Save money on rental cars

I very rarely rent a car when I go on vacation.  I tend to be attracted to a) beaches that require no shirt, no shoes, and no driving or b) big cities with excellent public transportation.  If I visit family in Iowa, as I did last week, I usually rely on the kindness of loved ones, also known as my dad’s spare vehicle.

Unfortunately, that spare vehicle died a few months before my most recent trip, leaving me with no choice but to fork over the cash for a rental car last week.  Unless you’re renting a convertible for a Hawaiian sight seeing tour or a muscle car for your Los Angeles midlife crisis, there’s no good reason to spend more than you have to on a rental car.  Fortunately, I picked up a few tips for getting cheap rental cars.

4 Ways To Save Money On A Rental Car

1. Shop around.

This is so obvious that it shouldn’t even be a tip, but I’m constantly surprised at how little comparison shopping people do when making travel plans.  Truth be told, you’re probably going to find that rental car prices are very close – if not identical – on most websites, but at least you’ll get a general idea of what a car normally rents for, which is the first step to recognizing a good deal.

2. Don’t rent at the airport.

Although you’ll only be picking up and dropping off at the airport, you’ll be charged an “airport convenience fee” for each day of your rental.  At about $20 per day, this fee can add up quickly.  Instead of renting from the airport, look for a rental car lot nearby the airport that provides shuttle service.  You might also find a rental lot near your hotel, or have a friend in the area give you a ride to pick up and drop off.  Depending on the local cab fare rates, you may even save money taking a cab between the airport and rental car location.

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Of Boys and Bees

Finally, summer has reached the Pacific Northwest, and I’m not just talking about a date on the calendar. I mean good, old-fashioned sunshine. Also, rain.

Summer vacations don’t always involve a road trip, sometimes they involve a backyard, a water slide and a coat of sunscreen.  Vacation is a state of mind.

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Photo by Whit Honea

No Oscars were hurt during the writing of this post.

Dear Winners,

Yes, we’re all winners here, but some of us are actually leaving with prizes, which means that the concept of winner is multilayered, like a parfait. Some of us get a thanks for playing and to some the spoils. Life is funny like that.

And now, the moment that we’ve all been waiting for, the collective heartbreak and a few lucky stiffs: Read More »

Even magic takes time...

As you probably know by now, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be opening this Friday at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park. Magical happenings are expected.

This photo is a Wordless Wednesday entry, but since it has words in it I figured I was clear to add some of my own.

Photo by ffg via Flickr