Car Rentals near Ft. Lauderdale port/luggage storage

[NauticalPaul]

I am looking for updated info regarding car rental options near the port or a free car rental shuttle back to the airport to either store luggage at airport? or rent a car for the day there. Help! Thanks

[Mary Ellen1]

Hi there,

We got off the Emerald this morning & picked up our reserved rental car at FLL airport. There's a big shuttle bus -- free -- that serves all the major airport rental car companies, and runs back & forth from the pier ot the airport. Our reservation was with National, and we took the free shuttle bus service over to the airport (tipping the driver for helping us with our luggage). Very easy. There's also a Dollar/Thrifty location that's very near to the port, that runs a shuttle back & fort for free. We've used that a couple of years ago.

Can't answer your question about luggage storage, other than storing it in the rental car.

My favorite way to rent a car is through Priceline or Hotwire. We did Priceline, and paid $14 (plus fees) for an economy car that got upgraded to a mid-size.

Good luck.

Mary Ellen

[NauticalPaul]

Thanks Mary Ellen. In order to take the shuttle bus, do you have to show the driver that you have a reservation with such n' such company before boarding the bus? Also, which is closer taking the shuttle to the airport or the car companies that have off airport sites?

[Colo Cruiser]

Originally Posted by NauticalPaul

Thanks Mary Ellen. In order to take the shuttle bus, do you have to show the driver that you have a reservation with such n' such company before boarding the bus? Also, which is closer taking the shuttle to the airport or the car companies that have off airport sites?

We never have but some instist its being done.
I don't know what people would do if they decided when they left the ship to suddenly rent a car, they would not have any paperwork. Its worth a try.
I think it is easier dealing with the companies that are in the new rental car terminal rather then offsite.

[Borrego]

Originally Posted by NauticalPaul

I am looking for updated info regarding car rental options near the port or a free car rental shuttle back to the airport to either store luggage at airport? or rent a car for the day there. Help! Thanks

I've looked into this recently becuz we'll be arriving there 12/22. FLL has luggage storage in terminal 2 but apparently they close at 5:30 pm. We are flying out of terminal 4 and I was told to call in December to see if the storage facility has been opened there yet. The number is 954-359-5505. We're on a 7:45 pm flight back to LA and tossing around what to do to kill the day. We bought the ship transfers to the airport and have a car reserved but haven't decided whetheer or not to use it (the car) because we don't know where to go with it! Any ideas?

[Mary Ellen1]

Originally Posted by NauticalPaul

Thanks Mary Ellen. In order to take the shuttle bus, do you have to show the driver that you have a reservation with such n' such company before boarding the bus? Also, which is closer taking the shuttle to the airport or the car companies that have off airport sites?

Hi there - we didn't have to show any paperwork this morning when we did it. My husband just asked the bus driver if that bus was going to National car rental, and he said yes. We got on & off we went...

The Thrifty/Dollar location is closer -- a 5-minute ride, vs. a 15-minute ride to FLL airport. They run a van back & forth, vs. the bus that runs back & forth to FLL airport.

Mary Ellen

[Colo Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Mary Ellen1

Hi there - we didn't have to show any paperwork this morning when we did it. My husband just asked the bus driver if that bus was going to National car rental, and he said yes. We got on & off we went...

The Thrifty/Dollar location is closer -- a 5-minute ride, vs. a 15-minute ride to FLL airport. They run a van back & forth, vs. the bus that runs back & forth to FLL airport.

Mary Ellen

Thats what I thought....
Thanks for the verification!!

[NauticalPaul]

Borrego...Holloywood Beach is a nice spot with a boardwalk-shops and restaurants. Myself, would like to know if it's practical to drive to South Beach Miami for the afternoon and make it back to FLL for my 830pm flight. Any thoughts anyone has on that ?