Car Hire Decision

Hello everyone!!

I%26#39;m going to Orlando for the first time in Sept for a couple of weeks with my girlfriend (we%26#39;re 27 and 28 yr olds) and are planning on doing Disney and having a bit of a wander across to see the space shuttle and Daytona.

I%26#39;m stuck between whether to hire a car though. We are staying at the Crown Plaza on I-drive (I%26#39;m getting the code on here already!!).

We%26#39;ve costed the transfer from Sanford at 拢70 return.

The best price of a car is 拢186 for a medium car (I%26#39;m 6%26#39;6'; - need the space!)

We were thinking about hiring cars here and there to do day trips and have a wander round - but the price is higher on the websites if you hire in Orlando itself rather than the airport. It works out that with the transfers we%26#39;d probably be able to hire a car for 4-5 days(ish) for the price of the 2 week hire.

As I%26#39;ve never been I don%26#39;t know if the car will just be sat there for 2 weeks and the public transport will do us fine! Maybe hire a car for a couple of days!!! Don%26#39;t think I could do Disney for 14 days solid!! ha ha!!!

Arrrrg!! Its been going round in my tired head for days now!!

Was wondering if you learned people might be able to help me make a decision!!

Thanks for your time!

J

Car Hire Decision

Hi, we seriously couldn%26#39;t do a holiday to Orlando without a car. Especially as you are staying off property it would just make life so much easier that having to depend on public/hotel transport. It gives you complete freedom to come and go as you please and pop to shops / foodstores etc whenever. Also if you plan to escape from Disney for a few days then you will really need a car to do this. The price you have been quoted is about average (make sure CDW insurance is included in this price). Definitely book before you go. Go for it - you won%26#39;t regret it!

Car Hire Decision

Were a couple in our 30%26#39;s going to Orlando for the first time in October, and we have decided (after talking to alot of people who have been before) that a car is a near essential. Apparently driving over there is a pleasure (unlike here!) because the roads are so large, and there is less congestion ect. Taxi%26#39;s are far from cheap, and relying on hotel transport means you get to the parks well after mid morning (the busiest time of the day).

If i were you i would definatly hire a car for the full holiday, if you dont use it every day, it doesn%26#39;t mater, it wont eat anything, as my Mum would say! LOL

Depending on where you are staying, where you want to get to, how much time you have (you%26#39;re on holiday - do you need to rush?) and personal preferences, then you may be able to make use of the local bus service. This will get you to most places you might want to go within the greater Orlando/Kissimmee area (but not much further - so you won%26#39;t get to the beaches or NASA).

There is a map of routes, and details of all schedules at

www.golynx.com

Riding is easy with a bit of advance research. Each trip costs USD1.50 one way, which includes free transfers to another bus if you need to. Or USD12.00 for a week.

FYI, I use this exclusively for all my local travel when I%26#39;m there. I don%26#39;t drive. I%26#39;d rather not have to concern myself with parking, driving, finding my way, remembering the ';wrong'; side of the road.....and so on.

If you are happy spending a lot of your time on buses, waiting for buses, or worrying about whether you%26#39;ll miss a bus schedule then I%26#39;d probably not rent a car.

The apparent value of your car is 拢186 minus 拢70 (transfer costs) = 拢116. The actual value in terms of time saved and overall flexibility is priceless. Go on, you know it makes sense. You don%26#39;t have to use it every day but at least you can if you want to.

Hi you need a car its a necessity honest even if you have an hotel with the shuttle to the parks they usually only do one pick up am and pick up quite early pm so you can miss some of the night time attractions, my daugher didnt have a car last year and she regretted it so much she arranged a pick up for the second week luckily she had taken her driving licence, pack yours now loads forget them it can spoil the beginning of your holiday waiting for it to arrive at your hotel, you also need a car for all the shopping you will do will have too many bags to carry, have a great holiday ...laura

Hiring a car is you best option.

You can make the best of you time , Then you can go anywhere you want when you want.

By the time you have paid for other transport the cost will probably cheaper.

NOTE; If you rent when you get there the cost will be at walk in rates. which will be ';Much Higher';

You will have to buy insurance on their terms which will be $45-$70 a day + rent.

Hire a car while still in Britain for the full period, Make sure you get a full cover insurance on it Nothing to pay when you get there. Gold or Platinum insurance as they call it.

Do Not just take ';Colision Damamage Waiver'; only this only covers damage done to the car you hire , all the other damage you will have to pay for.

Book the car grade you want , dont be persuaded to up grade when you get there , or they will re charge the insurance again.

Arrange pick up at airport.

Thanks very much to you all!!

Great advice!

Thank you!!

J

Good advice - definately hire a car. The convenience factor is priceless. I was expecting an onslaught of replies from folks who love I-drive saying that you don%26#39;t need a car..that may well be true for some.

But for what is realatively a small amount of cash you can come %26amp; go as you please very easily - pop for dinner, ice-cream, to Wal-Mart, game of crazy golf.... endless opportunities..

The first time is always a bit daunting but if you research you route before you leave, look at maps, even aerial images on the internet to get your bearings - it%26#39;ll be fine.

I, too, was a little apprehensive on my first visit in 1993 but on day two it was up %26amp; away - never looked back since, 20 trips later to all parts of USA %26amp; Canada!

Hi, I agree with everyone else...

Husband and I are in our early/mid 30s and would never dream of going anywhere in the US (apart from maybe a short break to NY) without a car.... America was built for the motor car ;-)

Husband and I have been going to the US (seperately at first!) since the ages of 6 (for me) and younger (for him). Our families have always hired cars, so it was a natural progression for us to hire cars...

Agree with everyone re ';freedom'; - if you have a car you can do anything you want whenever you want: your holiday to your schedule....

Agree with what others have said about iinsurance - if I was you, I would look for a ';fully inclusive'; package (that includes all insurances and the extra driver - assuming you both want to drive). Try these two sites: http://holidayautos.co.uk/ and http://airline-network.co.uk/carhire/

Good luck and have a lot of fun :-)

UCC

There is also Yescarhire.com. www.uscarhire.co.uk Both good to deal with.