My Avis MCO Experience

[inkkognito]

Since they have an internet cafe at the conference I am attending, I will do a quick post on my very first rental car experience in Orlando. I was stressing out about driving because we usually use Happy Limo and WDW transportation, but that made no sense for the conference. I got the MCO Avis via Priceline, and I must say, it was SO CONVENIENT!!!
Our flight was scheduled to arrive at 11:59 p.m., but we were running pretty early. While hubby waited for the luggage, I went to sign in for the rental car. Avis is so conveniently located, just one floor below the baggage claim. The only slight hitch was that my reservation was technically for Sat., since we were supposed to arrive after midnight, so there were still a few minutes to go before the clock struck 12. I went up to wait for our bags with hubby, and by the time we got them, it was past midnight so we returned to the counter. They told me I was going to get a Metro, but we ended up with a Cavilier. There was no line at that hour, and you walk right across the street and into the garage to pick up the car. We were done in literally a matter of minutes. I didn't want to have to deal with anything complicated that late at night, and this was as simple as it gets. Thanks to the kind people on this board, I had great directions and we found our hotel with no problem at all. It's only a 5-minute drive from the Swan/Dolphin, so it's been painless travelling back and forth. I still prefer a towncar and the WDW buses, but if you want to do a rental car I would definitely have to recommend Avis.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[mryder]

Sounds good, may I ask what kind of rate you got on priceline? Thanks!

 

[inkkognito]

I don't have the contract handy, but I'm pretty sure it was $17 a day. At the time, I couldn't touch that rate on the internet, even with discounts and weekly rates. When we arrived, I asked the going rate at the counter...the best bet would have been a weekly rate, which was $40 more than we were paying via Priceline. We also did our hotel through them and got $97 at the Orlando World Center Marriott--I LOVE Priceline!
You are not guaranteed to get Avis, but if you specify MCO when you bid, odds are good that you will get a location in the airport.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[jfulcer]

That's an amazing deal at the World Center Marriott. It's a wonderful hotel. Stayed there at a conference for my company a couple years ago and they paid like $180 a night for the room.

Glad I wasn't paying.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

mryder
When I used Priceline for my Sept. trip I bid 17.00 a day for a full size and Avis picked it up. So, for the week it was approx. 162.00 including all taxes.
I love Avis and this is the second time we used them via Priceline.
They only use the majors: Budget, Avis, Hertz, National and Alamo. We had Alamo once and it was just fine also. We were able to use the Quick Silver counter, so, we did not have to wait in a long line.

 

[Pluto4President]

Wow, I'm still shocked that you rented a car

After all, it's beacuse of your posts that I booked Happy Limo for my family next month. I will drive the rental minivan, with all of the luggage. With 6 of us for 14 days, I could never fit everything in one vehicle

But, I am using Nationals EC...

 

[inkkognito]

Pluto4president, not as shocked as I was that I finally drove in Orlando! If we had gotten the Swan or Dolphin, we definitely would have gone the towncar route, but being at a different location than the conference hotel forced us to get a car due to the daily commute. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but we're back to a towncar for our November cruise.
An addition to our Avis experience...when I looked at the receipt after we returned it, they added an additional $7 for gas. We had purchased the full tank option, so they shouldn't have done that...I immediately called, and they said they will remove it but cannot do so until Friday when they get the paperwork. I'll post again and let everyone know if they keep their word.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Carrieberry]

Whe you purchase a rental car on Priceline, you pay up front right? So when you get there, do you still have to have a credit card? Do they put a hold of any kind on it since you've already paid? We want to rent a car, but only have a Visa check card. I know Alamo used to accept these nut now I am not sure since they are also National now. My main concern is booking it and then getting there and ending up having to take Mears because we don't have a major credit card anymore. How was it with Priceline?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You have to have a major credit card to book with Priceline (they do not accept check cards with the visa/mc logo, and they do state that right up front) and yes, you do have to present a credit card when you pick up the car, and with Alamo, National, or Avis they do not put additional holds on the card. I am not sure about Budget or Hertz.
Hope this helps.

 

[inkkognito]

I can complete my Avis saga now, since I called them yesterday about the incorrect gas charge, and they said that they are removing it. Even though I clearly explained to the person checking in the car that we had prepaid for the gas, he apparently didn't comprehend. But they didn't give me any problem about it, so I'm confident that the credit will show up on our bill. Other than that, it was a painless experience.
Of course, hubby had to drag me away because I was drooling on the Azteks. They have a lot of those in the fleet, and I must admit that I am an Aztek owner and love them. We didn't need to rent a large vehicle, but when I saw them I missed my beloved "Canyonero" back home and was wishing I could drive one around Orlando.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com