In dollars, or as a percent of your car rental budget, what is Emerald Isle worth?

[Ned Land]

Would you, say... go with Alamo off site if you could save 15%?

For me, I would say if I could save 15% using Priceline, I would go with the inconvenience of an "Alamo" type place. No less. This translates to about $30 on my 9 day rental.

Is it higher or lower for others?

 

[sgtdisney]

I have used Emerald Aisle once, and while it was nice and I would prefer it, It isn't worth too much to me. For example if I reserved a full size for less money through Dollar I would take Dollar, if it was even only a couple of bucks cheaper per week. What I really prefer is the on airport location. I would gladly pay a little more to have a rental agency on the airport than to have to go off the airport to get the car. It makes the drop off so much nicer, easier and quicker.

And in regard to Alamo, well, I wouldn't use them if they were free.. But this is just my opinion and I am sticking to it..

 

[dtuleya]

What I really prefer is the on airport location. I would gladly pay a little more to have a rental agency on the airport than to have to go off the airport to get the car. It makes the drop off so much nicer, easier and quicker.

I assume you are talking about the op using priceline since National is onsite at MCO.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by dtuleya


I assume you are talking about the op using priceline since National is onsite at MCO.

I personally wouldn't use Priceline because I wouldn't want to run the risk of having to use Alamo.. My point was I am willing to pay a little more to guarantee that I will be at an onsite airport, not to use Emerald Aisle.

 

[Beka'sMom]

we rented from alamo once and had to take a shuttle to the rental office. when we got there the line was out the door...we waited for almost an hour. i don't think the discount is worth it in my opinion!

 

[Jillian]

My husband and I love the Emerald Aisle. You do get a discount off the rate, you pay for a mid-size and select any car parked on the EI. We have always gotten either a full size or SUV. Another thing we love is that at all Corporate Locations of National (and most are except very remote places) you do not have to fill the gas tank up upon return of you are in the Emerald Club. They will fill it up for you and you get the going "rate" for gas in your city as opposed to a much higher rate. This is so nice when you are running late, or not sure where to find a gas station. Plus... I really really love getting off the plane, getting my luggage and walking to my car at MCO. No lines or hassles. The convience alone is of value. Just my two-cents worth.

 

[JaneDE]

National discontinued the gas option. We found out the hard way when we returned our rental in May and were charged "not the going rate" but the overinflated rate. We went to the desk to protest the gas charge and was informed that they discontinued this service. I really liked this service and cannot understand why they would have stopped it.

 

[Gillian]

I would NOT go with Alamo/Priceline for $30 less!! As others have said, it's not the shuttle, but the waiting in line.

I don't care what we get on the Aisle, as long as it is big enough for the 3 of us and our luggage. It's only for a week or 2. But not having to wait on line is worth so much more than $30.

Hello Jillian

 

[Whizzo25]

When we went in March, we arrived late (10:30pm) got our luggage, walked out and my DN got to pick the car, whatever one she wanted. (She picked the green SUV; fortunately they don't have purple cars or guess what I would have been driving.) We all had a great time and my niece loves to tell everyone that SHE picked the car. BYW, why do you suppose anyone would need an SUV in Florida?

 

[mousey]

I would not trust Alamo. We have never had a problem with
EA but several times overbilled at Alamo. Another nice option
at National is picking your car. Their is nothing more frustrating
than getting into a dirty, smoke smell rental car! The discount
could be 50% for Alamo and I still would rent elsewhere.

 

[ripleysmom]

I am not wed to National or the Emerald Aisle. That being said, if ain't at the airport I don't want it.

 

[Otisp]

Last time out, National with EA (full-size at an intermediate price) was actually the cheapest for us (although I didn't try Price Line). My wife still can't believe that we just walked up, picked out the car we wanted (GrandPrix), and just drove off (well, with a very quck stop at the checkout booth). I should add, that it was the only Grand Prix in the EA (the rest were mostly Gallants with a couple of Sebrings and Eclipses for variety).

 

[LindaG4458]

I joined Emerald Aisle for free through some travel web site (escapes me at the moment). I LOVE not having to wait in line and getting to choose my own car. We prefer to rent a Camry and there has always been one available.

One trip to WDW we had a reservation at Budget. I was fourth in a line of about thirty people. The clerk asked if we had reservations; all of us waved our confirmations. She announced that they had NO CARS!!!! That was it for me!

After that experience I would pay extra for Emerald Aisle every time.

 

[ncligs]

As 3-4 of the above posters have said "You can't beat, getting off the plane(we always have carry-on only) and being on the freeway 10 minutes after you land". With National being on-site at MCO (Orlando), that makes it even better. It is always better to return the rental car to the airport instead off an off-site location, it saves a lot of time. We have used National EA for years and would not even attempt of using another rental company!!!
We also got our membership for free!!!

 

[ParkFreak]

One more fan of the Emerald Aisle here! While normally I'll go out of my way to save a buck, when I use a rental car, I'm On Vacation!!! You just can't beat the convenience. Used the service in San Diego also in April, where there was a HUGE line of cars waiting to leave. We were the only car from EA so I can only imagine what the counter looked like!

I also know for a fact that I am at my grumpiest when getting off a plane, so EA is a godsend. Also joined for free with Magic Kingdom Club (now Disney Club) otherwise I probably wouldn't have ever used the service.

 

[safetymom]

Emerald Aisle is worth nothing to me after the last several rentals. I am gold 5 star with Hertz. I take the shuttle bus over to the lot and my car is waiting. I found even with taking the shuttle it is faster than National. When we went last month I was at the lot and driving out in 10 mins.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by safetymom
Emerald Aisle is worth nothing to me after the last several rentals. I am gold 5 star with Hertz. I take the shuttle bus over to the lot and my car is waiting. I found even with taking the shuttle it is faster than National. When we went last month I was at the lot and driving out in 10 mins.

Just wondering if you can explain to all of us how you do the above if it is a 5-10 minute ride to the Hertz off-site lot?? And don't forget about the wait for the bus.
I have nothing against Hertz, they are 1st class rental agency, but there is no way it is faster than National (on-site at WDW).
With National, if you have carry on luggage , you walk right from the plane through terminal, across street and get in car and drive off, all before you even get on the Hertz bus.

 

[safetymom]

Have you done both to compare? I have! I have never had to wait for the shuttle to take me to the lot. With a Gold membership (which you can get free) I bypass the counter. They drop me at my car.

Much faster than not finding my size of car after walking the aisle at National and then lugging all my stuff to another aisle to find my class of car.

The last car I got at National at Christmas 2001 the check engine light kept coming on. The car was not well maintained. With Hertz I have not had any problems with the car and am usually upgraded.

National is not the only way to rent at MCO.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by safetymom
Have you done both to compare? I have! I have never had to wait for the shuttle to take me to the lot. With a Gold membership (which you can get free) I bypass the counter. They drop me at my car.

Much faster than not finding my size of car after walking the aisle at National and then lugging all my stuff to another aisle to find my class of car.

The last car I got at National at Christmas 2001 the check engine light kept coming on. The car was not well maintained. With Hertz I have not had any problems with the car and am usually upgraded.

National is not the only way to rent at MCO.

Yes I have used both. The question you are avoiding is the time to get to the off-site location. All the cars at National have the keys in them, you walk up to any one you want and drive off. If you have a problem of finding a car, then that is an individual problem. If you ask 10 people which is quicker, National on site or Hertz off-site? 9 out 10 will say National.

P.S. "Cars are cars", any vehicle can break down, whether you have a Porsch or Cadillac or a Cavalier.

 

[safetymom]

If you would read my post I mentioned it took 10 minutes to get to the Hertz lot. The trunk is open, the keys are in the ignition. My point in posting was to offer an alternative. I don't expect National to go away but then again Hertz isn't having bankruptcy problems like National. Cost wise Hertz was actually cheaper for a larger size car.

I have used National as recently as Christmas 2001. I was not impressed with the car or their service so as a consumer I switched back to Hertz.

I thought the purpose of this board was to share ideas not a one sided conversation. There are choices beside National, Hertz is just one of them. I have also rented from Alamo and I would never do that again.

And your point about 9 out of 10, how many of them have actually rented from Hertz with a free gold membership? Or are they just passing along "stories that they have heard" but not experienced for themselves?