The Iconic Ford Mustang

We now have rates loaded around to next December for Alamo car hire, Budget car hire and Dollar car hire. Budget car hire rates are unchanged from 2011 – however, there is a summer surcharge on all cars collected between June 20th and August 20th. Alamo have also renewed the summer surcharge for the same dates, but just on the larger cars.
Dollar cars remain without a surcharge this summer – and with a guaranteed upgrade from the 2 door version to the 4 door model of each category!

Lovers of the Ford Mustang convertible will be delighted to see that the model is now showing as the convertible car of choice by all suppliers. Of course we can never 100% guarantee a particular make or model – but clients are going to have the best chance ever of driving one of these iconic cars with the top down this summer. Don’t forget that with both Dollar and Alamo you can choose your own car from those available in your category at all the larger locations – particularly Orlando International Airport. A great chance to try a different model for size…

If you are aged 21 – 25 you will need the Young Driver Packages from Alamo or Budget and don’t forget that Alamo’s Young Driver Package includes 3 drivers aged 21 – 24 for the same price – fantastic value!

As always, if you have any questions, please give us a call, or use the chat facility.

Elle

Rates for next year have been largely released – already in place is a surcharge for collections between July 1st and August 21st for all suppliers and from Dec 15 – 30th this year except Alamo and next year all suppliers.

We have the following feedback on our new supplier – Advantage by Hertz:

The Staff very friendly and no queue whatsoever. I would use them again. Although our car has 35000 plus miles on the clock it still feels very clean and newish… I did upgrade to a midsize car though, as they said our 3 suitcases would not fit in the small car they had available… I checked when we crossed over to the parking garage and their smallest car was definitely smaller than budgets smallest car… this will be fine with just 2 people travelling and cases but a bit tight with 3 people & cases. Their upgrade was only $5 per day though which seems reasonable.

Thank you Helen!

Meanwhile, Dollar has completed an overhaul of its operations by closing the mass of hotel locations, particularly in Las Vegas. It is now in a very different financial position to that of a couple of years ago.

Now, all rental car drivers can do the same thing thanks to Toll-by-plate. As the car goes through the SunPass lane a photograph is taken of the rear Tag plate (number plate). This is then matched up to the rental car company, and your rental, and then the toll is automatically billed to your credit card.

Since February 2011, the entire county of Miami-Dade has been E-tolling only – which means there are no longer any change booths available. If you fly into Miami International then you will more than likely use a toll road as to try and avoid them can lead you into some pretty seedy areas. This means that you will need to be aware of the toll-by-plate system. Once used, the system is active for the length of your rental so you can continue to use the SunPass lanes throughout Florida.

The rental companies do have different ways of billing:

For Alamo/National you will pay $2.00 per rental day, or $6.00 for the duration of your rental plus tolls. You opt in when you first drive through a SunPass lane.

For Dollar/Thrifty you will pay $6.99 per day or $36.99 for up to 30 days. This rate includes all your tolls and you must opt in to Pass 24 when you collect your car. If you fail to opt in and then go through a SunPass lane you will be charged a $25 admin fee plus the toll for EACH infraction.

For Budget/Avis you will pay $2.50 per day or $10.00 per week plus the cost of your tolls. There is no need to opt in, but once you have gone through a SunPass lane you will be charged for the length of the rental.

We continue to offer U Save at Orlando which allows 2 drivers aged 21 – 25 with no surcharge at all, but we only have this contract with U Save at Orlando, not the other U Save locations.

Budget’s Young Driver Package continues to allow 1 driver aged 21 – 24 with no change to that package.

There are currently just short of 240 traffic junctions with the photo enforced system around Florida with fines varying from $70 – $ 160. Any citations will be charged to your credit card once the fine reaches the hire company.

BA is to move two of its weekly flights from Orlando to Tampa in March, this will provide daily service from the UK to Tampa for the airline, for the first time. Tampa International airport is only an hour or so away from the Walt Disney World / Kissimmee area and flights can often be a little cheaper than flying into Orlando. Because the airport is not as busy as Orlando, overall times of processing at Tampa are usually much quicker.

During November Alamo car hire moved its desks into the terminal area and its cars into the on-site car parks. Because Alamo are currently cheaper than the other providers on our website with almost identical packages, this makes them a very attractive proposition at the airport now.

If you would like to check what is included within your Alamo insurance package do please give us a call when we will be happy to fill you in.

A ravine of menacing-looking crocs, pools of hippos, bushwalks along untracked terrain and other thrills await guests on Wild Africa Trek, a unique wildlife experience scheduled to launch in early 2011 into the deepest, most-remote reaches of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Reservations can now be booked for the three-hour, expert-led adventure that will immerse guests in the realms and wildlife thrills of far-off Africa – without leaving Walt Disney World Resort. In small groups, guests on the Wild Africa Trek will enjoy an “up-close-and-personal” experience with African wildlife species that make their home in Pangani Forest as well as other areas of the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve. As part of the adventure, guests will clip onto a lifeline as they step to the very edge of a cliff to get amazingly close to the hippos and crocs waiting just below. Talk about cliff-hangers!

Adventure-minded guests will have the experience of a lifetime as they get immersed in an authentic African safari experience that only Disney can deliver,” said Michael Colglazier, vice president of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “We are thrilled to be offering this unique outdoor adventure aimed at active vacationers, taking interactions with the incredible animals that inhabit the Harambe Reserve to the next level and literally blazing new trails in our park.”

Highlights of what’s in store for guests on this add-on adventure:

Wild Africa Trek will be offered several times daily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Groups will be kept small, consisting of no more than 12 trekkers per safari.

Reservations for Wild Africa Trek can be arranged by calling 407-WDW-TOUR (939-8687). Pricing for this unique adventure will vary seasonally. Guests who reserve a booking from Jan. 16-Feb. 26, 2011, may take advantage of an introductory offer starting at $129. Park admission is required for participants.

While Disney Transportation is always available and complimentary, it can involve quite a bit of waiting about for buses.  At certain times of day like park entry and closing the buses can be overwhelming.  Consider hiring your own car for some flexibility – you don’t have to pay for parking if you are staying on site – and then you have access to cheaper shops and restaurants away from Disney World.  You could well save the cost of your car hire in cheaper meals and food by going off site a few times!

The ever popular Minivan 7 seater (people carrier) category features many different vehicles such as the Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Chevrolet Uplander etc, but some of these are larger than others and some feature useful upgrades such as DVD systems. A quick look through the car can be most revealing, you can check to make sure your luggage fits, and if not, move on to a different car! The ‘Choice Product’ is only offered at locations that have a barrier gate on exit, and it is there that your choice of car is logged against your reservation.

Combined with Alamo’s ‘Save Time’ online check in facility (pre-registration), pre-bookable Sat Nav’s and the Young Driver Package for drivers under 25, this makes Alamo your first choice for car hire in Florida. Although Alamo staff are often known for their fondness of trying to pursuade you to upgrade your car – their customer service should things go wrong is quite superior, and probably worth sticking it out with a few polite “no thank you’s” at the desk! And there is no Christmas Surcharge!!

If you would like more information about how many drivers can be included on the standard package, or anything else to do with your rental, please do give us a call in the office on 01428 741438.

In the same survey American Airlines was ranked as the best airline overall, with Virgin Atlantic a close second, and British Airways fifth (and this was before all the strikes)! The airlines were ranked on a scale of 1 – 5, with 5 representing Excellent, and 1 representing truly awful, in 6 categories: punctuality; security; food; cabin crew;entertainment and overall service. However, Virgin Atlantic was the most popular airline in terms of flights taken.