rent car ft.lauderdale/return to miami (near port)

[alexjas]

We fly into Ft.Lauderdale - hang out for the day - stay the night somewhere near Miami port. I would like to return car near the port (I hear Budget has a return lot/office near downtown). I don't mind taking a taxi back to port. I want to do this on the tail end of the trip too. Is this a pain? Any suggestions?

[BaumD]

Did the same thing with Alamo. Returned car to Miami airport and took their free shuttle to the port. Alamo, National and Enterprise are related companies and share the same shuttle to the port of Miami. About a 20 minute ride to the port from MIA.

[BaumD]

If your cruise leaves on a weekend, some of the downtown locations may be closed. airport location is always open

[alexjas]

Thanks - I didn't even think about them being closed on a weekend.

[CruiserBruce]

If you go over to the Florida Departures board, there is lots of info on this topic.

[Algebralovr]

Did it with Hertz. They have a shuttle to the port from their downtown office and it is open weekends for the cruise traffic. Look for coupons, they are out there.

[Carlos in Reston]

We fly into Ft.Lauderdale - hang out for the day - stay the night somewhere near Miami port. I would like to return car near the port (I hear Budget has a return lot/office near downtown). I don't mind taking a taxi back to port. I want to do this on the tail end of the trip too. Is this a pain? Any suggestions?

 

We did that last week. Flew into Ft. Lauderdale Intl. Aiport on Saturday morning, rented a car at Hertz there and enjoyed the beach for two days. Then, on Monday morning, we drove down to the Hertz office in downtown Miami (Hertz, 786-425-2515, at 229 SE 2nd Street) and dropped off the car there. Their location is within five minutes of the port, and they run free shuttles all the time. Some rental car companies do not permit one-way rentals.

 

Also, they run regular pick ups too when the ships come into port, even sending an extra van when there's a line. We had a pretty good experience both ways.

 

Have fun!

 

Carlos