Dollar Express - Miami International Airport

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
There is still a lot of building work going on around Miami airport, but the depots are not that far away, and shuttles are available right outside the doors of the terminal building, so I would like to reassure people that you do not have to worry about picking up your car.

If you are worried about dropping off the car then simply follow the signs into the main airport and follow the ring road around it where you will find signs to the main depots.

The depots are in an industrialised part near the airport boundary, but we collect cars from here quite often and have never felt afraid or threatened in any way.

[/quote]

Hi Ellie

It was certainly not my intention to alarm anybody and I think the OP will be fine if he's just collecting from Miami although, even then, if you get lost it's not a great area to be in.

I fly into Miami as often as most on here (I'm there next week) and still dread returning my rental car. Like you, I end up going through the airport and following the courtesy buses and by now am reasonably familiar with it, but first-timers need to keep their wits about them.

On the map it looks simple and not far from the airport but it's all too easy to take a wrong turn getting there and the freeways are very busy and a bit crazy. I wouldn't dream of attempting it at rush hours and certainly not in the dark.

I'm afraid that I have felt very vulnerable around there and with good reason. I won't go into detail because it might not be fair but I'm always relieved to see the return depot. I'll be very happy when they move it.

[Tonish]

Sorry if I worried anyone with my gangsta comment - we've done it plenty of other times with no problem and there are bound to be many hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers go through year after year without even noticing anything.

But, we have had a couple of unpleasant trips in the dark and if (like us) you're of a nervous disposition I suggest making sure you're travelling in daylight. Our problems came from useless map reading and silly mistakes - we ended up more than once in very, very unpleasant areas and you stick out like a sore thumb in a brand new cadillac or lincoln or whatever driving round and round desperately trying to find the entrance ramp to the main road which is above your head plain as day but seemingly impossible to get onto.

There I go again, just ignore me.

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Tonish

Our problems came from useless map reading and silly mistakes - we ended up more than once in very, very unpleasant areas and you stick out like a sore thumb in a brand new cadillac or lincoln or whatever driving round and round desperately trying to find the entrance ramp to the main road which is above your head plain as day but seemingly impossible to get onto.[/quote]Well, Tonish, the answer to that is to book a nice plain simple compact as nobody will want to mug you for that! [msnwink]

I guess if you drove round some areas of London or many of our capital cities in a 'roller' you would be an open target, and as for parking it, well no doubt you would find it minus its tyres and other bits and pieces on your return![msnscared]

I am available for map reading should you need a PA next time you go! Have not gone wrong yet.....[msnwink]<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i]
It was certainly not my intention to alarm anybody and I think the OP will be fine if he's just collecting from Miami although, even then, if you get lost it's not a great area to be in.[/quote]
Well, KG, if you use my directions and follow them to the letter you won't get lost, will you? [msnwink]

[stabard]

Hi all from sunny florida.
as promised here is the update on dollar express at Miami

There was quite a scrum for the bus to take you out to the dollar car collection lot and yes the area does look a bit rough. There was a dedicated express lane and it only took about 10 minutes ti fill in the forms and pick up the car. They also gave us some very good printed directions to the interstate 95 and we were here in place on the beach in now time.