Uh oh... Thought there was no drop off/ one way fees in FL.

[Carina]

I was under the impression that in Florida there was no extra charge for renting 'one way'. So when Rates dropped on Southwest from Orlando to Seattle for our trip home, I re-booked that leg of my trip.

It gets us home at a better time and saves us the drive to Tampa
We were originally return to Tampa. We still fly into Tampa (barring that days flights into MCO going down too)

Now when I check Car-rentals ( it's September so I have awhile) they are in the $1000+ range for a car that was under $500 when it was Tampa to Tampa

(10 days)

Am I hooped on getting a good deal now????

 

[zurgswife]

How about a limo or taxi to Orlando and then rent a car there to return to MCO. Might be cheaper.

 

[nacho113]

Am I hooped on getting a good deal now????

We flew into MCO and out through TPA in January this year. Rates started at over $400 for the week (originally booked in Nov 2011) by mid December it had dropped to less than $300 and the week before we left, it dropped to $97 for the week with National.
Your still a long way out, think you should be seeing some good rate drops before it's time for you to fly.

 

[Carina]

We flew into MCO and out through TPA in January this year. Rates started at over $400 for the week (originally booked in Nov 2011) by mid December it had dropped to less than $300 and the week before we left, it dropped to $97 for the week with National.
Your still a long way out, think you should be seeing some good rate drops before it's time for you to fly.

But were those rates different than 'same place drop off' at first. Why are they so much higher (I get that they go down over time) for the same car rental one way

 

[NotUrsula]

Most of the time there are no drop-off fees within central FL, but there are exceptions. It could be your code that is doing it, it could require same-station return. Try a lot of different code options and agencies. Also, if you are flying with SWA, try booking the car via their website; that probably will eliminate the drop-off charge in this case.

 

[navywifetill2002]

DH rents cars all over the country for work and his work hates when he has to drop off at a different location then he picked up at as it is alwasy a higher price! Any chance you could get a flight into MCO instead of Tampa if they go on sale? Hope you can find a good deal!

 

[BrerMama]

You're a ways out for good rates for rentals. Give it time. Two weeks ago the best price I could get for two weeks was $450. I'm down to $220 and expect it to go even lower the closer I get to my dates.

 

[mareed]

To the OP - it's likely just different rates for the different locations and nothing to do with one-way drop-off fees. We always do either MCO or TPA depending on which is less, and frequenly arrive at one airport and leave from the other. Sometimes I can get the cheapest car rental with the different airports and sometimes it would be cheapest from the same one. Seems to be no rhyme or reason to it! Just keep checking (daily if possible).

 

[Carina]

To the OP - it's likely just different rates for the different locations and nothing to do with one-way drop-off fees. We always do either MCO or TPA depending on which is less, and frequenly arrive at one airport and leave from the other. Sometimes I can get the cheapest car rental with the different airports and sometimes it would be cheapest from the same one. Seems to be no rhyme or reason to it! Just keep checking (daily if possible).

Advice from someone who has done this many times is very valuble... Thank you!

Thanks to everyone else also...

I am still hoping to switch the other flight to MCO, but its a friday, and I have a pretty decent rate to Tampa already, so I would be (happily)suprised to see a flight for orlando pop up in that price range.

Then again the flight home that I just switched was $100 higher last week, so continunally check will be the key!