Port Canaveral Budget or Avis better?

[RAD]

We'll be renting a car at MCO and returning it at the port. Both Avis and Budget are in the price range that I'm looking for so looking for experience using these companies and dropping off at the port.

I've used Budget before and wasn't that thrilled with that experience, long line to check the car back in and then another long line for the shuttle bus to the port, in a van that had seen better days. Wondering how that compares to the experience at Avis?

Thanks

 

[poohs4me]

I like Avis better then Budget anymore but lately I have rented with National

 

[MickeyD]

We have had long (hot!) waits at both. The Budget at Port C isn't a fastbreak place so that doesn't help. At least at Avis, if you are a preferred member, you can bypass the line picking up. (at least you could in 2014)

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

We did Budget. We found them much cheaper than Avis, but I guess you found otherwise. Both have pickup right at MCO, which was great, no off-site shuttle there. There was a line at the rental place, but if you do this, you'll save some time. At the advice of other people here on this board, we dropped all our people and luggage at the Port and then just the driver went back to the Rental Car place. This made it easier and made it easier to get a spot in a van back. (sometimes the luggage area is full, but there are room for a single passenger. Also, that way at least the rest of the group could go through security and be inside the building while waiting for the driver.

On the way back, we all went to the Rental Car agency, but had the driver stand at the front of our group. When a shuttle arrived but couldn't fit all of us, (along with the other people in front of us in the line) the driver got on the shuttle, and by the time the rest of our group arrived, the paperwork was done and we were ready to go.

 

[Bear3412]

If lines are long for shuttles to car rental locations on disembark, we often all just grab a cab.

One person assesses the lines, others get porter/bags. Then off to shuttle or cab out front.
Max wait for cab at PC, 5 minutes.

 

[DisFanJen]

I prefer AVIS but it's probably just a personal preference thing rather than one is better than the other per se.

The other bonus with AVIS though is that their location is next to the Dreams Unlimited Travel Welcome Center and I've walked across to say hi to Teresa more than once.

 

[RAD]

We did Budget. We found them much cheaper than Avis, but I guess you found otherwise.

Usually they are and had a rental with Budget. But I keep checking the various companies and Avis came up with the same exact rate. I decided to go with Avis since I've used Budget before and I can check out how Avis is.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Usually they are and had a rental with Budget. But I keep checking the various companies and Avis came up with the same exact rate. I decided to go with Avis since I've used Budget before and I can check out how Avis is.

Great idea. I bet I would do the same.

 

[TaraG7210]

Avis and Budget are the same company. Employees literally walk from one counter to the other and one check in area to the other depending on which is busiest. Avis tends to do more business travel and Budget more leisure, but the service is the same.

Source: former Avid Budget Group employee.

 

[RAD]

Not that worried about the checkin process at the airport, have Wizard and FastBreak accounts, was more interested in the return process at the port since they are two different locations.