My Alamo experience

[PlutosFriend]

Just back from a week at the World. Rented with Alamo for the first time. The line was pretty long. Actually the longest of all the rentals companies. It went quicker than I anticipated though It took about 20 minutes to get to the counter. I booked the reservation using a couple codes found here on the DIS. One was thru Costco. They asked for the coupon, but not to see the membership card. We rented a midsize SUV from Saturday to Saturday for $121 total. What a great deal. The lady tried to, what seemed like, scare us into buying insurance, but I just said "no". She wasn't overly friendly, but whatever Off we went to the lot to pick out our car. We chose a Saturn VUE. It had plenty of room for 4 pieces of luggage. Off we went All in all, it was a fine experience and you can't beat that rate!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Thank you for posting. With all the bad reviews lately, I am getting a little nervous about using Alamo. If we weren't getting such a great deal with Alamo, and eating at others resorts several times, I would use DME and save myself the stress. I did join QS, that might help a little.

It's nice to know at least a few people don't have problems with Alamo!

 

[GJM]

Thanks for the report, I wish I booked the SUV when the price was great, but I didn't. I did rent a car thru Costco using a coupon and they were the best rate. I tried all the car rentals with all the codes and coupons and they still came out to be the cheapest.

 

[keishashadow]

I thought if you indicated your QS # on ressie you could skip the line entirely (instead of just "speeding thru" the QS line).

I thought they had a kiosk on the 2nd floor of garage (same one as National EA)???

We have a SUV for $117 for 8 days but, no way will I stand in Alamo's line (last time nearly an hour!)

Any recent experience?

 

[bstnsprts]

Rented from Alamo last week with no problems. Combined coupons with different rate code and had no problem. They didn't ask for the coupon. Can't comment on the lines as we arrived in MCO at 10:30pm, so there was no line. I had rented an SUV, web site stated a Cherokee, for $118 total for a week. I was told to pick any SUV from the lot. They had Cherokees, Durangos, Pacificas and more. We choose a Pacifica. All went well.

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

We rented from Alamo at the Miami airport. We didn't have our QS # so had to go thru the line. We prepaid and we waited about 10 minutes in line but once we got to the counter, we were done in under 5 minutes. We didn't have the option to pick our own car but it was easy to find the one they gave us. I've booked Alamo for our next three vacations but I'm using a coupon for each one so we always have to go to the counter. If I can find a cheaper rate with National, I'm going to book it. I miss not being able to pick out the car we want.

 

[wee-haggis]

I thought if you indicated your QS # on ressie you could skip the line entirely (instead of just "speeding thru" the QS line).

I thought they had a kiosk on the 2nd floor of garage (same one as National EA)???

We have a SUV for $117 for 8 days but, no way will I stand in Alamo's line (last time nearly an hour!)

Any recent experience?

If you check in online (up to 30 days before trip) you can skip the line,go straight to the garage on the 2nd floor,pick a vehicle in your class and leave showing your licence and CC to the gate keeper.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I was in the Alamo line a couple weeks and the clerk also tried to trick me into the insurance. She said something to effect "Would you like the basic insurance or the premium?" Notice she only gave those two options. I said "neither." She responded back, "No insurance?" I said, "yes, I am covered under my auto insurance at home." She took a deep breath through her nose and raised her eyebrows. I could tell that she was annoyed that I was not falling for her trick. I did not fall for the prepaid gas tank either. I think we used 1/2 tank week. She was not the friendliest person I have ever met. Oh well, they still gave me a great rate.

 

[canwegosoon]

I was in the Alamo line a couple weeks and the clerk also tried to trick me into the insurance. She said something to effect "Would you like the basic insurance or the premium?" Notice she only gave those two options. I said "neither." She responded back, "No insurance?" I said, "yes, I am covered under my auto insurance at home." She took a deep breath through her nose and raised her eyebrows. I could tell that she was annoyed that I was not falling for her trick. I did not fall for the prepaid gas tank either. I think we used 1/2 tank week. She was not the friendliest person I have ever met. Oh well, they still gave me a great rate.

Sounds like she is not going to meet a quota....

 

[keishashadow]

Didn't think you could check-in online w/coupon?

We've had no problem w/Nationals EA & handing the gate attendent the coupon for credit when we leave the garage.

Any success w/this method & Alamo?

If you check in online (up to 30 days before trip) you can skip the line,go straight to the garage on the 2nd floor,pick a vehicle in your class and leave showing your licence and CC to the gate keeper.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Thank you for posting. With all the bad reviews lately, I am getting a little nervous about using Alamo. If we weren't getting such a great deal with Alamo, and eating at others resorts several times, I would use DME and save myself the stress. I did join QS, that might help a little.

It's nice to know at least a few people don't have problems with Alamo!

It was our first time using Alamo. We have always used Dollar in the past with no problems. I would use Alamo again, or anyone else with a great rate If you walk up and see a long line, just remember, it moves pretty quickly Good luck!

 

[PlutosFriend]

I thought if you indicated your QS # on ressie you could skip the line entirely (instead of just "speeding thru" the QS line).

I thought they had a kiosk on the 2nd floor of garage (same one as National EA)???

We have a SUV for $117 for 8 days but, no way will I stand in Alamo's line (last time nearly an hour!)

Any recent experience?

I got my great rate by using a coupon, so I had to stand in line. I am just curious..does the line to board Magical Express move pretty quickly? There were a ton of people waiting there too!

 

[PlutosFriend]

I was in the Alamo line a couple weeks and the clerk also tried to trick me into the insurance. She said something to effect "Would you like the basic insurance or the premium?" Notice she only gave those two options. I said "neither." She responded back, "No insurance?" I said, "yes, I am covered under my auto insurance at home." She took a deep breath through her nose and raised her eyebrows. I could tell that she was annoyed that I was not falling for her trick. I did not fall for the prepaid gas tank either. I think we used 1/2 tank week. She was not the friendliest person I have ever met. Oh well, they still gave me a great rate.

Maybe we had the same person
Our girl even asked to see proof of our insurance. I don't think we have been asked that in the past. We never do the prepaid gas either. We take the 528 to and from the airport and on the way back we stop off at Orange Avenue to fill up at a 7-11.

 

[mumzie2three]

Used Alamo for our trip 4/28-5/9 and it worked out good. I used the QS and checked in at the 2nd floor garage kiosk. The woman in front of me had come back to the kiosk because there were no more mid-size SUVs so they checked to see what was available and told her to grab whatever was over there. As I was waiting there was a line building behind me, so I had already decided that if there were no standard size SUVs we would just grab whatever rather than come back and wait in line. As we got to the SUV section it was pretty empty (no Trailblazers) until an employee drove up with an Equinox. Another couple was looking at it but walked away confused so I opened the doors and told the family, "Get in, close enough". It fit 5 of us fine with plenty of room in the back for luggage.

Returning the car was even easier. We just followed the signs back to the garage and pulled over for check-in. As we unloaded the luggage a man with a cart asked if we needed help and I wisely said yes. He loaded all our luggage onto the cart, asked us our airline and we follwed him back to the airport. He unloaded it at the check-in area and I tipped him $5 (we had 5 pieces of luggage). What a relief to not even have to think about where to go, plus my back was a wreck by that time.

My advise is to book early with codes and use QS.