How should I arrange this?

[IMGONNABE40!]

I am looking into flying into Ft Myers (or Sarasota) to visit relatives before our Orlando trip. I would like to rent a car for a day, drive to Orlando for a few days then fly back home. I am wondering if anyone has done something like this and how costly it is to rent a car for a day and return it to a different location. I am wondering if I will have to take the car to MCO and get transportation to my hotel, or if I can go directly to the hotel or somewhere close by. We will be staying at one of the Universal hotels. Thanks for any input.

 

[FINFAN]

Hey there! I've checked into this many times as our family is in Cape Coral and Naples. Sure, you can do multi-city travel...usually a bit more expensive, but sometimes worth it. When you go to your rental car site, just punch in that you'll be picking up at RSW location and dropping at MCO, or wherever if theres a location closer to your resort. Based on the car size it will prob run you anywhere from 35-60 per day..but check your entertainment book if you have it for National or Alamo...you can usually combine the coupons in there w/a code on Mouseavers. Your biggest dilemma will be the time you pick-up the car vs. drop off...sometimes booking a weekly rental is cheaper than going 1 minute over a 3 day rental. Also, only certain airlines fly to RSW and MCO....so check into that...I know from Chicago Southwest does not fly to RSW, ATA does not fly to MCO, can get to be a headache! Don't be shocked if you're flagged for security either, even tho it is a roundtrip ticket, you may show in the system a one way. No biggie tho...anyone can get flagged at anytime anyway. I was really hoping to pull this off this summer, have to do the relative thing, but kids wanted to check out Busch Gardens, so thought we'd fly into TPA and out of RSW...but just couldn't get it to work out for our tight schedule...that and our tight budget!
It takes some research, but can be done!

Pam

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks for the info. I can get airfare of $243 cvg to rsw then mco to cvg. I do not think that is bad at all. I just need to hook up with a rental car. Oh, and sell that to DH!

 

[FINFAN]

Heck, if it lets you accomplish 2 trips in one...he'll agree. Much cheaper than flying a/o driving back down again. That's where we run into issues...can afford a trip every 12-18 months, and family always looking for us, but we like WDW...they can't travel or handle drives of more than an hour...it really makes it hard...splitting a trip is sometimes the best option, well worth the $150 bucks for a car.
Good Luck!

Pam
ps....any FF miles laying around? Maybe cash those in on the rental car if you have them.