need rental car help!

[tcjp4me]

I have begun to check out rental car companies for our 7day in
Sept.HOWEVER-Avis and Dollar both have told me that they don't rent one way from where we live (Dayton,Ohio) to Port Canaveral.I really don't know what to do now-I know that people from the dis board HAVE rented one way and used the Radisson drop off.(I called back several times and all operators told me the same thing).I just hate the thought of paying 60 or 70 a day when we are out cruising and the car it setting in port at the lot which we would also be paying for parking too!(we did this last year for our 3day but I think the 7 would be a bit expensive to let the rental sit and collect sea water spray!)Any suggestions?!! any would be great!!!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I tried Avis, Hertz, and National... the three companies near the terminal that offer worthwhile one-way rentals within Florida. Avis would not let me do it. Hertz would let me do it, but it was expensive. National let me do it and offered a better deal (base rate of $79/day plus taxes and surcharges for an intermediate, unlimited mileage, no drop charge).

I'm not surprised... of all the majors, National is known as the company most flexible with one-way rentals. You'll want to book DAY as your origin, and COIC06 (the letters COIC, and the numbers 06) as your destination.

For more info about the terminals near the cruise terminal, check my web site:

www.dcltribute.com/carhire

 

[tcjp4me]

Thanks so much for your reply Dave as always your are the DIS board great know it all!!Thanks I will try National!

 

[tkd lisa]

Just in case National doesn't work out, I'll give you my two cents worth on Hertz. We did the Orlando to Cocoa Beach one way there and back. We chose Hertz because DH is a 5 star gold customer (big deal for Hertz, DH travels a lot for work). Anyway, the rate was almost exactly the same as Avis, but the 5 star is supposed to guarantee us an upgrade and preferred pick up, etc.

Our booking was for a mid-size car (for a family of 4), and we noted the 5 star on the reservation and requested upgrade if available.

At the a/p, we got an upgrade (which we thought was free) of a neverlost system in a mid-sized car (a Camry). The car was big enough, but when I started checking our receipts at home, it turns out they charged us for the Neverlost. Dropping off at Cocoa Beach was a hassle. It's about 5 miles from the terminal, but it's through traffic. We pulled up just as the full van was leavning. We waited about an hour from the drop off to actually get to the boat.

The return trip was our particular gripe. Again, it took about 45 minutes to an hour to get to their location by the time we waited for the van. They had no upgrade available for us. The first car they pulled up was a Grand Am. I managed to shove everything into the trunk, and DH said, hey the windshield fluid is out, the car is dirty, and it's only half full. The guy said "I marked it half full on check out, and here's some window cleaner. Turned out the reservoir was full, and the thing was just broke. And he hadn't marked it half full, he'd marked it full. Now we had to wait through everyone else to get a different car. This time it was some sort of Mazda, and the luggage wouldn't fit in the trunk. It was also dirty and only 3/4 full (marked as full). We have complained to Hertz, and they are looking into it. Apparently, since Cocoa Beach is a remote location, they just don't get very many cars, even when the rentals are booked.

So if you do end up using them, double check the condition of your car vs. your contract BEFORE you leave, and allow some extra time.