Fairbanks rental car question

[Cruzin4vacay]

Hi all-

 

Getting excited for our cruise on the Radiance of the Seas this July. We arrive into Fairbanks very early Sunday morning (2 am) and will need transport to the Springhill Marriott. We plan to rent a car for touring on Sunday after we sleep and on Monday before we join our land tour. I'm wondering whether it's better to rent the car while we are at the airport or instead if we should just get to the hotel as fast as possible via shuttle or taxi. We will be exhausted since we are traveling from the east coast.

 

Appreciate your thoughts!

[cruiseguy1016]

IF the rental agency is open when you land, I would pick it up then. It may add a few minutes to your long day but so will calling a cab/shuttle and waiting for it to get to the airport to pick you up. If you wait until the next day, you'll have to get a cab/shuttle to take you back to the airport and still go through the rental process. Pick it up when you arrive and it will be waiting for you in the parking lot when you are ready to start your day. Another option might be to have the car dropped off at your hotel the next morning. Some car rental companies offer that service.

[mapleleaves]

check with the hotel .... they used to offer a free shuttle to/from the airport, altho maybe not 24/7. It's about 5 miles away, 2am will be 5am coming from the east coast.

 

If you pick up the car on arrival you're paying for it while it sits in the hotel parking lot. Sounds like you only need it for a 24 hr period, noon to noon-ish.

[gpb11]

2am will be 5am coming from the east coast.

Isn't Fairbanks four hours behind the US East Coast?

[cruiseguy1016]

Isn't Fairbanks four hours behind the US East Coast?

 

Yes.

[mapleleaves]

it sure is ! Guess I need another coffee. :o

thx for the correction.

[Northern Aurora]

IF the rental agency is open when you land, I would pick it up then. It may add a few minutes to your long day but so will calling a cab/shuttle and waiting for it to get to the airport to pick you up. ......

 

All of the major car rental companies have offices at the Fairbanks International Airport. The rental car counters are located directly across from the baggage claim carousels so it is easy to have one person pull the bags off the carousel while another deals with the car rental paperwork. The rental cars are also actually at the airport so no need for a shuttle to a car lot. And the counters will be open until even for those flights that arrive about 2 AM.

 

If you choose not to pick up the rental car immediately upon arrival then there is rarely a wait for a cab. There may be the rare time when the taxi dispatchers have misjudged how many cabs to have in the taxi line waiting for the arriving planes, but if that happens more taxis will arrive quickly. Just exit by the doors in the baggage claim area and look to the left for the line of waiting taxis.

 

The Springhill Marriott has been used by Alaska Airlines as a hotel for their flight crews, and their shuttle generally picks up those late night flights. But call the hotel to confirm if this is still the case. Also be aware that the Marriott has much more limited on-site parking than most of our local hotels.

[Cruzin4vacay]

I'll check prices on rental cars and let that help me figure out when to rent it.

[arctickitty]

As other posters said, check with the car company and the hotel but my personal experience flying into Fairbanks is that when there are major flights, car rentals are open. However, the last few times I've stayed at the SpringHill if you wanted a shuttle BACK to the airport, it was only on the hour, with a reservation. So if you wanted to go at 7:30 no can do.