[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by swimdawg

No..exactly what I wrote. THE VILLAGES SHUTTLE was way down at the other end....far away from Baggage Claim. Village AIRPORT VAN picks you up directly below Baggage Claim...very convenient.

There are positives and negatives for both. I am not recommending one over the other. It depends on your needs. I just wanted everyone to know the differences.

Today's airport shuttle information was very helpful but I wanted to see earlier posts........so I came to this as well as others..........YOURS is exactly the reason we were looking.

Our Albany International Airport is small scale compared to Orlando International Airport which has really GROWN since we used to bring the kids to Disney every single April school vacation.....plus we'd use the shuttle vans to Disney then.

This time, even though I arranged ahead of time a rental car, our Southwestern Airlines was at one end.......then we had to ride the tram or whatever it is......then hoof another long distance to the rental cars and then they tell us, "We can't find your reservation"........it was a new trainee who couldn't find it. Long story, longer aggravation.

I think the next time we will do the airport van and then have the rental car waiting in THE VILLAGES. Where would the rental car agencies be in TV??????? It has to be easier that way. At the airport the building where the cars are is across the street..........so more walking, an elevator and then "find the car".

Dragging all the luggage on this journey!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a truly big airport, compared to what we are used to flying in to.

Years ago, there would be a shuttle bus as you left the airport to take you right to the rental vehicle.

Not to sound like a complainer..........but after getting up at 3 a.m. to fly to Florida.......then taking forever with a rental "reservation" made way in advance............I'm looking for an easier way, so as not to arrive in TV exhausted........not just me, but hubby.

p.s. If we could rent the car in The Villages and return it there, taking the shuttle van to the airport , it would also be helpful in the confusion with all those exits off the Florida Turnpike to get THE CAR BACK TO THE RENTAL PLACE WHICH IS ACTUALLY NEAR THE BIG HOTEL THAT IS IN THE AIRPORT.........we kept going around in circles until finally a nice lady guided us to the correct "exit"......he left me off at the elevator to the hotel with all our luggage, I got some "help" while he returned the car.

[alemorkam]

We find the easiest way is rent a car in the villages and return it at the Airport. It is the cheapest way to go and you have control over your departure and arrivate time. It is cheaper if there are two or more going. Enterprise has a rental place at Lake Sumter Square. They are inexpensive because they need cars returned to the airport.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by alemorkam

We find the easiest way is rent a car in the villages and return it at the Airport. It is the cheapest way to go and you have control over your departure and arrivate time. It is cheaper if there are two or more going. Enterprise has a rental place at Lake Sumter Square. They are inexpensive because they need cars returned to the airport.

Thankyou....I appreciate the info. I've made a note of the location, etc., etc. Makes sense about them needing the cars back at the airport.

We used Avis.

Guess we were just exhausted from traveling but nothing was near where we got off the plane.

On the return back to the airport, I saw the exits to the right, but he took the one to the left and ended up in a parking garage going in circles..........we finally got out of that.......I'm sure it will be easier next time.

Since we have all the time in the world, another option is to just take our own car down; taking our time getting there.

[Sable99]

TV has Hertz Rental Car in SS and Enterprise in LSL.

I used Hertz a couple of months ago. I needed a rental car early Monday morning and it was just easier to rent the car when we arrived in Orlando on Sunday. They did NOT charge extra for returning the car in TV and they also took us to our villa at NO charge. If I remember right, the driver that took us to the villa wouldn't even take a tip.

When I was researching the best transportation options for that trip, I discovered that Enterprise in TV is not open on Sunday.

[Barleen]

Thanks for all the good advise, I agree about the long walk to get the TV van. Husband has a hard time walking so I think we will try the Village Airport van this time. Thank again

[pili]

There is one negative I find with Villages Airport Van. It used to be they only served The Villages but now they go to Leesburg for pick up/drop offs. So, your ride from home may include a stop in Leesburg and same for ride from airport.
Furthermore, most drivers don't like to take turnpike so you go through Fruitland Park to 441 and all the stops. It takes longer.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by pili

There is one negative I find with Villages Airport Van ........ It takes longer.

The Villages Shuttle delivers directly from Orlando Airport to the Shuttle Stations at LSL and SS. Then you have to call a taxi or a neighbour or whatever. The Van takes longer, but delivers to your home. The biggest reason that I'm a fan of "The Van" is that it runs 24 hours a day.

[damily]

The only problem I have had recently with Village airport taxi (NOT owned by TV) is that it makes MANY stops before it lands in TV. My ride takes over 2 hours usually and that's too long and frustrating.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by pili

There is one negative I find with Villages Airport Van. It used to be they only served The Villages but now they go to Leesburg for pick up/drop offs. So, your ride from home may include a stop in Leesburg and same for ride from airport.
Furthermore, most drivers don't like to take turnpike so you go through Fruitland Park to 441 and all the stops. It takes longer.

You are so right. My husband says they even deliver to Ocala. He said he saw parts of the surrounding areas that he had never knew were there and his ride home took more than two hours.

[Autoshow]

Originally Posted by BmoreGal

Can anyone give information about transportation. I understand there is an airport shuttle that runs on a posted schedule, but how does one get to/from the shuttle point to one's home. Is there a taxi service in the villages?

Also do most people fly into Orlando or Tampa?

Thanks for any information

Although you still see VillageTaxi cars around,it is no longer Village taxi,
and as of 6/15 thay will be gone also.You will have to find your own way to
LSL or SS.
There is a good possibility another cab service might want to enter the villages.
The original villages shuttle in my opinion is the best,the other shuttle service
called villages airport shuttle has nothing to do with the villages,although it will pick you up and drop you off at your home,it will make many stops before arriving at a paticular destination,but you might be on it an extra hour or so

[CrimLily]

How can we get from Tampa International Airport to The Villages

[elaineshere]

Does anyone know if there is transportation to Tampa

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Autoshow

Although you still see VillageTaxi cars around,it is no longer Village taxi, and as of 6/15 thay will be gone also.You will have to find your own way to LSL or SS.
There is a good possibility another cab service might want to enter the villages.
The original villages shuttle in my opinion is the best,the other shuttle service called villages airport shuttle has nothing to do with the villages,although it will pick you up and drop you off at your home,it will make many stops before arriving at a paticular destination,but you might be on it an extra hour or so

Part of the confusion is in the names of the different transportation companies. Both are great services.

One is called Villages Transportation and runs out of the Shuttle Station at Lake Sumter Landing. I believe it on an hourly schedule and runs about 19 hours a day. It is your responsibility to get to/from the Shuttle Station.

The other is called the Village Airport Van. It runs 24 hours a day, not on a set schedule, and picks up and delivers to your door. It may be picking up or dropping off other passengers in surrounding communities.

We prefer Village Airport Van for the door to door delivery. Others prefer the Villages Transportation because of the set schedule. For those who don't want to drive to Orlando Airport, I personally think that we're very lucky to have a choice of two transportation companies.

[pili]

I stopped using the Village Van when they started picking up in Leesburg and other areas outside The Villages. It took too long to get to airport. Yes, it was nice they picked me up at home but the ride took too long because they were picking up and dropping outside The Villages.

[klc1923]

Even though this thread has been around for a while, it still contains valuable and current information. I am using the Village Airport Van for the first time next month. The door to door service is very appealing and the reason for my choice. What is the average tip per person per trip that everyone gives? The web site allows you to prepay tips but since I was not sure of a suitable amount I thought I would just pay when I got off the van. I realize tipping is a personal decision so I'm just looking for averages. I don't want to be cheap. Thanks in advance.