Car Rental help - Tampa
Jan 13th, 2016, 07:26 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car Rental help - Tampa
My sisters and I are flying into Tampa on February 20 for a week visit to area. We need to rent a car and from past experience it seems to be much more expensive to rent right from airport instead of off-site. I am looking for an off site car rental that has a shuttle to get us from airport. Or would it be worth it to take a taxi? We are not familiar with airport or area.
Bottom line - what is best way to rent a car for a week flying into Tampa? Thanks!
Bottom line - what is best way to rent a car for a week flying into Tampa? Thanks!
Jan 13th, 2016, 08:57 AM
#2
Yikes. That's a school vacation week for the Northeastern states and they flock to Florida.
Yes it would probably be worth it to take a taxi. Sometimes you can return these cars to the airport location without an extra fee so your taxi fare would only be at pickup time. Unfortunately, many of the off-airport agencies close around noon on Saturdays. What time do you arrive? There's a Hertz @ 3900 Kennedy Blvd with good pricing but they close at noon...and your flight might be late so you'd need a backup plan.
Yes it would probably be worth it to take a taxi. Sometimes you can return these cars to the airport location without an extra fee so your taxi fare would only be at pickup time. Unfortunately, many of the off-airport agencies close around noon on Saturdays. What time do you arrive? There's a Hertz @ 3900 Kennedy Blvd with good pricing but they close at noon...and your flight might be late so you'd need a backup plan.
Jan 13th, 2016, 08:57 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMO, the best way is to simply rent at the airport. Taxis in Tampa aren't that cheap; Uber would be cheaper. But I can't imagine you'd save enough to make the hassle worthwhile.
Where are you staying? If at a hotel, perhaps the hotel has a shuttle from the airport that could take you to an off-airport car rental agency?
Where are you staying? If at a hotel, perhaps the hotel has a shuttle from the airport that could take you to an off-airport car rental agency?
Jan 13th, 2016, 01:48 PM
#8
No, generally the airports do not allow pickup via a courtesy vehicle since these off-sites have not paid their airport fees.
Enterprise has some locations open later on Saturday. The closest one looks like location #5, Spruce Road, open til 2pm. It's a 2.5 mile taxi ride. There is a $20 upcharge if you want to book the car on Spruce but return it to Tampa airport. The phone number for the Spruce location is 813-282-1680 if you have questions.
The airport Enterprise wants $450 per week for a mid size car that week, the Spruce location quotes $200 for a full-size.
Enterprise has some locations open later on Saturday. The closest one looks like location #5, Spruce Road, open til 2pm. It's a 2.5 mile taxi ride. There is a $20 upcharge if you want to book the car on Spruce but return it to Tampa airport. The phone number for the Spruce location is 813-282-1680 if you have questions.
The airport Enterprise wants $450 per week for a mid size car that week, the Spruce location quotes $200 for a full-size.
Jan 15th, 2016, 09:24 AM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know what the deal with Enterprise is, but you can get a car much cheaper than $450 a week at TPA, just check kayak. You can get one there for $20 a day (before taxes). Why is the attraction to Enterprise, I don't even like that company very well, there are many others. I've rented at TPA and it wasn't that expensive compared to offsite locations.
