Has anyone rented a car for the day in Portland, ME?

We will be there on RCCL Jewel of the Seas during the first week of October. We couldn't get the private tour company we were hoping for, so we're thinking of renting a car so that we can get around on our own. Is there anyway to pick up and drop off a rental car near the dock in Portland? We were thinking of maybe taking a taxi to the office at the airport in Trenton, but seems like we'd be wasting a lot of time that way.

Can anyone who has done this give us some tips?

Thanks in advance.

Laura

We will be there on RCCL Jewel of the Seas during the first week of October. We couldn't get the private tour company we were hoping for, so we're thinking of renting a car so that we can get around on our own. Is there anyway to pick up and drop off a rental car near the dock in Portland? We were thinking of maybe taking a taxi to the office at the airport in Trenton, but seems like we'd be wasting a lot of time that way.

Can anyone who has done this give us some tips?

Thanks in advance.

Laura

Call Enterprise Car Rental on Marginal Way in Portland and AVIS at the PWM Airport (Portland) for information and rates. Enterprise is closer to where you dock, but I understand Avis will pick up at the pier. Have a great trip!

We have rented a car the last two times in Portland. At that time Avis had someone on the dock and you would pick up the car there and return the car to a lot a block away and leave the keys in a lock box at the terminal.

To see if they are still doing this you have to call the Avis office in Downtown Portland directly. If you call the 800 number they will tell you no.

You have to set it up before hand.

Great info! Thanks!

I have a reservation with Enterprise they will pick you up and if they are still open when you return drop you off.

If you want suggestions on where to go/what to see, let me know! :)

If you want suggestions on where to go/what to see, let me know! :)

I'm curious what you would suggest to do. We are renting cars in St. Johns and Halifax, but I was also thinking about Portland. Any suggestions? I'm a photgraphy buff, maybe that will help in what you might suggest.

Thanks!

I'm curious what you would suggest to do. We are renting cars in St. Johns and Halifax, but I was also thinking about Portland. Any suggestions? I'm a photgraphy buff, maybe that will help in what you might suggest.

 

Thanks!

Here's a thread that I helped on last year, with a photographer in the family. Does any of this interest you?

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My husband is drawn by the Bush compound, (Kennebunkport) which I've gone blue in the face telling him "It's not like 41 is going to be walking around

outside!"

I'm a travel photographer and love quaint towns and Nantucket/coastal architecture. If there are any other quaint towns between Portland and Kennebunk/Kennebunkport, please suggest them!

Conversely, if there's somewhere within Portland (especially walking distance - we're big walkers) that has that "small town" feel, I'm definitely open to not leaving the area.

Here's a picture of the Bush Compound that I just grabbed off the internet:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2178126580067443763XDdVsn

That's exactly what you'll see (with a telephoto lens), and you won't get any closer. If you are lucky and they are in town you might see his boat out on the water. I think the Arundel Country Club is where they play golf, but I doubt if you'll have time to go that route!

In fact if they are in town, all the merchants at Dock Square will know it!

Truthfully for what you want, I think the hour stop with the excursion might be plenty. There are a couple of well known historic houses on the road from Kennebunk to Kennebunkport. Here's one:

http://rogershepherd.com/WIW/solution11b/cake.html

If that is something you want to see maybe the bus driver would stop for photos??

Have you researched the Old Port area of Portland? The architecture is amazing and the photo opportunities are endless. It will be more buildings and (working) waterfront photo opportunities, vs quaint little village houses, for instance. The Portland peninsula is positioned between the Eastern and Western Promenades, with both having individual architectural elements that might interest you. The Old Port and Eastern Prom you can easily walk to from the ship -- the Western Prom will be more of a hike, but possible if you are adventurous! (Maybe consider a taxi to take you and walk back...)

Here are some Old Port photos I just quickly found:

http://www.google.com/search?q=old+port+portland+maine+photos&hl=en&biw=1458&bih=907&prmd=imvnsc&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=i-1rTqyYKcb2gAe2rvyJBg&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQsAQ

If there are any tours taking you by boat into Casco Bay, that might be something to consider. There are several small islands around Casco Bay,

and a couple of close by lighthouses. There will be many excellent photo opportunities from those vantages as well!

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If you like lighthouses, here's the most famous one:

It's about a 10-15 minute drive from the ship, depending on traffic.

http://www.google.com/search?q=old+port+portland+maine+photos&hl=en&biw=1458&bih=907&prmd=imvnsc&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=i-1rTqyYKcb2gAe2rvyJBg&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQsAQ#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=portland+headlight&pbx=1&oq=portland+headlight&aq=f&aqi=g2&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=57232l59823l0l60686l18l16l0l7l7l1l204l1405l0.8.1l9l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=13beff553445666a&biw=1458&bih=907

Glad to help! :)

Here's a thread that I helped on last year, with a photographer in the family. Does any of this interest you?

Thanks so much for posting the info along with the photos. It will help with my planning. It looks like hanging around town a bit would be a good idea.

Thanks so much for posting the info along with the photos. It will help with my planning. It looks like hanging around town a bit would be a good idea.

You're welcome! :)

If you want suggestions on where to go/what to see, let me know! :)

I need ideas of what to do in Portland. I'm thinking this might be a good place to just walk around in the area near the cruise terminal? Looks like the Old Port district is not too far? I've been doing searches on the boards for the Victoria Mansion, Wadsworth Longfellow House and Shipyard Brewing Company, but the search results come back as "not found". I think something must not be working properly. Anyway, I was looking for advice from others who have "been there, done that" to decide what to do. Any help is very much appreicated!

I need ideas of what to do in Portland. I'm thinking this might be a good place to just walk around in the area near the cruise terminal? Looks like the Old Port district is not too far? I've been doing searches on the boards for the Victoria Mansion, Wadsworth Longfellow House and Shipyard Brewing Company, but the search results come back as "not found". I think something must not be working properly. Anyway, I was looking for advice from others who have "been there, done that" to decide what to do. Any help is very much appreicated!

Here are links for the 3 places you mentioned. Shipyard Brewing is very close to where you'll dock, so if you are wondering about walking, vs taxis to all of them, I'd jot down the street addresses for each and map them to note the distance between each. I personally think they are all worth checking out! In my earlier post I had a link to some Old Port photos. This is the area all along the waterfront where you will be, so you'll find lots of shops and restaurants.

http://www.victoriamansion.org/

http://www.mainehistory.org/house_overview.shtml

http://www.shipyard.com/

Here are a couple more links that might interest you. They are also relatively close to where you dock. I haven't seen a lot of attention paid to these two places on this board, but since I think you like history, you might be interested!

Let me know if I can help further! :)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fort-allen-park-portland

http://portlandlandmarks.org/observatory/