Please advise.....

[minner80]

We just booked our cruise on the Freedom. We had free flights to Orlando. We will need to rent a car in Orlando, drop it off somewhere that will transport us then to the port. We will be spending one night in Fort Lauderdale or somewhere between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. I thought about dropping the car off and staying at a hotel that had a rental car company. I am finding out that most rental car companies in hotels will let you pick a car up from them but, however not drop it off. Help!

[KruznKel]

We just booked our cruise on the Freedom. We had free flights to Orlando. We will need to rent a car in Orlando, drop it off somewhere that will transport us then to the port. We will be spending one night in Fort Lauderdale or somewhere between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. I thought about dropping the car off and staying at a hotel that had a rental car company. I am finding out that most rental car companies in hotels will let you pick a car up from them but, however not drop it off. Help!

 

 

We used Enterprise and were allowed to drop the car off in Miami at the Hyatt.. you may want to check the Florida board for some more info..

 

http://www.roatanshoretours.com/beach_day.htm

[firefly333]

You probably would want to check if there is a charge for one way rental ... if so it would be cheaper to book one without the charge, even if you had to pay a taxi to get to your hotel.

[Ichellebereel]

We have reserved a car from the airport in Orlando and will drop it off Thrifty by the port then take a cab to the port. There is a drop off fee but still cheaper than shuttle.

[zqvol]

We just booked our cruise on the Freedom. We had free flights to Orlando. We will need to rent a car in Orlando, drop it off somewhere that will transport us then to the port. We will be spending one night in Fort Lauderdale or somewhere between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. I thought about dropping the car off and staying at a hotel that had a rental car company. I am finding out that most rental car companies in hotels will let you pick a car up from them but, however not drop it off. Help!

 

You need to look a bit more. Most national chains will let you drop it off at any of their locations, including hotels.

[illinoismomof4]

Orlando to Ft Lauderdale is 5 hours max if you take the turnpike. a little longer on 95. I wouldn't stop to stay along the way, But it would be depending on what time you get in Orlando. I would stay in Ft. Lauderdale

[kdoodle22]

You can do Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale in less than 4 hours on I-95. :)

[cschultz]

The last time we did this (March of this year), we spent the night in Orlando, and drove to FLL the morning of the cruise. Orlando hotels are generally a lot cheaper that what you will find in FLL. We chose Alamo car rental, as they were the cheapest, no drop off fee.

We dropped the car off at the airport, and took a taxi to the port.

[illinoismomof4]

You can do Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale in less than 4 hours on I-95. :)

 

I forgot they raised the speed limit

[broberts]

One way car rentals in FL generally have no or a very low fee.

 

Port Everglades is about a 5 minute cab ride from the airport (FLL). Depending on traffic getting into the port a cab is generally less than $20.

 

Some of the car rental companies at the airport participate in a free shuttle that runs between the car rental terminal and Port Everglades. Other companies offer their own shuttle service.

[LHP]

There is a Hampton Inn in Plantation that we have used.

 

They provide a free shuttle to the port.

[postalgrrl]

Check out this thread on the Florida boards, it has tons of info. And check out the blog that Bequia does.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1047788

 

Bequia's 411 blog on Ft. Lauderdale

http://ftlauderdale411.blogspot.com/

[C&THollings]

Most rentals companies in Florida allow you to rent at one location and return it at another without a fee. We used Hertz, rented at Ft. Lauderdale airport and returned it at the Port of Miami. Simple and easy!

[Quigley10]

When we cruise out of S Florida, we rent a car out of our local airport and drop off at FLL.

 

There's honestly not much after Orlando until you hit the coast on the turnpike-I agree with the poster who suggested staying in Orlando. You can Hotwire/Priceline the hotels near the airport for low rates. (We stayed at the Sheraton Suites for $35/night a few years ago.)

[hevuk]

You dont need to pay for a cab from fll airport to the port.After you leave your rental back go out to the front of the building{I think its the 2nd floor,but is clearly signposted}and there is a free shuttle bus that drops you off at your ship.You can even see the ships while your waiting on the bus to leave.Its one of the easiest ways to get to the ship there is.