Car Hire?? Never done it before. Help Please!

[LeaversOnTour]

Hi All,

Wanted to just get a few opinions on Car Hire options please.

We are travelling to Orlando on 7th Jan 2013 for 4 weeks

For the first 2 weeks we are staying at the Sheraton Four Points on I-drive. So we thought we might hire a car for a few days. Initially it was gonna be for a day to get us from I drive to disney, as with a Supermarket pick up on route the costs worked out much the same as a taxi.

However, i have decided that we should do some "new" things this time around - We have been loads of times but never hired a car. Hubbie doesnt like the idea of driving. I passed my test a couple of years ago and now because I can drive he can either put up with me driving or drive himself.

We will pick up from hotel and drop off at dolphin resort on disney we are staying at OKW but have an ADR at CRT at 7pm on the day we drop off. We figured we could drop the car off and then get the disney transport over to MK.

Alamo (which are based at our hotel) are coming up as £215 direct (apparantly 7 days for the price of 5 - no additional driver) Or if booked Via the disney website £211 (this includes and additional driver) - This is for 7 days for a 7 seater.

We are a party of 2 adults and 3 children who all require a car seat, and therefore a 5 seater wouldnt be big enough. With 3/4 BIG suitcases, shopping and 2 buggies.

Car seats to hire are an extra $48 a pop. We therefore will buy 2 out there - Walmart has booster seats for $14 and car seats for $27 - We are travelling with our youngests car seat as it attaches to her buggy.

We are also tempted to buy a sat nav in there as a cheap one is about $40 and its $70 through Alamo.

Is this a good deal? I am leaning towards them because of the convenience of them being at the hotel we are staying at - with 3 kids this is important, but if we could save a bit by going through someone else would consider it.

 

[wayneg]

Just looked thru this link, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...e/734198-holidayautos-discount-worldwide.html

Its with Alamo, either Dolphin or Disney Carcare centre (I think they do a free pick up drop off, maybe someone can confirm or deny) plus other locations.
7 seater for 7 days = £178.50 less 10% Quidco = £160.65
With tank of gas and extra driver £224.50 less 10% Quidco = £202.05

The 7 for 5 offer is a bit misleading, most car rentals have discounts if buying in full weeks, for example if you reduce the week in my link to 5 days the price rises to £191.25 from £178.50. 2 days less but £12.75 more.

 

[chmurf]

J
Its with Alamo, either Dolphin or Disney Carcare centre (I think they do a free pick up drop off, maybe someone can confirm or deny)

With the car care centre (the service area when you leave MK (TTC)) you need to call them (don't remember if it's 2 hours before or 24 hours) and they will send you a free shuttle to your hotel.
For the drop off part, I know they have a free shuttle to disney hotels, but I don't know for other destinations (and airport)

 

[chmurf]

Car seats to hire are an extra $48 a pop. We therefore will buy 2 out there - Walmart has booster seats for $14 and car seats for $27 - We are travelling with our youngests car seat as it attaches to her buggy.

Bear in mind that, you might not be allowed to leave the rental car garage if you don't have the seats for the 2 oldest (this advice is more geared towards those who fly in an get their car, since they don't have the opportunity to go to a store before taking the car)
I suppose one of the adults will go pick up the car alone, then drive to walmart, get the seats and then go back to the hotel.

we have bought a bubble bum for DS http://www.bubblebum.co/
inflatable, foldable, takes very little space in the luggage.
I got mine for roughly £22

and most of all you can take them back home (I assume that you will discard the walmart seats when you fly back to the UK)

 

[wayneg]

We bought Booster with High back at Walmart, think it was this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Harmony-Dreamtime-Deluxe-Comfort-Booster-Car-Seat-Silver/16439808
About £25, was going to leave it in the car but it was so good we brought it home.

 

[LeaversOnTour]

We are staying at the hotel where ALAMO are based. So i will wait at the hotel with the kids, or take two of them on the bus to Walmart. Hubbie will drive the car.


I will probably try and bring them home - Booster will fit in a suitcase. I have 2 children and 1 infant so could get away with 3 items i dont have to pay for with the airline. I have one double buggy and a car seat - Our other buggy folds up into a backpack which we can take on as hand luggage.

I know they are cheap, but they still have to meet all of the safety requirements so i see no reason why they wouldnt be ok. $27 and $13 is a bargain.