black car interior
Podcast

Episode 17: In transit – Renting a Ride

  • How to decide if you should rent:
    • Consider what mass transit and ride share options are available
    • If trying to cover a lot of ground and see a variety of sights, you will probably want the convenience of having your own car.
    • Costs can also be a factor. Sometimes it is cheaper to rent a car to get to and from your destination than ride share or taxis.
  • Rental tips:
    • Loyalty programs can have advantages for rates and efficiency – often getting to skip past the rental counter and go straight to the car
    • Cars may also be cheaper through 3rd party booking sites like Orbitz, Priceline & Expedia
    • Prices can fluctuate so it is worthwhile to look frequently in case a better deal is now available. Most reservations can be cancelled ahead of time with no penalty so you may decide to rebook a cheaper rate or to upgrade to a larger car class.
  • Reservation tips
    • Never pay full price – look for coupons (like in the Entertainment book)
    • Pay attention to what kind of deposit the rental car company expects – this can vary greatly when you travel global
    • Research the baggage space to know you have enough space
    • Smaller cars generally work better in Europe
  • Check the car before you leave the lot
    • Take picture of any damage on the car before you leave the lot
    • Don’t sign a damage form before looking the car over
    • Adjust your seat, mirrors, etc. before you leave the rental lot
    • The gas gauge tells you which side to pump the gas

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