Kia Carnival

This is our fourth or fifth time my husband or I have used Turo, and I know how much I rely on reviews while choosing a car. I also remember how nervous I was the first time, since it was a new process for us and the unknown seemed risky! So I will try to make my review as helpful as possible, especially for families with kids. The short version though is that this was a great rental, and we wouldn’t hesitate to use REF again!

The communication was great from start to finish. They were super thorough on all the details for pickup and drop off, and even included YouTube videos if you prefer watching instructions instead of reading. They checked in to make sure things were going well, and while we didn’t have any issues, I know it would have been easy and quick to get in touch with them if we did. Typically on vacations I turn my phone on silent and most app notifications off, so I am not usually very chatty or responsive on Turo, and don’t really check the app until it’s time to return. This didn’t seem to bother them at all, which I appreciate!

The van was spotless and looked brand new. It is clearly well taken care of, and we had no issues at all. We have a 2025 Carnival as our main car at home, and I actually preferred how this one had more physical knobs/buttons, as it felt safer to adjust the air/volume/etc. The CarPlay connection is easy and intuitive, which seems like a silly thing to point out. However, we rented a Sienna last year while on vacation and could never get our phones to connect, which was really tricky when we rely so heavily on apple or Google Maps for directions while out of state. The van also has a toll pass included, which was a small, but helpful thing we factored in while deciding.

We previously drove an Odyssey for 10 years, and while they both have their pros and cons, the Carnival is the best choice if space is important to you. (Which it probably is, if you’re looking at minivans.) We were doing a week and a half at WDW and Universal with me,
my husband, our four kids, and my parents, so we needed all 8 seats and as much room for luggage and people as possible. Our 14 year old, 12 year old, and 8 year old in a booster fit comfortably in the back row. Our 6 year old w/booster plus two adults took the middle row. There is plenty of legroom and headroom, so it is not uncomfortable at all. (Which cannot be said for an Odyssey). In the trunk we fit about 7 suitcases as well as some miscellaneous bags. There is also room for everyone to have a backpack at their feet.

If you’re headed to the theme parks and renting or bringing a stroller, it might be helpful to know that a Citymini double fits easily in the trunk (along with ALL the misc bags and things that come along to the parks each day too). The city select tandem should also easily fit without having to be taken apart.

Other reviews mentioned that the airport pickup isn’t actually in the MCO parking lots, and that is definitely important to know when booking. However, it’s equally important to point out that this is because of MCO’s rules (the Orlando airport), and has nothing to do with REF and their processes. This will apply to every other Turo rental you would get at MCO. It seems like more airports are doing this unfortunately, but the owners did an amazing job at making the process quick and easy to understand. I have used other Turo rentals that utilize 3rd party parking lot+shuttles before, so I was familiar with the process, but would have really appreciated their level of detail on my first time!

We typically arrive at airports 2 hours before our departure, so we just add 30 minutes if using Turo. That was the perfect amount of time for us on this trip, as the lot was only a few minutes away. We have easily spent more time than that in car rental lines! As long as you plan ahead to have the extra time, it won’t feel stressful.

If traveling with kids (and another adult!), I’d recommend leaving them at the luggage retrieval and having only one person shuttle to The Parking Spot to grab the car. Then swing back to pick them up. Reverse when flying home. Having no luggage or kids along makes the pickup much smoother and easier.

(If traveling alone with kids, I wouldn’t necessarily hesitate though either. I did it at LAX with a baby plus two kids, and while it wasn’t fun, it was doable. I would choose that again and feel safer than an Uber/Lyft trip alone with kids. And with this specific Turo rental & owner, the lot is much closer, the shuttle easier to find, and the instructions much clearer!)

That was longer than planned, but hope it helps anyone making a decision. This is the winner- don’t hesitate to book!

Kacie •

The car was perfect, very comfortable and spacious for the passengers and all the luggage we had. In addition, the service was TOP; we arrived a little before the initial scheduled time, and they did everything possible to be on time and make the whole process as easy as possible. I will definitely rent it again on our next trip to Orlando.
The pick-up and delivery process was also very simple.

Maria del •

Car was excellent

Alex •

Absolutely outstanding experience from start to finish. The vehicle was exactly as described—spotless, well-maintained, and drove perfectly. Pickup and drop-off were seamless, and the host was responsive, professional, and made the entire process incredibly easy. You can tell they take great care of both their vehicle and their guests. This was one of the best Turo experiences I’ve had, and I wouldn’t hesitate to rent from them again. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a hassle-free rental. Five stars all the way!

Zachary •

Everything with the car was perfect. The off airport parking was a little bit of a pain.

Brett •