Car Hire

[chyanmor]

HI,

 

As got told off for opening a 2 year old thread. We are looking at hiring a car from Houston to get to Galveston for a 2 week cruise in August. Enterprise are being a PITA and saying that the Galveston location is now closed. Yet website says it is open. Also site allows me to book Houston to Austin and then Austin to Galveston but not Houston to Galveston.

 

Am then looking at Avis and they do Houston to Texas City but not sure how to get from Texas City to the cruise.

 

Any thoughts on people who have done this recently much appreciated.

 

Huw

[GradUT]

Based on my research re: rental cars to cruise terminals (Bayport and Galveston), your only possible option for a rental car to Galveston is Enterprise. It is considered a "closed office" and has been used only as an unmanned drop-off point. IF Enterprise is still accepting drop-offs there, which I don't know if they are, you'd have to make this car reservation with a live person on the phone--it can't be done online. (It appears you have already found this out.)

 

If you don't want to use Enterprise, you could use a car rental companies in Texas City (provided it's not a Sunday when they are all closed). However, you'd have to get a taxi from there to the Galveston Cruise Terminal. It's about a 20 minute drive (if no traffic) and I have no idea what a taxi would charge for that trip.

Edited February 1, 2015 by GradUT

[Galveston Cruiser]

The Enterprise office in Galveston IS open five days a week, 1/2 days on Saturday and has limited hours (10-2) on Sunday at the present time.

 

However, when renting from the airport, Enterprise charges a large drop off fee.

From Texas City or Galveston locations, one would require a taxi to the port.

[Starry Eyes]

HI,

 

As got told off for opening a 2 year old thread. We are looking at hiring a car from Houston to get to Galveston for a 2 week cruise in August. Enterprise are being a PITA and saying that the Galveston location is now closed. Yet website says it is open. Also site allows me to book Houston to Austin and then Austin to Galveston but not Houston to Galveston.

 

Am then looking at Avis and they do Houston to Texas City but not sure how to get from Texas City to the cruise.

 

Any thoughts on people who have done this recently much appreciated.

 

Huw

 

Texas City may be easier than you think; it was for us.

 

Reserve the car with Avis, dropping at Texas City. Then call the Texas City Avis location and tell them you will want transfer to the Galveston port. They will likely be able to accommodate you for a $50 fee(per vehicle, not per person). They have lots of requests for this service.

 

Basically you take rental car to Texas City Avis, leaving your luggage in trunk. They process your paperwork, a driver gets in car with your party and drives you straight to port. There you hand luggage over to porters and off you go.

 

If your party is too large to fit in vehicle along with the driver, you could drop most of your party off at pier yourself then re-cross the bridge to return the car.