Miami Car Hire - Now have my eyes open!

[MatildasMum]

Hi Dibbers

We have an October trip booked for Florida this year with Virgin Holidays - we have made this same trip, same dates etc. with VH for the past 5 years.
Since all the 'we are moving to Heathrow' and all the bad stuff I've been reading about Virgin not refunding passengers I've been doing some digging and it seems that the package we had booked with Virgin is very expensive compared to other operators. They have always been convenient for us and we haven't really shopped around - until now!

I can get Premium Flights and the same holiday with American Airlines (we were booked for Eco Delight with Virgin) for £900 cheaper. So if we do get to go I could potentially loose our deposit with Virgin and still be £400 better off and fly in better seats! Best case they cancel our flights or we get to cancel under the significant change rule and we get our deposit back.

Not sure whether this is just this year because of the virus or if it is the same and BA/AA are just cheaper packages.

However, regarding car hire I'm in two minds - the BA site looks like we will pay a lot of charges when we get there and I always like to know what I am going to pay up front - we usually book the 'gold' insurance for our car hire with virgin and that includes everything. I always thought this was a bit of a rip off but didn't really work it out until now.

So my question is - what is the best place/site to book car hire for Miami airport where I know what I am paying up front, all in, no extras at the airport? Via travel supermarket we can book for Allamo which is the same as Virgin and get a better car with what seems like all the extras for £150 cheaper than virgin!
Also is Allamo the best rental company for Miami? Should I be considering another company - we usually have a Standard SUV but the prices for a biggy SUV - Tahoe or similar look to be cheaper that our usual so my husband would probably want that!

Thanks so much for your help!

[DisneyCupcake]

Originally Posted by MatildasMum

Hi Dibbers

We have an October trip booked for Florida this year with Virgin Holidays - we have made this same trip, same dates etc. with VH for the past 5 years.
Since all the 'we are moving to Heathrow' and all the bad stuff I've been reading about Virgin not refunding passengers I've been doing some digging and it seems that the package we had booked with Virgin is very expensive compared to other operators. They have always been convenient for us and we haven't really shopped around - until now!

I can get Premium Flights and the same holiday with American Airlines (we were booked for Eco Delight with Virgin) for £900 cheaper. So if we do get to go I could potentially loose our deposit with Virgin and still be £400 better off and fly in better seats! Best case they cancel our flights or we get to cancel under the significant change rule and we get our deposit back.

Not sure whether this is just this year because of the virus or if it is the same and BA/AA are just cheaper packages.

However, regarding car hire I'm in two minds - the BA site looks like we will pay a lot of charges when we get there and I always like to know what I am going to pay up front - we usually book the 'gold' insurance for our car hire with virgin and that includes everything. I always thought this was a bit of a rip off but didn't really work it out until now.

So my question is - what is the best place/site to book car hire for Miami airport where I know what I am paying up front, all in, no extras at the airport? Via travel supermarket we can book for Allamo which is the same as Virgin and get a better car with what seems like all the extras for £150 cheaper than virgin!
Also is Allamo the best rental company for Miami? Should I be considering another company - we usually have a Standard SUV but the prices for a biggy SUV - Tahoe or similar look to be cheaper that our usual so my husband would probably want that!

Thanks so much for your help!

See more...

Suggest you post this in the Car Hire thread and I am sure Mr Tom Morrow and other Dibbers will be along soon to help.

[MatildasMum]

Will do - thanks for the tip!

[7SeasSailor]

I usually end up with Alamo Brits, for my dates and needs they suit me and there are no hidden charges. That doesn't mean that I don't check other companies like Discount Florida Car Hire. They are highly thought of on here but the price has never been right for me. There will be a few others along shortly to give you more advice.

[mrsmagoo]

BA car hire’s includes full insurance. With virgin you have to pay extra for this. We have found BA car hire very transparent and have never been hit with additional costs

[Chunky81]

I’ve used Avis through BA for last couple of trips in Miami, been part of a fly drive but no issues.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

I'm late to this so all the answers have been given really. All correct as well.

Some of my thoughts.

I have found for the last 2 years a stand alone car hire from VA has proved expensive for me albeit others have got good deals

I find Alamo Brits to be expensive of late. 2019 was good, not so much this year

The best I am finding is Auto Europe. Beating everybody but like Andy at DFCH it's only 1 driver whereas VA and Brits is 2.

Finally we are doing a flight only with BA for all of next May and I will be booking it as soon as the return date is released. Probably I will go with their Avis car hire especially if they are doing the get 7 nights pay for 5 deal as that's good.

For the time being I will steer away from Hertz and Dollar until their Chapter 11 bankruptcy is sorted. They will bounce back though as it's common in the States to file for this.

[NewtoOrlando]

We’ve always had cars with Avis through BA, and not paid a single charge at Miami/Tampa airports over our trips except for the tolls we’ve used? I’ve always been led to believe that AVIS through BA is an all inclusive package? We’re also BA exec club members so get the extra driver for free.

[xcited]

As others have said,
Alamo Brits fully inclusive, straight to garage, extra driver.
Andy at dfch, fully inclusive, straight to garage, exceptional service, price matched.
Avis with BA, fully inclusive, great upgrade deals last year, straight to garage and extra driver with avis preferred and with BA executive club both free to join.
Personal choice is Andy at dfch for personal service and someone on the end of the phone who knows what they are talking about if needed.

[Donnalou36]

We hired Alamo from Miami last year. Paid for a full size and ended up with a premium as they had filled the gaps in the row with them. Couldn’t fault the whole experience, even the drive.