Florida - Renting 8 seat car...

Hi - Can anyone help?

I need to pick up an 8 seater in the Clearwater Area next April, dropping near Orlando around a week later.

It's a bit of a pursuit (ordeal) on the web to find something - best I've managed so far is a Hertz rental of a Yukon XL but I'd need to go to Tampa airport to collect.

Any input welcome!

Thanks

Tony

Are you looking for a mini-van? That would probably be your best bet.

What company are you looking at? Where in Clearwater will you be. I live in the area and can give you some idea of what is close to where you will be.

Are you looking for a mini-van? That would probably be your best bet.

What company are you looking at? Where in Clearwater will you be. I live in the area and can give you some idea of what is close to where you will be.

We're likely going to be staying at the Hyatt on Clearwater Beach. We can do a minivan or an SUV - the problem with minivans seems to be the fact they expect you to get three people on the back seat, two captains chairs in the middle and two up front, so that won't work. SUV's seem to be configured the other way round - 2 in the back then 3 full seats in the middle.

There's only 7 of us in total but we have 3 kids in booster seats (or fuller car seats) so it's complicated!

Best I've found so far is to go back to TPA and collect a full size SUV there from Hertz - it's about $200 cheaper than collecting at the coast, and some stations simply say not available.

Any input welcome
Thanks

The Hyatt is the new hotel. Nice looking and in a good location right across from the beach. Will you be flying in and picking the car up on arrival? You said "go back" so was wondering how you will get to the Hyatt?

You can try checking Avis. They have mini-vans and SUV's that have off airport location and will do one way.

Do you have an AA membership? I know the Hertz gives deal for the AAA membership and that should extend to the UK AA membership.

Where will you be dropping the car off in Orlando?

We land at Tampa late so I've arranged a car service to take us to the hotel. We'll then just spend a couple of days at the beach so no need for a car straight away.

The Hotel already spoke with Avis for me as that's their car hire parter, but the biggest they could offer was a Ford Flex. Although we'll be travelling light, it seems with the back seats in use, there's very little luggage space at all.

The next stop is Disney so ideally dropping in the park (have done Avis at the Hilton and Alamo at the Dolphin? before), although again I can be flexible as it seems the rate can tumble significantly if you're flexible with pickup and drop locations.

Do you know where the nearest Hertz location is to the hotel?

Thanks

Tony

There is a Hertz at the Marriott which is on Sand Key, just down from Clearwater Beach. You can catch the trolley to there. There is another one by where I live on US Hwy 19 north in a small strip mall about 15 minuted from the beach.

A Ford Flex is BIG. But it does do the 2-2-3 seating which you said you didn't want.

It looks like National at TPA has a 15-passenger van to rent. At some point it might become easier to rent two vehicles though.

It looks like National at TPA has a 15-passenger van to rent. At some point it might become easier to rent two vehicles though.

It'd probably be cheaper too, but unfortunately not easier if we only have 1 driver ;)

Don't know if it will help, because I don't know the exact dates you are looking for -- but we lucked out with reserving a 7-pax mini-van (only 4 adults, but lots of luggage) with pick up at FLL and return at MCO (or RSW, made two reservations because I'm not yet sure yet where we'll be returning it :D) directly on the National/Alamo websites. Total price for 14 days is $416. (minus another $30 for a coupon code). For some reason, the mini-van rental price is waay less than a compact car rental.

Just an update - as we're ex-UK we need the insurances. Alamo can do me a minivan for £180 for a week, pay on return, collecting at PIE and dropping at Disney. Thing is they'll only confirm a 7 seater.

If I book with an outfit called Holiday Autos they'll confirm an 8 seater for about another £50/$80 but I also have to pre-pay the rate.

Here's the rub, Holiday Autos is supposed to be opaque but because of the drop location it must be Alamo. Unfortunately trying to speak to Alamo direct is useless and they claim they haven't got 8 seaters available (if it's not on the website we don't do it).

Holiday Autos have confirmed that if they say 8 seater, I get an 8 seater.

Where's the smilie of someone banging their head against a brick wall???

Just an update - as we're ex-UK we need the insurances. Alamo can do me a minivan for £180 for a week, pay on return, collecting at PIE and dropping at Disney. Thing is they'll only confirm a 7 seater.

If I book with an outfit called Holiday Autos they'll confirm an 8 seater for about another £50/$80 but I also have to pre-pay the rate.

Here's the rub, Holiday Autos is supposed to be opaque but because of the drop location it must be Alamo. Unfortunately trying to speak to Alamo direct is useless and they claim they haven't got 8 seaters available (if it's not on the website we don't do it).

Holiday Autos have confirmed that if they say 8 seater, I get an 8 seater.

Where's the smilie of someone banging their head against a brick wall???

Of course they could always stick you in a 15 passenger van....;P

For some reason I keep thinking that Alamo and National often share desks/facilities so maybe look for National places also.

Alamo show an 8 passenger minvan (people mover) on their website. It is a Toyota Sienna but the seats might not be the configuration you wanted.

https://www.alamo.com/index.do?iataNumber=AL020112&affiliateRes=Y&cm_mmc=Google-_-Brand-_-GS_SE_Rental_B_NTL_E_US-_-alamo.

Alamo show an 8 passenger minvan (people mover) on their website. It is a Toyota Sienna but the seats might not be the configuration you wanted.

https://www.alamo.com/index.do?iataNumber=AL020112&affiliateRes=Y&cm_mmc=Google-_-Brand-_-GS_SE_Rental_B_NTL_E_US-_-alamo.

Indeed they do and that's exactly what Holiday Autos have said i'll get. Unfortunately trying to replicate the booking direct with Alamo just shows a 7 seat dodge caravan and that's no good, as the bench seat in the back won't (I believe from past experience) take 2 adults and a booster seat, or 1 adult and 2 booster seats.

My suspicion is that Alamo just pool the 7 & 8 seat vans and sell them all as 7's but there's some kind of carve out for the 8's for contract rates.

I also checked National and again they're only showing a 7 seat for the same rental.

Indeed they do and that's exactly what Holiday Autos have said i'll get. Unfortunately trying to replicate the booking direct with Alamo just shows a 7 seat dodge caravan and that's no good, as the bench seat in the back won't (I believe from past experience) take 2 adults and a booster seat, or 1 adult and 2 booster seats.

My suspicion is that Alamo just pool the 7 & 8 seat vans and sell them all as 7's but there's some kind of carve out for the 8's for contract rates.

I also checked National and again they're only showing a 7 seat for the same rental.

Just remember they they don't guarantee the actual vehicle you'll get. Just make sure you get what you want!

Just remember they they don't guarantee the actual vehicle you'll get. Just make sure you get what you want!

Not the vehicle, but they (Holiday Autos) evidently will guarantee the fact it has 8 seats which is what counts.

As you yourself mentioned, Alamo have an 8 seat category on the site, it just seems that no matter which rental combination I look at, they simply don't offer the 8 seat!

Not the vehicle, but they (Holiday Autos) evidently will guarantee the fact it has 8 seats which is what counts.

As you yourself mentioned, Alamo have an 8 seat category on the site, it just seems that no matter which rental combination I look at, they simply don't offer the 8 seat!

Just be carefull they don't give you a 15 seat passenger van and call it a free upgrade or say they don't have 8 seaters and this is what they give for that reservation. Not being paranoid just cautious. of course a 15 seater may very well be the ideal situation since you are driving relativly short distances :D

have you seen what mpg you get from those vans? it's something like 12!!!

certainly don't want one of those mind you.

Wow that's a great rate. I found a similar but for a 7 day rental. Can you please share any codes you used to bring the price down?