Why is the drop-off at Dolphin more $$?

[mathgeek]

We're looking at going to Vero Beach for a couple of days then coming back to WDW for a few more days this summer. I was pricing rental cars and was planning on using Alamo b/c of the convenience of being able to drop off at the Dolphin (MCO to VB, then VB to Dolphin). The price for 4 days was $100 more than if I dropped off back at the airport. Does anyone know the reason for that? I don't remember it being like that last summer when we did this same trip. Not to mention, prices overall were less expensive too.

 

[goofy4tink]

A lot of times drop off at the airports is cheaper. But, I have been lucky in getting good rates at the Dolphin vs MCO. It's really just luck I guess.

 

[AllyBri]

We're looking at going to Vero Beach for a couple of days then coming back to WDW for a few more days this summer. I was pricing rental cars and was planning on using Alamo b/c of the convenience of being able to drop off at the Dolphin (MCO to VB, then VB to Dolphin). The price for 4 days was $100 more than if I dropped off back at the airport. Does anyone know the reason for that? I don't remember it being like that last summer when we did this same trip. Not to mention, prices overall were less expensive too.

These rates go up and down all the time, keep checking. You may also want to consider dropping the car off at the Car Care Center, rates sometimes are lower there. After you dop the car off at the CCC they will drop you back off at your hotel.

 

[DianeV]

Is that true? I was wondering because my mom is flying into Orlando airport and wants to get a car for when she visits with her cousin in Leesburg and other area stuff but they are spending the last 3 nights at Pop Century so they wanted to turn the car in at the car care center and take ME back to the airport when they check out.

If they will take them to Pop that is great but its true that the rates I am getting are higher then if they kept the car the whole time and returned it at the airport

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The hotel location probably stocks a small assortment of cars on a daily basis so they charge a higher rate to move the car back to busier locations such as the airport. In reality they might not move the car if there's a need for it at the hotel but they'll still charge the higher rate. Do check returning to the Car Care Center as suggested AllyBri as the rate might be less.

Another factor is the airport location is corporate owned by Alamo. The Dolphin location might be a franchise....I'm not sure. Once again the higher rate is based on the franchisee having to return the car back to Alamo's fleet somewhere, even if it really never happens because they re-rent the car at the Dolphin.

BobK/Orlando