Car Rental And Travel Tips
As any experienced traveling pro will tell you, it is always a good idea to keep certain things in mind when dealing with traveling, with car rental, or with any other type of situation that can arise during travel.
While different individuals may have different check lists or different travel strategies, there are some basic tips when dealing with car rental and travel that are fairly universal.
When booking your car:
When Traveling:
While different individuals may have different check lists or different travel strategies, there are some basic tips when dealing with car rental and travel that are fairly universal.
When booking your car:
- Book a vehicle appropriate to your needs. Yes, that Porsche may look amazing, but if you are going on a family vacation with four kids, it just does not make any sense at all.
- Know if your normal automobile insurance, or your credit card, cover car rentals. If either one does, that will save you a lot of money, and probably give you better insurance coverage than what you would be paying the car rental service for.
- See if you are part of, or qualify for a Frequent Renter Program. Most major car rental companies track membership, rentals, and have a lot of the same types of benefits that airlines have for frequent fliers. Loyal customers get preferential treatment. See if you qualify.
- The same goes for "Preferred Renter Programs." If enrolled in one these, you can expect preferential treatment, including automatic upgrades when better cars are available, and unlike the Frequent Renter Programs, you can usually join a Preferred Renter Program right off the bat.
When Traveling:
- Avoid city centers. These are most often congested, hardest to drive through (especially if you do not know the area) and besides, city centers (especially in popular tourist cities) have subways, buses, and often can be walked through much more easily than driven through. Why give yourself the additional headaches?
- Always lock the doors. Take care of the rental car as you would your own, and do everything necessary to discourage theft. Don't leave valuables in the car, in plain sight. Don't give anyone a reason to break in.
- Study your destination ahead of time. You don't want to realize you have to find your turn off at Highway 99, or wait twenty miles until the next exit, two miles after you just passed Highway 99. If you have an idea what to look for, you'll spend less time lost and more time enjoying your travels-or staying out of trouble in the case of a business trip.