Avis or Budget at MCO?

[kandb]

Trying to decide between these two companies. We are flying into MCO on a Friday night at around 5pm in a few weeks. Any advice?

 

[exchanger]

They are the exact same company.

I don't that one is considered a better brand than another.

I'd recommend signing up for the skip the counter option for whichever rental you choose.

 

[kandb]

They are the exact same company.

I don't that one is considered a better brand than another.

I'd recommend signing up for the skip the counter option for whichever rental you choose.

OK, thank you but I think since we paid thru a third party (Undercover Tourist), we can't skip the line? I will call UCT and ask them). Thank you. The reviews for Budget are HORRENDOUS!

 

[exchanger]

OK, thank you but I think since we paid thru a third party (Undercover Tourist), we can't skip the line? I will call UCT and ask them). Thank you. The reviews for Budget are HORRENDOUS!

You may be right that you can't skip the counter with a third party booking. I wouldn't worry about budget.

I find that all the major car rental companies are about the same. You just have to be careful and make sure you examine the car before pulling out of the lot.

 

[_19disnA]

I believe the first time you rent as a club member you still have to go to the counter to show you have a valid driver's license and they enter some info into their systems. There are some other recent threads on that topic. I use Avis and skip the counter, but have been a member for so long, can't recall what I did the first time I rented with them. Never had any issues, but haven't rented a car recently. Not sure what complaints people would have about a rental car. Assuming they actually have a car waiting for you, prices have been quite a bit higher since the whole covid thing started and likely that applies to every rental company. Online reviews for most anything tend to be all over the map and you have no idea if the person writing a bad review is the type who complains about everything.

 

[EACarlson]

I believe the first time you rent as a club member you still have to go to the counter to show you have a valid driver's license and they enter some info into their systems. There are some other recent threads on that topic. I use Avis and skip the counter, but have been a member for so long, can't recall what I did the first time I rented with them. Never had any issues, but haven't rented a car recently. Not sure what complaints people would have about a rental car. Assuming they actually have a car waiting for you, prices have been quite a bit higher since the whole covid thing started and likely that applies to every rental company. Online reviews for most anything tend to be all over the map and you have no idea if the person writing a bad review is the type who complains about everything.

My understanding is that when renting through UCT there is no place to put in your membership number. That is the big downside, well that and I'm fairly certain they are not following the rules of the CDP, just like the newsletter wasn't that had their CDP cancelled last year.

 

[kandb]

I believe the first time you rent as a club member you still have to go to the counter to show you have a valid driver's license and they enter some info into their systems. There are some other recent threads on that topic. I use Avis and skip the counter, but have been a member for so long, can't recall what I did the first time I rented with them. Never had any issues, but haven't rented a car recently. Not sure what complaints people would have about a rental car. Assuming they actually have a car waiting for you, prices have been quite a bit higher since the whole covid thing started and likely that applies to every rental company. Online reviews for most anything tend to be all over the map and you have no idea if the person writing a bad review is the type who complains about everything.

Thank you for your feedback. My main concern is having to wait up to 2 hrs on line at the counter. People have pictures of 100 people on line waiting at the counter with only 1 or 2 employees working. After arriving at dinnertime the last thing we want to do is wait over 2 hrs to get our rental.