Next Question! Has anybody used Budget Car Rental?

[Scratch42]

And how was your experience? Or would you recommend using Avis? There are only two of us travelling and since I am renting a car to do some shopping in Orlando the day before, thought why not just keep the car for the day and drive!

Any and all expert advice welcomed!

TIA

Scratch

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I have not used them, but there have been many reviews about them on this board. The opinions run the full range but they are mostly positive. The same could be said for Avis.

Budget is the closest to the port and they tend to have the lowest rates.

www.dcltribute.com/carhire

 

[Scratch42]

Thanks, I forgot to check your site!

Looks like we have a keeper!

Thanks again!

Scratch

 

[SFed]

I used Budget in Setptember. Aside from an unfriendly guy working the counter in PC, I had no issues at all and they had the best rates. The shuttle to and from the port was easy, as was pick up and drop off at the airport. I would use them again.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey Scratch.

Has anybody used Budget Car Rental? And how was your experience?

We used Budget after our last cruise. They offered the best rates, the car was clean and smoke-odor free and all of their staff was friendly and helpful.

Also, I was unable to keep our pre-cruise reservation due to traveling problems and forgot to cancel beforehand. They didn't charge me for the "no show" and didn't even need to know why. A class act, in my opinion...

 

[Scratch42]

Buckaroo's Dad "Seal of Approval"!

That's good enough for me!

Thanks everybody!

Scratch

 

[UMTerp]

How long do people typically have to wait in line to get a car?

Just want to be prepared!

Thanks!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by UMTerp

How long do people typically have to wait in line to get a car?

0 - 15 minutes.

 

[decolady]

Be sure to check the hours that their counter is open! We are flying into Sanford/North Orlando airport arriving about 8:00PM, and Avis will be open then but not Budget.

 

[mom_rules]

We loved Budget at MCO! I recommend joining their free Fastbreak program-In and out in 5 mins as well as when you return to MCO to drop back off. By the time the skycap unloaded our luggage I had the receipt in hand-no fuss, no extra charges!

 

[strasfamily]

I just returned from the 11/1 cruise. I think Budget was low on cars in Coco Beach. I booked a mid-sized car because we had a lot of luggage. They tried to give me a Mustang. Now, I would have loved to drive the Mustang, but there was a reason I needed a larger car. They told me a Mustang was considered mid-size, and if I wanted something different I would have to pay for an upgrade. That did not fly with me at all! I told them on their website it showed how many bags each level of car held, and that is why I booked a mid-size and I would not pay for an upgrade. I think as I was talking, a Ford Taurus came in, and we ended up getting that without paying extra.

I don't know what happened with everyone else. There was a very large line, and mostly Mustangs in the parking lot. I'm not so sure I would use them again. On one hand they ended up being accommodating, but on the other hand there was the problem of car availability.

 

[fred ferdlap]

Avis has a much larger Bus (3) the day we came in. Budget is a shuttle only van. Be careful. On Saturday we were behind folks renting moving trucks. The place was not that busy.

Avis is a bit farther down the road, but not too big of a deal.

We will use Avis on our next trip.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We used Avis in August and Budget for our trip last week. We picked up the car in Tampa and drove to the port. The pickup was very easy, about 5 minutes. Our return trip yesterday was a bit slower, the van picked us up at the cruise terminal, but we did have to wait behind people renting trucks. We had reserved a full size car, but they gave us a mini-van instead for the same rate. I would not have paid for the upgrade either. Budget is the closest to the terminal, but its only about 1/2 mile more to Avis.

 

[mom_rules]

How do the current costs compare between these companies?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by mom_rules
How do the current costs compare between these companies?

I have cost comparisons at my web site...

www.dcltribute.com/carhire

 

[gonna go cruising]

We found Budget to be very accomodating. At MCO, it was close to 2 am when we finally got a car, but their computers were down and only one worker. He was extremely nice and doing the best he could. I asked him what kind of car we got because we had booked the cheapest size they had due to it being only two of us. He smiled and said "just look in the parking place. I am sure your daughter (celebrating 16th bday with the cruise) will be very happy with it"

We got to the lot and it was a mustang convertible and quite fun I might add! I did have to get help from a very nice gentleman to help with the seat adjustment, but other than that, no complaints.

Cocoa beach, we were probably the second customer of the day and no cars were ready. Finally about 45 minutes later, a Ford Focus was brought around, and we were thrilled to finally get a car...until I sat in the drivers seat and it wreaked of vomit. They said it was the cleaner they used, and I thought yeah right, the cleaner to clean up vomit I guess. Anyway, they brought around another car and the manager asked me what I thought it smelled like. LOL, I said it just smelled like a car that had been wet and kind of musty. I was willing to take it to get on the road but she said she wanted to get something else for me. She finally came up with a Pontiac Grand Prix and it worked just fine. My point is, the cars were not there waiting for the cruisers to pick up, but the service WAS very accomodating. I think the problem was with the clean up crew.

I would use them again, they were cheap enough and very convenient. The customer service was extremely good.

 

[Thumpersmom]

I am back from the 11/1 cruise and had no problems renting at MCO and returning to the Port but after the cruise the service was AWFUL!!!!! We waited quite a long time at the tents for the shuttle van and it seemed like the two vans showed up together and left then returned quite a bit later. We got on the third set of vans. Others behind us waited for a while and then shared a taxi over to the rental site instead of waiting for the shuttle to return.

Once at the rental location we waited for over an hour to get our car. We had reserved a Premium car (Grand Marquis per the web site) but when we pulled in saw nothing like it in sight. Only one mini van was available, but another family took it. We ended up with a full size car and were thankful it was just three of us. In our party of 23 we were renting 5 cars and no one got what they had reserved! The people at the counter were very slow and trying to get everyone to rent a Mustang. Not exactly enough room for a family! One couple took a truck because it was the only thing available.

While waiting outside with the children I noticed the Avis Shuttle vans also brought over people to Budget who were waiting a long time. While we were waiting Avis always had a shuttle available. We used Avis last year and will be back to them for the next cruise!!!!!

My DH said the counter people said we needed to be more patient-they did not realize three cruise ships would come in all at once! I thought this was strange as I'm sure the manager of the location could ask for a schedule or something and the Magic makes the same time schedule every week!!!!!

 

[mom_rules]

Thanks Dave.
Thumpersmom & gonna go cruising
You still had all these probs and long wait even when you pre-booked a vehicle?

 

[Thumpersmom]

mom-rules
Yes, we reserved it about 6 weeks before and still had the problems. I think this was the worst part. If they had indicated they might not have a car "size" we might have gone with someone else but to have only one full size in the car lot and a bunch of mustangs and advertise a premium, minivan, SUV, and others and not have it was a bummer. I know all five familes had a reservation in advance and I'm sure others did too.

 

[gonna go cruising]

mine was prebooked as well. It was not so bad that I would not book through them again though. My biggest complaint was that I was there before the rush, they even told me so, but cars were NOT ready to go. Go figure. Cruise gets in at 8 - 8:30, so get some cars ready the day before. I do not recall a satisfaction survey or anything but the Cape location really needs some work. Customer service...they did the best they could with what they had...but what they had was inadequate.