Car hire from Miami

[sammibabe]

We are flying into Miami for the first time (saved a fortune even compared to indirect) and wondered if any car rental, booked through here of course [msnwink], was better or worse. And which is better for a 19 night stay, gold or silver. Only 1 driver needed, if can have 2 I go on just in case! Thanks

[ellie]

We like to book with Alamo as you can choose your own vehicle - even in Miami, and there is usually a good choice.

If you are going for 19 nights then it is normally more cost effective to book silver and pay for one full tank of petrol on arrival, rather than paying the extra for 19 days on the gold tariff.

It is always a good idea to have a 'spare' driver, just in case.[msnwink]

Hope you have a great time.

[SteveandJan]

We always use Alamo too in Miami. Always a great service when we have used them. As Ellie said above, we always buy a full tank of petrol too.

[cash]

I did post this a few days ago on another thread.

"Just be aware that the car rental is a lot different in Miami as it is in Orlando.

We flew into Miami for the first time in March as we were joining a cruise from Ft Lauderdale, it wasnt a pleasent experience, took ages to get out of the customs hall and then we knew we had to pick up a shulltle bus to take us to the new car rental building but didnt have a clue where to go as there were no signs, we finally found someone who told us to look for the rental white shuttle buses which we duly found and all of us including all our luggage had to board the bus which took us to the rental building about 5-10 mins away.

We were lucky in that i am a dollar express member so we didnt have to que at the rental desk but headed straight to the kiosk in the car park and was then directed to our car which like Alamo you can choose.


Reagrding getting upto Kissimmee i use the turnpike as its a quicker route but dont forget the tolls !!!!!"

[ellie]

Miami Airport is quite simple - once you know how! [msnwink]

It is built like a giant elongated 'c' with all three terminals leading from one to another - north, central and south.

The car hire shuttle buses pick up from the lower level of each terminal and drop off on the upper level. So when you have collected your luggage all you need to do is make your way towards the nearest exit and find your way down to the lower level. The shuttle buses are large and white with 'RENTAL CAR SHUTTLE' in big letters across the front of them. They are on a continuous loop.

When you want to return to the airport, having dropped your car hire off, then you will be dropped at the upper level, and if you tell the driver which airline you are flying with he will stop right outside the door which leads into the airport and your particular check in desks.

Some time during 2011 the MIA Mover, which is a dual track elevated people mover will connect the airport to the Rental Car Center. This will have the capacity to transport over 3,000 people an hour between the airport and the rental car center, as well as eventually (2013)to the MIC - a station where you will be able to pick up the Metrorail, the Metrobus, the Tri-rail and Amtrak. This should make it even easier than before.

We have used the rental car facility several times and have found it to be excellent - it is a huge building, but although we experienced some queues we did not find it any worse than Orlando. Finding it is quite easy as it is well-signposted from the I-95. We have never waited for a shuttle - they have always been waiting there ready, and have transported us speedily both ways.

Hope you find don't find it a problem, Sammibabe. We can certainly recommend it.

[sammibabe]

Thanks guys. TBH last time at MCO it took forever for the luggage to arrive on the carousel. Hopefully will be no worse [msnscared]

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sammibabe
Thanks guys. TBH last time at MCO it took forever for the luggage to arrive on the carousel. Hopefully will be no worse [msnscared]
[/quote]

No double baggage reclaim should help![msnwink]

[sammibabe]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sammibabe
Thanks guys. TBH last time at MCO it took forever for the luggage to arrive on the carousel. Hopefully will be no worse [msnscared]
[/quote]

No double baggage reclaim should help![msnwink]
[/quote]
Think that had gone last time we went as vague memory of commenting on it - could be wrong, am quite often [msnembarrased]

[ellie]

I meant no double baggage reclaim at Miami.[msnwink] There is still double baggage reclaim at MCO but if you can manage all your luggage you can take it with you on the shuttle train instead of putting it back on the conveyor - this saves a serious amount of time.

[cash]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sammibabe
Thanks guys. TBH last time at MCO it took forever for the luggage to arrive on the carousel. Hopefully will be no worse [msnscared]
[/quote]

If your referring to the second carousel in the Terminal building then you are able to carry/take your luggage with you once you have collected it in the customs hall, you just go up the elevator to the satellite trains and you are able to walk straight out of the terminal.