Dropping off at different airport

[lynnfitz]

I know using 2 different airports for car rental return is more expensive. So this is odd-if we fly to MCO, then drop off at Punta Gorda airport, the price is insane! like $1700 for a 10 day rental. If we first pick up at Punta, then drop off at MCO, it's normal prices -like $1,000 less. We were going to do Universal 2 days, then visit friends on the west coast. Just curios why do you think dropping off at Punta is so crazy more expensive? I know it's a small airport, but just switching the pick up and drop off made such a huge difference.

 

[EACarlson]

I know using 2 different airports for car rental return is more expensive. So this is odd-if we fly to MCO, then drop off at Punta Gorda airport, the price is insane! like $1700 for a 10 day rental. If we first pick up at Punta, then drop off at MCO, it's normal prices -like $1,000 less. We were going to do Universal 2 days, then visit friends on the west coast. Just curios why do you think dropping off at Punta is so crazy more expensive? I know it's a small airport, but just switching the pick up and drop off made such a huge difference.

Because the rental company is going to lose money on that vehicle not being available at MCO. When are you looking? If it's a high demand time, they set the rates for one way drop offs specifically to discourage cars from going away from the tourist hubs. FWIW, I did a one way last fall picking up at Melbourne and dropping off at MCO 8 days later and there was no charge.

 

[lynnfitz]

It's within the first 2 weeks of August, I was trying Alamo, just because we always use them and like you can walk the car. That makes sense now, we would not be dropping off at a "tourist area" like Orlando is. I was just finalizing my plans before booking everything, so glad I checked this. I'll have to play around with dates etc. We fly from a small airport 10 minutes from our house, so we are limited with flights as well. Thank you!

 

[Pinnochio]

FWIW, I did a one way last fall picking up at Melbourne and dropping off at MCO 8 days later and there was no charge.

I'm doing a one way as well....picking up in Miami and dropping off in Connecticut....no drop off fee...

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm doing a one way as well....picking up in Miami and dropping off in Connecticut....no drop off fee...

Use the same length of rental and compare the costs for Miami-Conn & Miami-Miami. I'd be surprised if it was the same.

 

[lynnfitz]

Seems like not dropping back at Orlando is the problem. Then I was thinking, we could drive to Orlando the night before then fly home from there instead of Punta Gorda, but it's 3 hours away, the cost of a hotel for the night, not sure it's worth it, but I know I am not paying $1700 to rent a car. I'll have to rethink this. We basically want to do 4 nights in the Orlando area, then drive to our friends in Rotunda West for 6 nights. We went to visit them last month (rented our own home), and they both ended up getting the flu, couldn't see them, so we thought we could visit them in August.

 

[SteveH]

Just curios why do you think dropping off at Punta is so crazy more expensive?

Basically because they can.
You might try booking a rental from one of the locations near Disney instead of MCO itself, see how the pricing is.
You might price flights/rentals from Tampa.

 

[jimmymc]

It depends on inventory and demand at the time. If MCO is in high demand for those dates and Punta Gorda has barely any reservations right after the drop off date, they may end up shipping the car back to MCO. For your dates, it sounds like Punta Gorda has plenty of unreserved stock, while Orlando needs more cars. I once got a one-way rental from LAX to SFO for less than the price of dropping back off at LAX for this reason.

 

[Dave006]

Then I was thinking, we could drive to Orlando the night before then fly home from there instead of Punta Gorda, but it's 3 hours away, the cost of a hotel for the night, not sure it's worth it, but I know I am not paying $1700 to rent a car. I'll have to rethink this.

What time would your potential return flight out of MCO be? Why not just make a very early start from Punta Gorda on your return day, You would save on the Rental and the short hotel stay near MCO.

Dave

 

[lynnfitz]

I had thought of that too, just driving back to MCO in the morning. I'll have to look at everything tonight, and talk to my husband and son about it-I'll check other flights etc., thanks!

 

[lynnfitz]

How far is Tampa airport to Universal area?

 

[sam_gordon]

How far is Tampa airport to Universal area?

Plan on at least 2 hours, if not 2 1/2.

 

[Anthony1971]

How far is Tampa airport to Universal area?

about an hour and 15 minutes heavier foot its less.
A lot of people say traffic but we have never really hit any. Or anything we would consider traffic but that depends on where you are from.
adding we did it last year back and forth in this time. Going was about 2 stopping for lunch.

 

[Pinnochio]

Use the same length of rental and compare the costs for Miami-Conn & Miami-Miami. I'd be surprised if it was the same.

surprisingly yes, it is the same via carrental.com

 

[lynnfitz]

We're from NY, we know traffic, lol!

 

[lynnfitz]

How does this sound- we uber from mco to universal, then rent a car at universal to take to the west coast, and drop it off at Punta gorda airport. We’re staying at Helios . Where at universal would be the best place to rent, looks like some of the resorts have rentals. I’d have to price it out, but I think worth looking into, thoughts?

 

[lynnfitz]

Or… to confuse manners more, rent a car off sight at mco. Not sure what car co would be the best for that. Thank you everyone, you’re very patient lol!

 

[EACarlson]

How does this sound- we uber from mco to universal, then rent a car at universal to take to the west coast, and drop it off at Punta gorda airport. We’re staying at Helios . Where at universal would be the best place to rent, looks like some of the resorts have rentals. I’d have to price it out, but I think worth looking into, thoughts?

Price it out and see what it comes up with. IIRC, there is an Avis location at one of the Universal resorts. You could also look into renting at the Disney CCC from the Enterprise group and returning that to the airport of your choice, but no idea if there are one way charges or what it would cost.

ETA: Try using Autoslash.com and see what they come up with from both MCO and around Universal.

 

[leebee]

Or… to confuse manners more, rent a car off sight at mco. Not sure what car co would be the best for that. Thank you everyone, you’re very patient lol!

I wouldn't do this. It's a LOT cheaper, but there are reasons: The horror stories are legendary!

Is airfare into Punta Gorda prohibitive? Are you keeping the car for the entire trip? Can you fly in and out of one airport or the other, so you pick up and return the car to the same location? What about flying into/out of Tampa? The drop-off is what is killing you, although it sounds like a pretty pricey rental to begin with. Have you tried using carrentalsavers.com? I find they have better pricing options than autoslash, at least recently.

 

[lynnfitz]

Thank you everyone! I’ll do some more research on it, was trying to avoid going to Tampa, but I’ll definitely check it out.