on-airport car rental at Tampa

[Gtyler]

Hi.
Can anyone help me please. I'm due to take my wife and two toddlers to Disney in summer 2010 and will be flying to Tampa as this saves me £500 on air fares. Obviously i will be needing to rent a car from Tampa and due to the kids and luggage that i will have, i do not want to drag them on to a bus to travel to a car rental company. So can anyone help me and let me know what is the most conveinient car rental company at Tampa (on-airport is a must) and nearer to the arrivals lounge the better. If i can walk to a recommended car rental company on-site that will make life soooooo much easier and better for the family. Please can anyone help?
Many thanks. Gazza
p.s. If you could let me know any recommended car sizes that would be great too. You're all stars, thanks.

[caroline]

Dollar is definitely on site at Tampa, Alamo is off site, not sure about Budget but someone else will let you know.
We like a 4x4 or a 7 seater mini van but it depends how many kids and how much luggage!!

[Clare R]

Budget is on airport. If you book through USCarHire the voucher you receive will have a link so you can pre-register, this saves you queuing at a desk and possibly being 'offered' extras.

Cross over to where the car rental desks are in view through a window, go left and up to the 3rd floor (UK 2nd floor) and there is a kiosk there where you will collect keys etc.

What I have said here relates to Budget, they are the only rental company we have used.

[shockey]

Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty are on airport at Tampa. Alamo and National are off airport.

[Gtyler]

WOW!!! what a great, quick response. Thank you to you all, Caroline & Dave, Clare R and Susan & Martin, you've been a great help. Just another couple of things (you can tell I've never done this driving in the US thing before ) Is it best to book my car now, even though I'm not travelling for several months, and if so, do I book directly with the Tampa airport branch of rental company of my choice, or can i do it through the British company equivelent?
I will also be needing a child seat & a booster, plus sat-nav, are these negotiable when booking or is it all fixed prices and no haggling (worth a try?)

[caroline]

There's a link at the top of this page for Florida car hire I doubt you'll find a cheaper company and you certainly won't find better service anywhere, they also do sat navs. I'd take your own car seat/booster , they're expensive to hire and rarely as good as your own which you now the history of and your child is familiar with.

[Gtyler]

Cheers Caroline, that's very helpful to know. I've got to drive from Tampa on the main highway up to near Orlando. Is it really as daunting as it looks on the maps and photos I've seen?
Thanks, you've been fantastic.

[caroline]

It's a doddle, we often fly into Tampa, as well as cheaper flights it's smaller than Orlando airport and so quick to get through. You'll be fine, just take your time, relax and enjoy the drive [msnsmile2]

[christhear]

Gazza

once you find the I4 its an easy drive to Orlando area. I agree with Caroline about taking your own seats - they usually go free. Also you only pay £25 now with the remainder of the balance taken 8 weeks prior to your arrival if you use Us car hire. We also like Tampa airport, much better than Orlando.

[ujpest doza]

Take your own car seats.

They're free to put in the hold on the plane and therefore it saves you renting them from the car hire company.

We got one off Alamo once and it was skanky. Have always taken our own since which has the added bonus of saving time as you know how to fit it and operate it.

[Gtyler]

Cheers guys you've all been great. It's a shame Virgin don't fly to Tampa from London. Why is it only BA that goes to both Tampa and Orlando? I thought Virgin would too. Has anyone flown on BA to Tampa/Orlando on economy (or worldwide as they call it) and what's the difference (except the price0 in economy on Virgin to BA. The prices vary so much there has to be a catch somewhere.
Gazza

[christhear]

In my view BA are much better than Virgin. BA fly a smaller plane with a 3 3 3 seat configuration in economy class - flight is normaly on time and good service from crew.
Free drinks and entertainment system, smaller plane means less crowded immigration hall.

[Katys Grandad]

Not a lot of difference between any of the major carriers' economy offerings really. I'd go with the cheapest.

[parthiban]

Hi I need to book a car for our trip to Orlando soon, we're flying into Orlando but out of Tampa. I prefer to rent with Alamo as I've always had good experiences with them, but this thread has informed me that Alamo is offsite at Tampa.

Is it a long enough journey that I may as well book with Budget (they're onsite at MCO and TPA aren't they?) or is it not so bad so should just stick with Alamo?

[Jill]

Dropping a car of at Tampa with Alamo is easy (we have done it more than once). They have frequent buses from the depot to the airport. Will probably be doing again next year as I am flying into Orlando and out of Tampa.

[ShirleyD]

I have done Alamo at Tampa too... very easy and quick

[parthiban]

Thanks Jill and Shirley, will just stick with Alamo then [msnsmile]

[parthiban]

Just to update for anyone who may have the same concerns as me, did the drop at Alamo in Tampa and it was really simple - they even loaded the bags on to and off the bus for us and dropped us right at the door where our check in desk was so in some ways even easier than with an onsite car return!

[Jill]

Pleased to hear all went well and you did not have any problems.

[jimiansville]

I agree with previous posts. Tampa is a great airport and the flights are normally cheaper. We prefer it to MCO and the Alamo transfer is very quick and easy.

We always use UScarhire offered on this site and the value for money and customer service is second to none.