Flying to Tampa as an alternative

[Chris and Pooh]

Hi,

Very short question. Other than the 50 mile difference when choosing MCO, can anyone give advice as regards the advantages and disadvantages of using Tampa International?

 

[wayneg]

Absolutely no disadvantages. Flown in or out of Tampa many times. Its about 1 hour drive instead of 30 mins from MCO, quieter airport, easy drive, no tolls. All down to price or times, any saving or better flying times I use Tampa.

 

[ALBA]

We have used Tampa airport before and like it. It seems calmer than Orlando. One thing to bear in mind is that they have just/about to start a $943 million renovation project on Tampa which is scheduled to finish in 2017.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...-major-changes-for-passengers-drivers/2205221


Alba

 

[chmurf]

Flying through TPA with BA comes £400 cheaper than flying to MCO (for 2A+1C) for our october trip (both flights direct, LGW-TPA / LGW-MCO)

I'm quite tempted to book because the fares are in the lowest booking class, so it's not going down

we're currently looking at a LGW-TPA direct on 10/10/15 and a MIA-LHR-CDG
for £1600 on 31/10/15 for the 3 of us

we're flying in out of Miami, so we can get a connection to Paris.
I don't fancy doing LGW-St Pancras then St Pancras-Lille, that's 2 trains with loads of luggage. And 2 customs clearance with a lower allowance from UK to France onboard a train, than onboard a plane, and we do shop
cherry on top, we'd get to take the A380.

same dates but with a LGW-MCO is still £2050 for the 3 of us, but with a high booking class, so prices might go down, even though it seems that the orlando route is kept overpriced.

am I going to book the TPA route ? I don't know
I don't know if I want to drive from TPA to OKW, or if I'll go with the DME and rent a car later. Jury's still out on that one.

And, I'm also quite scared by reviews of car rental at TPA, I would rent with Alamo, but we don't have a credit card, only debit. Never had any issue with Alamo at MCO, renting with a debit card (prepaid rental from europe) but I can't get a clear answer regarding other alamo locations, especially on a hold or deposit, so this is rather putting me off. (any adive/experience with debit cards there ?)


but that's a £450 saving on flights. That's a lot of money

 

[Elise79]

I would avoid Tampa around the holidays - roads were really bad this weekend.

Also any reason why Alamo? There are other better rental companies out there!

 

[chmurf]

Also any reason why Alamo? There are other better rental companies out there!

I guess that I feel more comfortable with a company I know, and have used many times.
I wouldn't call it loyalty, but rather cowardness

actually, it's the whole debit card issue that bothers me.
some companies hold ridiculous amounts or have large deposits, and as it's a debit card directly tied to my bank account

I know Avis accepts debit card in both tampa and orlando, but they also mention (T&Cs) that they may hold large amounts,...
I don't know what to do. Stay in my comfort zone, or take risks ...

 

[Elise79]

I guess that I feel more comfortable with a company I know, and have used many times. I wouldn't call it loyalty, but rather cowardness actually, it's the whole debit card issue that bothers me. some companies hold ridiculous amounts or have large deposits, and as it's a debit card directly tied to my bank account I know Avis accepts debit card in both tampa and orlando, but they also mention (T&Cs) that they may hold large amounts,... I don't know what to do. Stay in my comfort zone, or take risks ...

Our first choice are now either Hertz or Avis price permitting as they in general seem to have a newer better fleet.

Dollar have to be considerably cheaper for us as the last couple of cars we had from them have been high mileage and in a really bad way.

With Hertz as we are a gold member our card is on file but I never hand it over when collecting the car. It is a CC but I don't know if they hold anything.

 

[disneyholic family]

alamo has a good fleet out of MCO and i like being able to pick whatever car i want.
But it's the price that sways me. Alamo always comes out much cheaper for me.

 

[wayneg]

Our first choice are now either Hertz or Avis price permitting as they in general seem to have a newer better fleet.

Dollar have to be considerably cheaper for us as the last couple of cars we had from them have been high mileage and in a really bad way.

With Hertz as we are a gold member our card is on file but I never hand it over when collecting the car. It is a CC but I don't know if they hold anything.

I have always said Hertz is our favourite rental company but the last car we got from them in Sept (from TPA) was one of the worst rental cars I have ever had. 2 years old, high mileage and shaking over 60mph.
I really think its down to the car/experience on the day and nothing really to choose between Hertz, Dollar & Alamo, none are perfect.

 

[Pootle]

I really think its down to the car/experience on the day and nothing really to choose between Hertz, Dollar & Alamo, none are perfect.

Yet again, agree totally with Wayne

DH used to be a frequent user of both Avis/Hertz in Europe (probably about 20 rentals per year with each) and had status with them so used them often, with little to complain about, apart from Hertz last January (long story and not for this thread).

Last month I used Alamo, and was quite happy with them. Which? gives them a higher customer satisfaction score than Avis and Hertz. I had not realised that you can cancel with Alamo penalty-free until up to 7 days before pick up, whereas the others charge a cancellation fee. That's a big tick from me

As far as Tampa airport is concerned, we prefer it to MCO (but because we now use Manchester more often, MCO it has to be for a direct flight!) However, we spend the night in a nearby Tampa hotel (even used the in-Airport Marriott once) and start our holiday the next day. We used Tampa in August this year and in January 2013, and both times experienced the major road works near downtown Tampa on 275. We had left plenty of time so not a problem, but I wouldn't cut it fine on the journey back to the airport.

Flying home from TPA suits us quite well because we check out at 11 am, go off I4 for lunch somewhere and arrive at the airport mid afternoon for our early evening flight back. No hanging around the hotel or marking time. I could never be one of those people spending their last morning in the parks - when I'm leaving, I want to be on my way

 

[disneyholic family]

Yet again, agree totally with Wayne

DH used to be a frequent user of both Avis/Hertz in Europe (probably about 20 rentals per year with each) and had status with them so used them often, with little to complain about, apart from Hertz last January (long story and not for this thread).

Last month I used Alamo, and was quite happy with them. Which? gives them a higher customer satisfaction score than Avis and Hertz. I had not realised that you can cancel with Alamo penalty-free until up to 7 days before pick up, whereas the others charge a cancellation fee. That's a big tick from me

As far as Tampa airport is concerned, we prefer it to MCO (but because we now use Manchester more often, MCO it has to be for a direct flight!) However, we spend the night in a nearby Tampa hotel (even used the in-Airport Marriott once) and start our holiday the next day. We used Tampa in August this year and in January 2013, and both times experienced the major road works near downtown Tampa on 275. We had left plenty of time so not a problem, but I wouldn't cut it fine on the journey back to the airport.

Flying home from TPA suits us quite well because we check out at 11 am, go off I4 for lunch somewhere and arrive at the airport mid afternoon for our early evening flight back. No hanging around the hotel or marking time. I could never be one of those people spending their last morning in the parks - when I'm leaving, I want to be on my way

if you just reserve with alamo (without paying in advance), there is no deposit and there is no cancellation charge at all - even if you just fail to show up - there is no cancellation fee.

 

[chmurf]

okay, lol, I'm not flying into TPA and renting with Alamo

I made and enquiry about holds/deposit policies and that's what they had to say about the TPA location.

Our payment policy varies by location. At the Tampa International Airport, when you book your rental using Alamo prepaid service, you may do so on a debit or credit card. Please advise that when you get to the location, they will hold the full amount of your prepaid rental cost plus 20% as a security deposit on either a debit or credit card. If you are using a debit card at the location you must provide round-trip flight itinerary or travel ticket (airplane, cruise, train). Your deposit is held for the duration of the rental and refunded upon return of the vehicle.

I'm definitely not renting with them at TPA

 

[robndani]

We did that last Feb. It was a last minute trip and tickets to MCO were $3000 and they were $1000. We drove 2 hours to get to Disney and it wasn't a big deal. The Tampa airport is super easy too!

 

[disneyholic family]

okay, lol, I'm not flying into TPA and renting with Alamo

I made and enquiry about holds/deposit policies and that's what they had to say about the TPA location.



I'm definitely not renting with them at TPA

that's if you prepay...i never prepay...i always just reserve...alamo has no deposit and no cancellation fee...

 

[chmurf]

I've been sending emails back and forth to Alamo's Customer Service

from what they tell me, they will hold the full amount of a prepaid rental +20% as a deposit, (Credit or Debit card)

That's at the TPA AND at the Disney Car Care locations (they did not answer when I asked about MCO)

I don't quite understand why they would hold the value of a prepaid rental. For a reservation only, I understand, since they need to guarantee the amount of the rental quote, but for a prepaid rental it's already been paid for ...

I cannot just reserve, or so they told me, because I only have debit cards, so they might not release the car unless I prepay ...

can any one with first hand experience confirm about TPA and the Car Care ?

for reference here's Alamo's answer.

Our payment policy varies by location. At the Tampa International Airport, when you book your rental using Alamo prepaid service, you may do so on a debit or credit card. Please advise that when you get to the location, they will hold the full amount of your prepaid rental cost plus 20% as a security deposit on either a debit or credit card. If you are using a debit card at the location you must provide round-trip flight itinerary or travel ticket (airplane, cruise, train). If you would like to use cash as a deposit, they will hold the full amount of your prepaid voucher plus $400.00 USD. Your deposit is held for the duration of the rental and refunded upon return of the vehicle.

The Tampa International Airport and The Orlando location on Car Care Drive share the same payment policy.

I could book with Avis preferred, but their T&Cs state that they may hold any amount they deem appropriate at their discretion ... would anyone accept those conditions ...
Avis is also significantly more expensive than Alamo on all dummy bookings I've made so far (FR sites)

I'm really upset by this situation, because the flights into TPA are around £550pp when they are £900pp into MCO

At this point, I'm making ridiculous plans of renting for one day at TPA, then dropping the car off at MCO the next day, and pick up another car for the 20 remaining days ...

this is driving me crazy. So many confusing, misleading and contradicting information ... and the internet is of no use. I hope the DIS can sort this out.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We did that last Feb. It was a last minute trip and tickets to MCO were $3000 and they were $1000. We drove 2 hours to get to Disney and it wasn't a big deal. The Tampa airport is super easy too!

It took you 2 hrs to get to Disney from Tampa. You must have taken every back road to get there. Its only takes 1hr 20 minutes to drive 50 miles.

 

[disneyholic family]

It took you 2 hrs to get to Disney from Tampa. You must have taken every back road to get there. Its only takes 1hr 20 minutes to drive 50 miles.

not always....
rush hour can slow you down...
and bad weather (as in a wall of water that you can't see through) can slow you down..
and driving on the wrong side of the road for the first time in a year can certainly slow you down, at least at the beginning of the trip...

but rush hour is a biggie....
even just in orlando, going from WDW to universal varies a great deal depending what time you head out the door....

 

[wayneg]

not always....
rush hour can slow you down...
and bad weather (as in a wall of water that you can't see through) can slow you down..
and driving on the wrong side of the road for the first time in a year can certainly slow you down, at least at the beginning of the trip...

but rush hour is a biggie....
even just in orlando, going from WDW to universal varies a great deal depending what time you head out the door....

Totally agree, we can usually get to LBV area in around the hour on a clear road but once arrived early Friday evening and it took almost 2 hours.
Road conditions and hotel location make a big difference for Tampa.