Rental Cars @ Airports

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

The taxes and fees on rental cars at airports are out of sight. I have always rented at the airports, but beginning to think maybe I should look at renting off site. If you have done this already, what has been your experience? Good - Bad, worth or not worth the effort, etc.??

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

We've done it several times when the airport rentals were just out of sight. It was always easy, and we always saved quite a bit--way more than just the transportation to get there. We took hotel shuttles to a place that was close enough to walk or an in-expensive taxi ride. Most of the time, we were allowed to return the car to the airport for no extra fee, which made getting it the only inconvenient time, and with Map Quest for information, even that wasn't really all that inconvenient.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

The off-airport places can have good deals, but the "local" branches (like the Hertz HLE sites) are almost always more expensive around here. These are the small branch offices located in your own town or nearby.

But sometimes it still works if you factor in the cost of taking a car service to the airport or parking at the airport. You can rent at an HLE and return at the airport, for example. We did that to go to DC once--rented at an HLE, drove to Union Station in DC, dropped off the car, and walked to our hotel. Then when we left we picked up a new rental at the station, drove home, and gave it to the HLE. It worked out to be about the same as paying for DC parking, without the headache of parking.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

The taxes and fees on rental cars at airports are out of sight. I have always rented at the airports, but beginning to think maybe I should look at renting off site. If you have done this already, what has been your experience? Good - Bad, worth or not worth the effort, etc.??

Eric it is not at ALL airports. Florida is the only one that rubs my fur the wrong way. The taxes nearly double the cost of the rental!

I absolutely, positively REFUSE to pay $200 more for the week, just because I would like to pick up at the airport.

We will be taking the Share-A-Ride for $18pp or $54 from FLL to South Beach and renting a car as needed there.

Of course this is a bit different than other trips in that it is to an urban area where a parking fee of around $25/day would apply in addition to the car rental fees. There is a rental company 3 blocks from the resort so daytrips we will get a car.

[LynnW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LynnW]

I just checked carrentals.com for Ft. Lauderdale and noticed there is quite a difference in price if you pick up at a different location. Where would a good location be to pick up in Ft Lauderdale? We will be heading to Weston. Also has anyone ever used U Save Car & Truck Rentals? They seem to have the best prices but there are also soom good deals with Dollar and Thrifty. We haven't been to Ft Lauderdale for about 15 years so I have no idea.

Lynn

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lynn

I have used both Dollar and Thrifty and had good experiences with them.

As to what is the closest location to pick them up? Uhhh Mapquest? Or a phonecall could help. Even to the tollfree numbers I guess <although> the local branches would be more suited to answer your question.

The savings would far outweigh the inconvenience IMHO. As for going back you can always drop off luggage and other passengers first. We do THAT even when we rent on-site.

The truly disturbing thing is I can rent a car in South Beach from Thrifty and drop-off in FLL with none of those fees. That is probably how we will get back to the airport. Our flight hiome is later in the day so we can sightsee a bit.

Just the state of Florida taking advantage of the touristas.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

In Paris, I generally take the RER train into the city and pick up my rental car there, which saves on taxes and fees.

In London, however, the airport surcharge seems to apply just about everywhere in metropolitan London, so there is no escape from it.

Generally European cities tend to have much better transporation to the city center from the airport than US cities.

[LynnW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LynnW]

Thanks Lawren

When I checked again they do allow you to drop off at the airport. I think we'll start with Thrifty and I'll call about the locations or try MapQuest.

Lynn

[razman10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close razman10]

Interesting... I'll have to try this concept in the future.

Razman10

[LynnW Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LynnW]

I booked through Thrifty, full size 4 door sedan for $150 a week or a total of $534 including taxes for 3 weeks. The pick up location is about 2 miles from the airport and we are allowed to drop at the airport for no extra charge. The saving is about $100.

Lynn