Fly in & out of Tampa???

[Southernswthrt]

I've read tons of older threads with good things to say about flying in and out of Tampa. This December, I will be traveling for the first time with my baby and in-laws. Flights are $100 cheaper each for SW to Tampa vs. MCO. Am I crazy????

Also wondering how easy renting a car is there? Can you just walk right over to the garage like MCO or is it more of a hassle?

TIA

 

[goofy4tink]

I've flown in and out of Tampa. My ds lives there, so we like to tack on a visit there when we head to Orlando. It's an easy drive. And I don't remember the rental cars being hard to access. I don't think we have had to take a shuttle between the rental area and the airport, but I could be wrong. I do tend to mix up my car rental areas at various airports.
Just be sure you know how much the car will cost when figuring costs for flying into Tampa.

 

[njmomtoone]

I've read tons of older threads with good things to say about flying in and out of Tampa. This December, I will be traveling for the first time with my baby and in-laws. Flights are $100 cheaper each for SW to Tampa vs. MCO. Am I crazy????

Also wondering how easy renting a car is there? Can you just walk right over to the garage like MCO or is it more of a hassle?

TIA

We fly into Tampa and drive over to Longboat Key. The airport is great and easy to get around. Usually, by the time get off the plane and get down to bagge our bags are there. You cross the street and go to the rental counters and then to the garage. Again, very easy. If you use Alamo, you use the kiosk and then right to the garage and there is no counter involved, pick your car and off you go.

 

[Southernswthrt]

OK - making feel a lot better about this! We can save almost $900 for the 8 of us.

So it sounds like the rental car process is the same - use the kiosk, go to the garage, and pick your own car...

 

[Southernswthrt]

I'm reading conflicting info about Tampa & rental cars. I usually rent from Alamo or National at MCO and walk across the street from baggage claim to pick the car. Is it the same at TPA or do you need to take a shuttle or bus?

 

[OKW Lover]

Rental cars at TPA are directly across the road from baggage claim. Its a very short walk.

 

[djcjn]

Hoping to piggy back on to this question. We're flying into Tampa to spend a couple days at St. Pete beach, then driving to Orlando. Anything we need to know about the drive to Orlando? Best route to take? Or routes to avoid?

Thanks,
Jenni

 

[mcd2745]

The only negative, to me at least, about Tampa airport is that the security lines always seem a lot longer and slower than MCO. I'm sure MCO is the much busier airport overall, but they do a good job with keeping those security lines shorter and moving.

 

[gmeh1]

Hoping to piggy back on to this question. We're flying into Tampa to spend a couple days at St. Pete beach, then driving to Orlando. Anything we need to know about the drive to Orlando? Best route to take? Or routes to avoid?

Thanks,
Jenni

I-4 is the best route from Tampa to Orlando. BTW, if you are going to Disney, it is not in Orlando, it is in Lake Buena Vista/Kissimmee.

 

[njmomtoone]

The only negative, to me at least, about Tampa airport is that the security lines always seem a lot longer and slower than MCO. I'm sure MCO is the much busier airport overall, but they do a good job with keeping those security lines shorter and moving.

Seriously? We have never had to even wait more than 5 minutes. We joke how fast it is.

 

[mcd2745]

Seriously? We have never had to even wait more than 5 minutes. We joke how fast it is.

Each time I've flown out of Tampa, there's been long, slow moving lines.

 

[goofy4tink]

Seriously? We have never had to even wait more than 5 minutes. We joke how fast it is.

I have to say that all the times we've flown out of TPA, we have found the lines at security to move right along. There are much fewer families flying so most of the people pretty much know the drill. But, like any other airport, you can find a backup at any moment.

 

[SaraJayne]

I've read tons of older threads with good things to say about flying in and out of Tampa. This December, I will be traveling for the first time with my baby and in-laws. Flights are $100 cheaper each for SW to Tampa vs. MCO. Am I crazy????

Also wondering how easy renting a car is there? Can you just walk right over to the garage like MCO or is it more of a hassle?

TIA

Tampa is one of the easiest airports I've ever flown in and out of. We did it once for a Disney vacation and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Security is a breeze (not chaos like MCO), the TSA people were actually nice and driving to and from the airport was so easy!

When we returned the rental car, we drove it into the garage for returns and parked it. It was so simple. I looked at my Mom and said "that's it? That's all we have to do?"

I highly recommend flying in and out of TPA, especially if it saves you money!

We'll be flying in and out of there in July for a non-disney vacation and I'm actually looking forward to it (unlike MCO!).

 

[SaraJayne]

The only negative, to me at least, about Tampa airport is that the security lines always seem a lot longer and slower than MCO. I'm sure MCO is the much busier airport overall, but they do a good job with keeping those security lines shorter and moving.

My experience has been the exact opposite. We were thru security at TPA in under 3 mins, while MCO can sometimes take up to 30+ mins.

 

[njmomtoone]

My experience has been the exact opposite. We were thru security at TPA in under 3 mins, while MCO can sometimes take up to 30+ mins.

I agree. Also, they have some of the nicest TSA people. My MIL (in error) packed a snow globe in her carryone. The TSA was so nice and felt so bad confiscating it..but that's their job. We are usually through security in minutes and then hit the sit down restaurant for lunch or early dinner and on the plane we go!!

 

[hockeymomNS]

We flew in to Tampa April 28 and out on May 8. Like previous experiences, no problems at all. I have had no issue with security, baggage, cars, really nothing at all. In and out very quickly.
I also agree with the friendliness. This time my car rental was at Thrifty and the agent who processed my return was so very nice and pleasant.
Don't hesitate to fly in or out of Tampa.

 

[LisaTC]

Flew into Tampa last time and doing it again. The Airfare savings for us is just crazy. I thought it was a wonderful airport. We fly from CAK and like that one as well. Smaller, not so crazy. We rented from National (Emerald Aisle - bypass counter and go) It was easy to get to after getting our bags. Signage is good as well.