Dollar @ PHX
 

I just read a few threads and the reviews on DOLLAR are not the best.
I am thinking of using them in Phoenix in October.
Could you share your experience with them over there?

Thanks

No experience with them so far, but a thing to consider: If you rent from the airport in Phoenix you will be charged a major amount in additional taxes.

However Dollar has a station at the nearby Tempe Holiday Inn, so consider picking up your car there to save quite a few bucks (location-code is PHXS01).

Greetings - Dirk

I just rented a car for 5 days from Dollar at PHX. The shuttle only runs every 20 minutes so you could be stuck in the heat for quite a while waiting. The shuttle's are really ghetto. Torn seats with foam hanging out and rigged doors.

The service from the staff there is absolutely terrible. I wont go into details because it will take too long to type but they should be avoided at all cost.

Any recent experiences in Phoenix?

Just got back this weekend. Everyone's now in a consolidated rental car facility that is actually closer to DT Phoenix than Sky Harbor (note to airport: best to remove the "Sky Harbor" welcome sign that the shuttle bus passes on the way to the terminal, as it just emphasizes how far from the terminals the facility is).

Since everyone's together and everything is shiny and new (the place is a huge monster which we are no doubt paying through the nose for with even more facility fees - sorry, it's so hard to not get off topic when you're talking Phoenix car rental taxes), the playing field is pretty even right now. Service was OK to slightly indifferent - I used Dollar Express and so went right outside - although I got exactly what asked for and upon return the guy made a point to say "I'm going to check the car for damage" - that could have been handled with a little more tact.

Dollar part was quick and painless. Consolidated shuttle bus was overcrowded and took 20 minutes to arrive (from airport), and the facility has more layers of security (three sets of spike strips; two barricades in the exit lane) than most places here in DC. Gives you a warm welcome to Phoenix.

The Tempe idea has a lot of merit - I'm probably going to try something like that next time.

transportation to city sites?
 

Is there any transportation (shuttles) to the off airport/city rental sites? Otherwise, the fees incurred by a taxi (for my family of 5) would offset any savings in the taxes/airport fees.

DEB

I've never been given the car I reserved with Dollar when going to Phoenix for work. They oversell so much that when you go down the escalator I've always been thrown into a 2 to 4 car upgrade. So basicly, rent a compact, and end up with an SUV!

The service with Dollar is OK. I prefer Avis cause I can just look up at the Preferred screen and run down the escalator and get in my car & go. Budget is about the same as Dollar...

Avoid the "non-natl brand name" guys -- I've seen some monster lines for Advantage & Fox.

The bus from Terminal 4 to the car rental center is supposively only 9 minutes --- but sometimes traffic can snarl that one.

The tempe option really doesn't save you a lot of money on a short visit. I would estimate the drive time to be 15 minutes from the airport to the Tempe Holiday Inn (Apache and Scottsdale Road (not sure what it is in tempe, but that's the exit off of 202)). Its just a small desk in the corner of the lobby-- not sure how big their fleet is.

I can't take the chance of booking a compact...and then getting a compact (traveling with a family of 5). I did find a decent rate for a mini van...but Dollar charges an "extra driver" fee...and it adds up to about $50. Any suggestions for getting out of that fee?

DEB