to double check for honesty. As it stands now, can you imagine how many people who rented "specks" and got the car assigned would select something a bit larger or better and just grab it because the keys are in it.
Unfortunately for all, they do have to double check or hand out the keys at the counter.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MK Familystone
Hi!
I don't mean to seem stupid but I was under the impression from the res at ALAMO the cars are parked in the lot in the center of the terminal loop across the street from the checkin deckand no bus was needed to get to the lot, is this true?
It's been sometime since we rented from ALAMO.

They are onsite in the garage, they used to be offsite until recently (within the last year). What made you think they were still offsite?

 

[mego]

We just rented from Alamo @ MCO on May 10-17. I was able to get a great deal on a minivan ($199.54- including taxes etc.) due to the wonderful tips from these boards.

We landed at 9:30 am and there was only 2 people ahead of us in the line. Once we got out to the cars, all the signs were clearly marked and there was at least 10 minivans to select from.

The only problem we had was when the agent asked if we wanted basic or full coverage insurance. My husband said basic, assuming those were the only choices we had. Little did we know until I looked at the print out that the total cost for the rental was $345.00 now because the agent added on insurance we didn't need. We did get it fixed before we left the airport without any problems.

 

[MK Familystone]

Thank you for the parking info GAIL !

On another NOTE:

HEY sgtdisney!!!! How you DOOIN!!!

Thanks again for the help last year!!!

THE POWER OF THE MESSENGER!!!

THE MAGIC HAPPENS!!!

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by MK Familystone

On another NOTE:

HEY sgtdisney!!!! How you DOOIN!!!

Thanks again for the help last year!!!

THE POWER OF THE MESSENGER!!!

THE MAGIC HAPPENS!!!

I am doing great, thanks! Just getting ready for our upcoming trip. Glad I could help before.