Renting a car.

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Big Dog

Guest
When we disembark in Ft. Lauderdale after our cruise, we are planning on renting a car and staying in Florida a few days. Is anyone familiar (sp?) with the Budget rental locatiion on 17th street? Is it within walking distance, or is there a better location that is?

Thanks!


*****
 
B

BurBunny

Guest
While the Budget location is the closest to the Port, I wouldn't recommend it for walking. Between all the traffic on port days, hauling your luggage and the rest of it, a few blocks becomes a very long distance indeed. It's not a pedestrian-friendly area.

I'd recommend renting from the airport. All the major car agencies have shuttles which will pick you up at the port for the airport location. Or grab a $5 cab to the Budget 17th Street office. You'll be glad you did.
 
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BooBooToo

Guest
I would second Burbunny - the port area is not the most pedestrian friendly area...

I think that you have a number of choices:
- leave your travelling companions and luggage at the pier and walk to collect the car, then come back to the pier pick them up. I have no idea where on 17th St it is though - can't remember seeing it - so could be a LONG walk (looking on there site - and getting "driving directions" - it appears to be a 4 or 5 mile walk!!!).
- get a cab to the Bydget depot on 17th St.
- rent a car from one of the airport based depots (there is a Budget depot there) and take the rental car company's shuttle from the port to the depot (free and frequent) - this is what we do.
- check to see whether Budget on 17th St has a shuttle. Would imagine they do...

Would recommend wither cab or renting from the airport depot and taking the free shuttle.

Could luck and have a fun trip :)

Boo
 
S

ShipNC

Guest
We did exactly what you are proposing on our last HAL cruise - rented from the Budget office on 17th st. after our arrival in Fort lauderdale. If you dock at the pier closest to 17th st., you could probably walk to the office, but most of the piers are too far away. Take a cab for $5.00. The driver will be surly because he doesn't want that short a fare, but tough.....The biggest problem we had with Budget was that the small strip mall office was swamped with business and didn't have enough cars to give out. We waited almost two hours to get a car. I think if I had it to do over again, I would go with Alamo. They have an office that is just about as close to the piers, plus this is the airport office so there are many cars available. You'll probably still have a wait though since cruise ship arrivals tend to swamp most local facilities. Another tip.....don't try to wait for the rental car shuttles since they are overwhelmed with business and you'll end up standing in the heat foreveverl Alamo shouldn't be much farther than a $5-6 ride.
Richard
 
B

BooBooToo

Guest
The two previous times we have rented post-cruise in FLL, we have never had a problem getting a car - we have always reserved a car from the airport location.

We have used National and Budget, I am pretty sure.

Good luck.
Boo
 
L

lamayboy

Guest
My two cents would be to rent from Hertz, since their Airport location is just outside the port gates towards the airport, and all three times we did this the shuttles were not packed at all, and I imagine the cab ride would be like two minutes, you could walk, but why bother?
 
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BooBooToo

Guest
Thanks for that information lamayboy - I am booked through Hertz this year :)

Boo
 
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