Orlando BEWARE $4.40 GAS!
 

All should be aware of a gas station near the Orlando International Airport that is charging $4.40 for regular unleaded as of 30 Aug 07. This is the closest gas station to the airport off-site parking and the rental car return sites. They have no sign by the road, so they hope to get you pumping gas before you notice the price. Name of the gas station is the Landing Strip and it's located on Semoran Blvd. (aka SR 436). It's co-located with a Wendy's there. Drive by this business! Less than a mile down the road are a couple of gas stations that charge the going rate. Most of the locals know about it, but he's counting on the tourists who are in a hurry to return their cars and get to the airport. The following words are in this post to get more search hits: DISNEY SEA WORLD UNIVERSAL GATORLAND ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE CYPRESS GARDENS DISCOVERY COVE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WET N WILD

There's an article about this station over at the local CBS station site:
http://www.local6.com/news/14009909/detail.html

Sigh...I should have to pay that much for gas since I used the word "station" so much in my previous post! :-(

Well, this is a free country, right? Why can't a merchant charge whatever he wants?

And $4.40 probably is still cheaper than the car rental company's rate if you return the car less than full.

Of course it's a free country, but it's still deceptive....even the owner knows it.

Thanks to the original poster for his "right" to warn other people to just drive a little bit further down the street.

Ah, there's always one in the barrel...
Thanks for posting the warning, bo.

That's why its illegal in California to NOT post road-visible price signs at gas stations.

Yep - California has strict signage laws so that consumers can easily compare prices. There are only a few areas of the state (Big Sur coast) comes to mind where station owners can get a special exemption from the signage laws so as not to detract from the scenery.

Thanks for the warning!

There is a more moderately priced alternative (a Mobil) just a few blocks north at SR 436 & Hoffner. This place is not the absolute cheapest but it is convenient and on the way to several airport off-site parking places and to the airport itself.

Wasn't this brought up ages ago? I know I read about this before we went in early December. I know which station you are talking about. Deceptive, yes. Our shuttle driver from the airport to our car rental place even warned us about it and told us to steer clear. It was nice to see someone looking out for us tourists.

I don't understand the outrage. Gas stations closest to the airport/rental outfits always charge an exorbitant amount. Fill up elsewhere. Where do you live that you don't realize this? Is this your first trip?

At least the local FL, Orlando and MCO authorities aren't gouging their visitors themselves.

If the California legislators care so much about visitors renting cars in CA, how much lowering the fees and taxes by local and airport authorities?

For example, renting a car at SFO tomorrow for a day from Hertz:
Weekend rate $29.99
Tax 8.25%
Airport concession fee 11.10%
Transportation and facilities fee $15
California Tourism Commission Assessment 2.50%

Total taxes and fees $21.82.

There was a station in Kirkwood California - Kirkwood Station Hwy 88 & Kirkwood Meadows Rd that was $4.25 this afternoon!Most places have gone down here in the last week and are about $2.60.

Shaz, get over yourself. Everybody knows that stations near airports charge a few more cents per gallon -- but 50% more? Please tell me how many of those you've run into? And if you say "all the time" I don't believe you. If you don't like this warning, then take your bitter attitude and go elsewhere. What a demeaning thing you said to a poster who was trying to post a simple warning.

rkkwan, the California law isn't meant to protect car renters, it's meant to protect residents.

If you want to know about gas prices in the Orlando area this will give you all you need..

http://www.orlandogasprices.com/

To get the gas prices for any area of the USA, go to
www.GasPriceWatch.com
www.GasPriceBuddy.com

Before I return a rental car, I always check one of these two sites (even if I have to pay for Internet access, five minutes of that is better than paying $1 more per gallon than I should) for areas near the airport. Then I fill up at the cheapest place and keep the receipt. If the rental place tries to claim I didn't fill the car up before returning it, I have irrefutable proof that I filled up a few minutes before a return, within a couple miles of the airport.

Is there a chance the owner is trying to target foreign travellers, particularly us Brits where we pay close $10 a gallon for fuel.

Imagine someone from the UK arriving and the first petrol station they see is selling fuel for about £2.25 a gallon, "whoopee, a bargain" they will probably think - little knowing they are being ripped off

Interesting theory, but doesn't work as a newly arriving passenger would have no ability to buy gas leaving the airport as their tank would be full.

One thing to keep in mind... Most fuel gages will register "full" or even past full for miles after you fill the tank. Fill up long before you get to the airport and you, for all practical purposes, will have a full tank when the car is turned in. I have done this many times with no problems encountered.