Does anyone have experience with them? Especially from the Tampa airport? I got the best rates from them and I am not a picky person. I understand they are not directly at the airport but have a shuttle. Does anyone know how far it is from the airport? Thanks

We used Payless in both Anchorage and Orlando and didn't have any problems. In fact we had a free upgrade in Anchorage. We got REALLY good rates both places as compared to other companies so we were a bit concerned about quality, but it was fine. In Orlando, we only had to wait about 15 minutes after getting to the rental place, whereas, in the past, I've often waited an hour for some other companies.

I'll second Ann's opinion.

I used Payless in Orlando in August 2001 and was more than satisfied. I think we paid something in the neighborhood of $85 for one week for a Dodge Neon. It took all of 3 minutes for the shuttle to pick us up and there was not a single person at the counter (it was 9 a.m. or so).

Thanks to both of you. I feel much better and will go ahead and book now. Gosh, Ann, that is a great rate. We have a rate of $104 for 4 days, economy car. But the other companies were all about $135 or more.

Regarding the rate, you were probably refering to Eugene Yeah, $85/week for Dodge Neon (intermediate) was a bargain, even for Orlando.

Cindy, there's a fairly recent posting regarding someone's bad experience with Payless in LA. You may want to take a look. I'll try to top it for you.

Thanks. I will check out the SF post. I see that the place closes at 10 pm and we arrive in Tampa at 9 pm so that concerns me a little. Does anyone know what happens if you have a reservation and have paid for it but your plane doesn't arrive until after 10 or close to it?

I actually posted this yesterday and thought I'd add it to your thread when I saw your subject title.


Message: I feel compelled to warn anyone considering using Payless Car Rental in Los Angeles against doing so. We had a miserable experienc with them last week. The car we rented--a Nissan Altima--looked like a reject from Rent-A-Wreck. It was dented and scraped all over and had a broken tail light. The interior was dirty and smelled very unpleasant the entire time we drove it. Even though we had reserved months earlier, the wait at the rental office (a nasty place to spend your time) was horrific. Over an hour and it was because the 'system' used to check people in is a joke. There were only about half a dozen leasers ahead of us, but because they were so terribly inefficient each customer was with an agent for at least 25 minutes. We also waited at least half an hour for the shuttle from the airport as we watched multiple runs from other rental agencies pick up their clients. When we commented on the inexcusable condition of the car, they made no offer to replace it with anything else and the last thing we wanted to do at that point was to spend another half hour redoing the rental process. I've learned from my mistake--pay a little more and stick with the major car rental companies--and I thought that by relating my most unpleasant experience I might save someone else the hassle and embarrassent (try vallet parking with a dented up Altima at The Four Seasons or Spago!) we endured.

I`d call direct(Tampa/Westshore) and find out how long the shuttle runs and if you`re late if you have to wait till the next day....that`s cutting it close if plane is late/even if some-one runs and gets the car and comes back to the airport to get you at baggage claims.....don`t assume anyhing.you know what they say if you assume..

PS=IT`S NOT FAR....it`s on Westshore Drive..couple minutes...sorry caps locked...not shouting