Fullsize SUV Luggage Space

[Simmyoto]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

For 6 with all the luggage I always get the 12 seater bus, we like plenty of space and it’s ideal.

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With Alamo there is only an option for 15 seater van.. which sees like a bit of overkill.

I assume with it being a "specialist vehicle" you are just given the one they choose for you.

Does anyone know which car bracket the 15 seater would be in? It;s the same price as a Fullsize Suv, i just wonder if i book the 15 seater then on arrival there is an el or XLT available in the full size lane instead of the luxury suv lane i could switch out to the long wheelbase SUV.

I know the real answer would be to book the Luxury SUV.. but it's an extra £180 above the price of the 15 seat van / full size SUV

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by Simmyoto

With Alamo there is only an option for 15 seater van.. which sees like a bit of overkill.

I assume with it being a "specialist vehicle" you are just given the one they choose for you.

Does anyone know which car bracket the 15 seater would be in? It;s the same price as a Fullsize Suv, i just wonder if i book the 15 seater then on arrival there is an el or XLT available in the full size lane instead of the luxury suv lane i could switch out to the long wheelbase SUV.

I know the real answer would be to book the Luxury SUV.. but it's an extra £180 above the price of the 15 seat van / full size SUV

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Nah it’s fine, I’ve had the 15 seater also, nearly the same size, just slightly longer with less boot, but you just chuck cases on a seat row. These vans are fantastic if you like space, MUCH better than an LWB SUV and I’ve had both. Standard car license. You can park them easily over there.
You will have zero chance of getting one on arrival, in fact on nearly every trip they have tried to persuade me to give it up when they see we are 6 people and even offered me 2 large SUVs once, as the 12/15 seaters command big money walk up/ late bookings. I now tell them, there are 12 of us, others are at the hotel so they don’t bother hassling me to give up the vehicle I booked.
I normally go with Dollar and pick one from the row if there’s more than one in.
We normally also drive down to Naples, so having all that space is much better than a big SUV where with 6 we are struggling to get everything in. Cases / bags in the cabin for accessibility, easy to load a big shop in.
The last one I had also took biofuel as well as petrol, this stuff is widely available on US forecourts so it was quite cheap to fill up.

[jimbob747]

We've travelled twice as a party of 4A and 2C and both times had a full size SUV booked with Alamo. We thought we would struggle with space in a Tahoe or similar for the airport run so had a plan to let the Inlaws get a Taxi to the Villa and we would take the car (taxi cost was far less than the upgrade to a bigger SUV and the Tahoe would be a good fit for us for park runs minus the luggage). On both occasions the guy in the garage a Alamo took a look at us and said you wont fit in that and gave us a bigger SUV free of charge, first time it was a Sub, second time a Ford Explorer. Not saying you'd be so lucky, but as long as you have a back up plan (i.e. taxi) then might be worth giving it a try ?

[Simmyoto]

Thanks everyone for the amazing advice!

I just checked the Alamo USA website by using a web proxy and saw that the us price for the 15 seat van for the dates i want is actually double the price Alamo brits have quoted me in the uk - it's actually the same price as a Luxury SUV.. and it didn't include the same insurances and extra driver.

I wonder if anyone has any internal knowledge of if they are classed in the same bracket?

I think i have decided to take YorkshireT's advice and i'm going to book the 15 seater van. It makes sense that they are, 1 reasonably rare and, 2 command big money for walk up groups who don't have a choice.

So i may be able to haggle my way into an extended wheelbase suv or maybe even luxury fullsize extended wheelbase if they are short of vans.

Flight is scheduled land at 16:20 so have planned a 18:00 collection I guess at this time they will be lowish on cars so it may play into my hands and get me the big big Suv that i'd kind of like but worse case they will have to find me a van from somewhere as it's what i have booked and paid for!

Thank-you everyone for the brilliant advice!

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by Simmyoto

Thanks everyone for the amazing advice!

I just checked the Alamo USA website by using a web proxy and saw that the us price for the 15 seat van for the dates i want is actually double the price Alamo brits have quoted me in the uk - it's actually the same price as a Luxury SUV.. and it didn't include the same insurances and extra driver.

I wonder if anyone has any internal knowledge of if they are classed in the same bracket?

I think i have decided to take YorkshireT's advice and i'm going to book the 15 seater van. It makes sense that they are, 1 reasonably rare and, 2 command big money for walk up groups who don't have a choice.

So i may be able to haggle my way into an extended wheelbase suv or maybe even luxury fullsize extended wheelbase if they are short of vans.

Flight is scheduled land at 16:20 so have planned a 18:00 collection I guess at this time they will be lowish on cars so it may play into my hands and get me the big big Suv that i'd kind of like but worse case they will have to find me a van from somewhere as it's what i have booked and paid for!

Thank-you everyone for the brilliant advice!

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My experience has been if you get there and want a luxury SUV instead they will snap your hands off. BUT don't get put in one and find it too small, that 15 seater van is fantastic, personally there is no way I would take a SUV over it for 6. IF you don't want to be pressurised into trading out of the 15 seater, tell them if they ask how many people there are (they are only asking this question to try and persuade you to get something else, this has happened to me EVERY time with Dollar) just tell them there are 12 of you- other 6 are at the villa or hotel. That cuts them dead. Alamo may not try the same tactics though, particularly as they are now owned by Enterprise, as Enterprise are a very good quality outfit (I do work for them - not at Enterprise but do work with the company and they have a very good ethos).

[Simmyoto]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

My experience has been if you get there and want a luxury SUV instead they will snap your hands off. BUT don't get put in one and find it too small, that 15 seater van is fantastic, personally there is no way I would take a SUV over it for 6. IF you don't want to be pressurised into trading out of the 15 seater, tell them if they ask how many people there are (they are only asking this question to try and persuade you to get something else, this has happened to me EVERY time with Dollar) just tell them there are 12 of you- other 6 are at the villa or hotel. That cuts them dead. Alamo may not try the same tactics though, particularly as they are now owned by Enterprise, as Enterprise are a very good quality outfit (I do work for them - not at Enterprise but do work with the company and they have a very good ethos).

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Spot on YorkshireT, appreciate the help, I won't be upset about keeping the van, and I'll only take an SUV if it's extended length.. because we have the 2 kids I know we will be ok with the such for general travel, it's really only the airport runs that will be the problem.