Thrifty or Dollar at MCO?

[dcbrown]

Who can tell me which company has the better airport and port location? I have res w/both at a comparable price also better $ than getting transfers. I just want to know which I will be able to access easier going to and from MCO.

Thanks to all who can help!

DCBrown

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I don't believe Dollar has a port location.

Thrifty does have a port location. It's between Budget and Avis. But they typically charge a $30 drop-off fee if you rent at the airport and drop at Cape Canaveral. Check the small print to make sure that's not specified in your quote.

 

[QueenTrident]

I used Dollar at MCO during our May trip to WDW, but would never do so again. They had only 2 cars in our class ready the day we picked it up and both smelled badly of smoke. Then, they tried to pressure-sale us into purchasing insurance, even though we had our dec page. DH declined, but when we dropped the car off, we found it had been added and cost $270 for the week! Finally, after a couple of week fighting with them, we got the charge removed from our card.

We used Budget for our January 24 Cruise and were very pleased with the price, location, selection and shuttle. We didn't have a surcharge for picking up at Port and dropping at MCO. We could use our debit card to rent it. All in all, a good experience.

 

[mmouse37]

WE have used Avis and Budget on several occasions and both were good. Budget is now the closet to the Port since the Avis location moved from the Radisson hotel.

We book online and check both websites for the best deal at the time we are going. WE usually book two one-way rentals. One from the airport to the port and one from port back to airport when we go home.

check www.mousesavers.com for some discount codes that may bring your price down on the car rental websites

MJ

 

[outahere]

Your mileage may vary, but..........

I just checked the prices at Budget, using a couple of the discount codes from mousesavers, and found that the AAA discount at Hertz gives a better price. They also have a drop-off near the port.

 

[the4nitz's]

We used Budget from MCO to port and back on our Jan 24 cruise and were very happy. We arrived at 7:00pm Friday night and were a line of 1 at the budget counter. Quick turn in of the car at their location in Cocoa Beach and even quicker at MCO. Good shuttle service also to and from the port. We will use them again for our Jan 05 cruise. I have never tried Dollar or Thrifty so I can not comment on them.

 

[robby69]

I like Dollar at MCO. I have used them several times.
You go right out of baggage pickup and there is your car.
No bus, the dollar agent has a desk right inside the parking garage and your car is about 20 feet from there.

Check rates far in advance. I booked a full size car for $147 for a week. Current rate (3 weeks before we arrive) is now $279 for
the same car.

 

[inkkognito]

I tried Budget to get to the port as an experiment on our last trip. I got a super one-way rate using the one-way link on Hotwire. I am used to using towncars from Happy Limo, so I thought it was going to be a pain, but it was much smoother than I expected. They had an onsite location, and there was a line but they had multiple clerks so it moved pretty quickly. We had reserved an economy car, but they gave me a huge Ford Taurus. It had 16,000 and the front end shimmied at expressway speeds, but it was fully loaded with power everything and had plenty of luggage space. The Budget office was very easy to find, and there was a gas station nearby so we could fill the tank before turning it in. The wait for the shuttle was short; they were switching drivers, so it was just a couple of minutes and then we were on our way to Port Canaveral. Not bad at all. If you're renting, I would definitely recommend budget.
Barb
Visit the Platium Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com