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.