Floridacarhire.com & Dollar Express

[Young Pooh]

I'm sure that this has already been answered but cannot find a thread.

I've been checking out car hire rates and found that Floridacarhire.com are coming out cheapest - looking for an intermediate for 16 days. Anyone used them - are they ok?

I have specifically been looking for Dollar cars as we have also registered with Dollar Express. I assume that we will be able to use this even though we will have booked through an intermediary?

Also, I'm sure that I read somewhere on here (but cannot find the thread) that they always book a 2dr as cheaper but have always been given a 4dr at the depot as they keep very few 2drs. Anyone know if this is true?

 

[wayneg]

Hi Sue
Cant help you with this company as we use Airline network, they are cheaper for us, Full size 25 nights in August £503. Florida carhire are £541.
As for using an agent for your booking yes you can use your Express card, we did at Easter no problems. Saved us over 1 hour, the line was crazy. Just handed over my Express card, Airnet voucher and our 2 licences. Took only a few mins.

 

[Goofy Gaz]

Hi,
Have booked a 2 door on several occasions before and always got a 4 door!

At the desk, they point you in the direction of the car lot. You can then go to the relevant section of the size car you have booked. You can then pick what car you want, make, colour and 4 doors if you wish. It may be worthwile comparing the the size of the boot aswell. The cars are waiting for you with the keys in the ignition ready to go.

Hope this helps

Goofy Gaz

 

[wayneg]

Hi,
Have booked a 2 door on several occasions before and always got a 4 door!

At the desk, they point you in the direction of the car lot. You can then go to the relevant section of the size car you have booked. You can then pick what car you want, make, colour and 4 doors if you wish. It may be worthwile comparing the the size of the boot aswell. The cars are waiting for you with the keys in the ignition ready to go.

Hope this helps

Goofy Gaz

I was told a few years back Dollar don't stock 2 door cars, I always book 2 door, always got 4 door

On your other point I have rented from Dollar at least 15 times now, never once given a choice. They allocate the car at the desk, the #plate is printed on your rental agreement so there is no choice in the parking lot.
This is one of the main reasons a few DIS boarders use other rental companies.

 

[TraceyL]

iirc Alamo is the comapny where you get to chose your car - with Dollar you get a specific vehicle allocated

Always found airnet cheapest for Dollar cars (over £40 - just checked for our 11 day Oct trip) so can't help with this particular company sorry

eta - just ran through a quote for 16 day I4 plat/gold insurance & airnet are cheaper

 

[Pegasus928]

Just done a quick quote on Airnet and they are about £26 for 3 weeks more expensive than the company I have booked with. (uscarhire.co.uk) This is with the optional gold insurance (unlimited drivers over and a full tank of fuel) and is also with Dollar as we also have the Express card.

Pegasus

 

[wayneg]

Just done a quick quote on Airnet and they are about £26 for 3 weeks more expensive than the company I have booked with. (uscarhire.co.uk) This is with the optional gold insurance (unlimited drivers over and a full tank of fuel) and is also with Dollar as we also have the Express card.

Pegasus

Just compared our quote 25 nights 2dr Full size August with gold/Platinum. £7 more expensive.
£24 cheaper using this company but Alamo rental but I will never use Alamo again.
Looking like I am sticking with Airnet again.

 

[matty624]

I was told a few years back Dollar don't stock 2 door cars, I always book 2 door, always got 4 door

On your other point I have rented from Dollar at least 15 times now, never once given a choice. They allocate the car at the desk, the #plate is printed on your rental agreement so there is no choice in the parking lot.
This is one of the main reasons a few DIS boarders use other rental companies.

Cant argue with your experience, but we've ended up using dollar 6-7 times, and on more than one occasion rejected the car they gave us first. Last year we ended up choosing the car we wanted, as the first one was filthy, and the second had over 15000 miles on the clock. We finally ended up (after about 20+ minutes of sweaty running back and forth) with a spotless, 700 mile minivan. Worth the 20 minutes of activity!!!
We'd book with Airline network, but their web site doesn't run to july 2008, so going to book with floridacarhire, who we've booked with before with no problems.
ian

 

[wayneg]

Yes Ian you can reject the cars with a little messing about but they dont have a choose your own policy like some of the other rental companies, If they did a few more people would use them.
Regarding booking your car now for next year, Is there a great offer on what you have seen? Do they just accept a deposit or you have to pay all upfront? Unless there is something special on offer I would not even tie money up in a deposit for over a year. You lose interest on your money and always a chance of the company closing. I have checked every week since Xmas for outr August booking, the price has not changed. Does not matter if you book a year in advance or a week in advance the rate rarely changes. If you wait there is always a chance between now and you travelling of free upgrades or Free platinum cover etc.
Your money your choice but there are cars available even if you left it until day before you fly.

 

[martina857]

M

 

[martina857]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=420274&referrerid=&highlight=florida+car+hire

M

 

[matty624]

Yes Ian you can reject the cars with a little messing about but they dont have a choose your own policy like some of the other rental companies, If they did a few more people would use them.
Regarding booking your car now for next year, Is there a great offer on what you have seen? Do they just accept a deposit or you have to pay all upfront? Unless there is something special on offer I would not even tie money up in a deposit for over a year. You lose interest on your money and always a chance of the company closing. I have checked every week since Xmas for outr August booking, the price has not changed. Does not matter if you book a year in advance or a week in advance the rate rarely changes. If you wait there is always a chance between now and you travelling of free upgrades or Free platinum cover etc.
Your money your choice but there are cars available even if you left it until day before you fly.

Good point about booking so early! And yes, had forgotten about floridacarhire going bust a few years back. Remember feeling damned glad we'd booked with Airline network that year!
Floridacarhire just seemed a whole lot cheaper than others when I checked an hour ago, it takes a £50 deposit. Think you're right though, not much point booking just yet. Just want to get an idea of total costs, as dw isn't keen on going.
I'll keep looking for a good offer on a minivan .
Ian

 

[wayneg]

I'll keep looking for a good offer on a minivan .
Ian

Thats all you can do keep checking. Personally I dont like 4x4/minivans etc. prefer Full size car or the Premium we were upgraded to at Easter was nice.
Oct a couple of years a ago we went with friends. we booked Full size they booked 7 seater minivan, they paid same price as us with Airnet, they were running an offer at the time.
They have actually an offer on now, pay for 6 get 7th day free. I rang up about it a few days ago. The person I spoke to said he thought the free days were worked into the website prices but would check with his supervisor and get back to me, still waiting. I will have to chase it up.