Flying into Tampa to save $400? MANY QUESTIONS???

[Cherinva]

Tampa is a great airport and very easy to get around. I've also rented cars from there, but they do tend to be most costly.

I agree with the Greek Dinner at Tarpon Springs...awesome !!!!

It's about 1.5 hours from Tampa to WDW....get on I 4 and drive.

Have a great time. !!

 

[andreadoiron]

This is what we would like to do. Can you recommend any hotels/beaches? Thanks!

Donna

we've stayed at a hilton in n reddington beach (20 south of clearwater beach)and it was a nice hotel but pricey. we are staying in tarpon springs this time at a brand new fairfield inn.
as far as beaches go, honeymoon island/caladessi island are amazing and they are part of the florida state park system so lots of parking and low parking rates/fees. they are just about 15 minutes north of clearwater beach.
if you go south from clearwater, there is a wonderful little town called st johns pass (madeira beach) where you can see dolphins from the docklike walkways. cute little restauraunts and shops.
then a little further south from that is pass-a-grille beach (in st pete) which is pretty famous.
we went further south to Fort desoto beach and that was great too!
search for florida state parks...it has a great map and descriptions of all the state parks. all the beaches in the clearwater area are really nice and very different from each other (clearwater beach is fluffy white sand, n reddington beach is hardpacked gray sand like maine)
i'm sure wherever you end up, it'll be great!

 

[gmeh1]

We flew into TPA last December for the first time, and are repeating the experience again this year due to substantially lower prices on our flights. The trip was relatively pain free, but it amazes me that everyone on the boards always estimates the trip at just about an hour. It took us 1.5 hours each way, and we don't drive slow.

Just wanted to prepare you for a slightly longer trip so your pleasantly surprised if you get to WDW quicker.

It only ever took me one hour or less from Tampa to Disney. It only takes me 90 minutes from Tampa to my home and I live 30 minutes northwest of Disney and have to deal with Orlando city traffic. Traffic conditions certainly can have an effect on times.

 

[andreadoiron]

some companies charge $50 for a one way car rental - dollar does and i know there is at least one more company that does also. so stay away from them.


also keep in mind of the car rental companies that are on-site vs shuttle in tampa if that matters to you.

)

The drive to orlando as others have said is about an hour. If you could psych yourself up and drive to disney area the night of your flight - you probably will be able to get a good hotel at a good price there.

i have pricelined a room twice in tampa - 3 1/2 stars for $62 and $65.

we are flying into tampa and out of orlando for april break and not only does alamo not charge a one way fee, it was $250 cheaper to rent at tpa then drop at mco...not sure why? the flights were about the same for us in albany ny
alamo is onsite...we used either budget or hertz once and the shuttle was a pain then the whole process took so long to get a car that wasn't even close to the example cars (said grand am and got a hyndai accent) we like the choose your own car w/alamo and we are trying the online checkin this time(keeping my fingers crossed that it goes as smoothly as promised

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Once you fly into Tampa you may NEVER fly into Orlando again.

The Tampa airport is not as hectic as MCO. We arrived, dropped the car and were through security in 17 minutes!

The car rental companies are located in the parking garage just like MCO. Alamo has a few kiosk for self check in.

The drive to Orlando is so easy and no tolls!!!! Well worth it to use TPA!!!

** as of last Nov all rental car companys are right at the TPA airport! Right across from baggage claim.

So the reality is that it takes 30 minutes to get from MCO to Disney and Tampa takes an hour to get to Disney so you are only drive an extra 30 or 40 minutes to get to Disney from Tampa.

 

[MrMarv]

I agree--Tampa is a fabulous airport, and not nearly as chaotic as Orlando.

If you do fly into TPA, do not not NOT rent a car at their airport; I usually take the hotel shuttle to the Waterside Marriott, and pick up my car from the Hertz Local Edition office there.

Insofar as the staggering amount of $$$$$ you'll save vs. renting at the airport as well as in most major US cities, check out the difference in price for a full-size car (Chevy Malibu or similar) for a 7-day rental for members of the Auto Club (AAA).

Waterside Marriott HLE office--Weekly rate $188.00; total charges $248.77.

Onsite @ TPA---Weekly rate $348.45; total charges (please be seated, and have smelling salts nearby)--$490.13!!!!

Can you say 'HOLY COW'??????

Have a great trip!

 

[gmeh1]

I agree--Tampa is a fabulous airport, and not nearly as chaotic as Orlando.

If you do fly into TPA, do not not NOT rent a car at their airport; I usually take the hotel shuttle to the Waterside Marriott, and pick up my car from the Hertz Local Edition office there.

Insofar as the staggering amount of $$$$$ you'll save vs. renting at the airport as well as in most major US cities, check out the difference in price for a full-size car (Chevy Malibu or similar) for a 7-day rental for members of the Auto Club (AAA).

Waterside Marriott HLE office--Weekly rate $188.00; total charges $248.77.

Onsite @ TPA---Weekly rate $348.45; total charges (please be seated, and have smelling salts nearby)--$490.13!!!!

Can you say 'HOLY COW'??????

Have a great trip!

Isn't this shuttle for hotel guests? Do you work for Hertz?

 

[MrMarv]

No I've never worked for Hertz, but it's been my experience in 20+ years of flying to various parts of the US, renting a car, and attending baseball games in 3 or 4 different cities within a 7-10 day period after flying in from LA that they have the nicest fleets, and I've frequently received free upgrades in many cities.

I've found that Hertz has the best variety of cars within its fleet in most of the major leafue baseball towns that I've been to, and their rates for Auto Club members are terrific.

If you have a preference for Avis, Enterprise or somebody else, feel free to use any of them, but don't rent the car at the airport from ANYBODY.

The governing bodies of most major cities will gladly proclaim that they won't raise your taxes, but they have no problem gouging (strong word, but it fits perfectly) out-of-towners for ridiculous fees to pay for sports stadia nationwide, as well as convention centers and oither assorted infrastructure projects, so that those folks who rent autos at most major airports are bound to get soaked, as opposed to renting the same car off-airport.

From a logistics standpoint, one method would be for someone in your party to take the shuttle of the hotel where the Hertz facility is located to that hotel, rent the car, and then drive it back to the airport, pick up the other members of your party and all of the luggage & hit the road.

If you need to add an additional driver, you can stop at another Hertz office and do so.

 

[SilverMickey]

I have never had a horrid time renting a car at the Tampa airport. My 10 day rental is at $198.00 for a Premium through Alamo... get my bag, walk across the lot to the parking garage, breeze through the kiosk and pick a car.... None of my vacation wasted by going to a hotel I'm not staying at and having a group of anxious vacationers waiting on me at the airport... I compare all kinds of rentals as my sister could pick us up and get us anywhere we want to rent from but we haven't found anything worth the hassle.

We have flown into MCO 3 times and Tampa 14. Have a great trip!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Gosh I got a great deal this past Feb from Alamo. I rented for 8 days and paid $86 for a midsize.

WARNING the hertz location that the PP mentioned is only open limited hours see the info I got from their web page

Hours of Operation: Mo-Fr 0800-1800, Sa-Su 0900-1300

 

[Disneyof3]

We do this all the time and vice versa. My inlaws are in Clearwater. We either start our vacation in tampa and then head to Orlando and fly out of there. Tampa airport reminds me of buffalo. Small but easy and conviences. The rental places are across the street from the main building and when you pick up or return they have a walkway to the airport. A simple 2 minute walk. Have fun.

 

[mikron]

My son and his family just did that Boston to Tampa save $400.00 4 people. I like tampa and don't find the drive to Disney a problem. From Tampa airport short ride N to RT 4 to disney.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We did this on our last trip. Was perfect and we saved hundreds. We rented from Alamo in Tampa and then dropped the car off at the Car Care Center in Orlando and got a shuttle to the GF. I-4 had no traffic (a rarity from what I hear) and it took us 2 hours from TPA.

 

[goofy4tink]

We try to fly in, and out of, Tampa Intl as often as possible. My ds lives about 8 miles west of the airport. We tend to stay at the Doubletree on Courtney Campbell Causeway...this is about a 10 min drive to TPA.
In any case, it usually takes us about 65-70 mins to drive from the TPA area to WDW. I think that it took a bit less time last April...but it was Easter Sunday, and about 7am when we left. Had an 8:30 ADR at Crystal Palace!!! Made it in just under an hour, but there was absolutely no other traffic on the road!!!