[MaulerDude72]

Wondering if anyone has any good car rental stories to tell? Since I asked, I'll share mine with you all.

We arrive at Orlando Int'l and get all of our luggage. A skycap notices we have a lot of luggage with us and offers to put it all on a cart. I tell him that we are looking for the Alamo counter where we made our reservation. After a smooth check in process, we go out to the minivan section of the Alamo garage and pick out the van we want for the week.

We pick up a car seat for our 3 year old daughter and all of a sudden we realized that the latch system has been removed from the vehicle. On top of that, there was no locking clip with the car seat. I went back to ask for help from the Alamo staff person and he gets me a locking clip after a 15 minute search. Once we got the car seat installed and the luggage loaded, we thought we were on our way to WDW.

I noticed before I started the car that there were only 210 miles on it. I may not be the most saavy person when it comes to automobiles but I do know that a car wth 210 miles on it should have no problem starting. WRONG!!!!! The car didn't even start. Obviously a problem with the starter. Now I am assuming one of two things:

1) Alamo bought themselves a LEMON

or

2) Somebody monkeyed with the odometer

Without hesitiation, my frustrated DW and I unloaded the car and had to re-install the car seat into a new minivan. We spent an additional 20 minutes in the Alamo garage reloading when it could have been spent driving towards the MainGate. We relayed our complaint to Alamo about the faulty vehicle but they did not refund us for the time lost. On top of that, we found out that they charge something like $10 a day for car seat rental and $53 for an additional driver. By the time we arrived at the Caribbean Beach Resort, we were too tired to do anything.

So what is the moral of this story? Next time we bring our own car seat and sign up only one driver. The good thing was is that we didn't have to return the car wiuth a full tank. Outside of our last night spent at a crummy Days Inn near the airport, the whole trip went pretty smoothly.

[MrDisneyfan1]

You need to check every option, they charge for everything. I just rebooked for the fourth time, with Alamo for our trip in 2 weeks. New codes and savings. I am down to Tax's and fees included to $205.00 for 10 days for a full size with one a free upgrade. Luckly I do not have any horror stories about rentals.

I once was able to get a minivan for half the price at L&M, right after 9-11, they were trying to get as much business as possible from people walking by, and they compared their price to who ever I had booked at that time, and said they would do better. Brand new vehicle, and great service for cheap cheap cheap. I have heard of some people having problems with them, and every other time I have called, they have been rediculously high.
Den

[MrDisneyfan1]

BTW -
We just bought a portable car seat for children 25 - 40 lbs, with 5 point harness, weighs 4 lbs. Could not go wrong for $29.95 Only 4 lbs and still safe and highway legal!
Den

[Buzz & Woody]

Originally Posted by MrDisneyfan1

BTW -
We just bought a portable car seat for children 25 - 40 lbs, with 5 point harness, weighs 4 lbs. Could not go wrong for $29.95 Only 4 lbs and still safe and highway legal!
Den

Could you tell me the name of the car seat that you got?
Thanks
Holly

[mj_ski]

Originally Posted by MaulerDude72

On top of that, we found out that they charge something like $10 a day for car seat rental and $53 for an additional driver.

My wife and I each rent 40-50 cars each per year do to work travels......they only time they wanted to charge more for a second driver was when her's and my last name were different. Granted we usually rent from budget, avis and hertz.

The point is well taken from the original post, check on everything and ask LOTS of questions.

[MrDisneyfan1]

http://store.yahoo.com/lowestdollar1/by1543b.html

Here it is

[Buzz & Woody]

it is a pain to bring your own car seats, but I highly recommend it. You never know what you are going to get when you rent a car seat. Who knows-it could have been in an accident or something and not replaced properly. For the cost of renting a car seat, it's cheaper to buy a new one. Why would the Latch be removed. I find that odd in a new vehicle. I am sorry about all of your problems with Alamo. It can really make or break a trip!
Holly

[E&B's Mom]

I can not ever remember paying extra for an additional driver. We have never rented from Alamo, but most other places do not charge extra for spouses.

[hiner]

We've always rented from Alamo, Hertz once. This year was the first time we had a problem. We picked out our car drove to Gatorland for the morning/early afternoon. Stopped for some supplies on the way to WDW and went and checked in. Came out to drive to our room and we had trouble starting the car. Finally started and headed to the room. Went to Chef Mickey's for dinner and when we returned, DH figured he would try the car again. Had trouble starting it. Called Alamo and they told him to return the car at their center right in WDW. Well, while he was on the phone, I decided to go take pictures of the resort (again) and when I returned, he was gone. He returned about 20 minutes later with a new car. The rest of the stay we had no problems.

[MerlinMatt]

This is why we only do Disney parks and we hire QuickSilver to get us from and to the airport. Never any hidden fees and I don't have to drive!

Yaaaaayyyy!!!!!!