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COOL TRAVEL MAIL'S
TRAVEL TIPS
Tips & Advice for the Seasoned and Armchair Traveler Alike!
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http://www.CoolTravelMail.com
March 11, 2008
When planning a trip, many folks devote most of their
energy to getting off the ground.
When it comes to airfare, admittedly one of - if not THE -
biggest cost of travel, people are willing to invest the
time to find the best deal
They do Internet research, bid in online auctions, make
phone calls to airline customer service desks and run
their best finds past acquaintances at the office coffee
machine. ("Saaay, I found round-trip from Syracuse to Fort
Lauderdale for $120. Is that about what it cost you last
month?")
But when it comes to renting cars, those very same
travelers often head to the airport kiosk of whatever
outfit has the shortest line and take whatever they can
get.
This week's topics include:
* CAR RENTAL TIPS
* FLEXIBILITY, PACKAGING AND DREAM CARS
* SORRY, YOUR COUPON EXPIRED YESTERDAY
P.S. If you're interested you can now post comments on this
and recent issues on our forum at... Travel Tips Forum
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* Need to write down an important note? Tear off a sheet.
* Surface getting dirty from too much use? Tear off a sheet.
* Phone numbers, addresses, recipes, anything? Tear off a
sheet.
Plus, each page is printed with a blank calendar you can
fill in for your convenience. 40 heavy-duty sheets help
you organize, and prioritize. Inexpensive and convenient,
just $4.99 for one or SAVE on two (2) or more.
VISIT: GopherCentral Mouse Pad
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CAR RENTAL TIPS
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Renting a vehicle can be a major expense; and a major
surprise if you aren’t careful. Here are some tips:
* Explore cyberspace
Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and best way
to compare many rental car rates.
Hit the websites of all the major agencies. You should
also check out a couple of the brand-name consolidators
like Orbitz or Expedia. They may have special deals
not available to solitary keyboard punchers or clue you
in to companies that you hadn’t thought of.
Remember, rental rates can vary DRAMATICALLY between
agencies serving the same market. There can even be
striking differences between different locations of the
same rental agency in the same city, especially if one
of its sites is at an airport.
While you're at it, if you are planning to buy extra
items such as a damage waiver or insurance, you should
also comparison shop those rates.
* Get there first
Book your ride as far in advance as you can. The law of
supply and demand rules in the car rental biz, and rates
tend to go up as the number of available vehicles dwindles.
The hotter your travel destination, or the more popular
your car choice - the earlier you need to book. If you
wait until the day before your plane lands in Las Vegas,
you're in for some serious sticker shock.
* Fee, fine, fume
When renting a car, the devil may indeed be hiding in the
details.
Taxes, airport charges, drop fees and insurance are just
a few of the things that can drastically increase the
price of your rental car. Surcharges can to tack on as
much as 30 percent to the base price.
Make sure you grill the company on hidden costs so you
know what your paying for before you hit the road. Many
companies now post a copy of their rental agreement
online. That gives you a chance to comb through the fine
print without a long line of increasingly agitated
travelers tapping their toes behind you.
Be especially aware of taxes. They are a great target
for revenue-hungry local politicians because most renters
don't vote where they pay to borrow a car.
Sometimes these taxes manifest themselves under the heading
of 'airport fees'. In some cities, this cost can be so high
that it may be beneficial to take a bus or a cab into town
to rent from a local agency that local pols aren't so quick
to tax. Once again, it comes down to spending some time in
front of your computer screen, doing research.
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I'm Walking Here....
Here's an item (the Telescopic Walking Stick) that I never
really thought I would use. But I decided to try it out
when we went for a walk along a trail a few weeks ago.
It was fun to use.... yes I said fun. When we would come
up to a stream, I would poke at things in it. I also used
it when I wanted to venture off the beaten path, just to
make sure that there were no snakes in front of me. Believe
it or not, it made the walk more enjoyable. Check it out
and the unbelievable low price.
Normal Price: $19.99
DEAL PRICE: $8.27
Whether you're an avid hiker or just looking for a little
extra help walking around, the Telescopic Walking Stick
is just what you need. It's fully adjustable to fit your
height and the spring loaded shaft helps reduce strain on
your wrists, back, knees, legs and feet. With a built in
compass it will get you through hard rocky terrain or just
across the street. Make Walking Fun with The Walking Stick
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FLEXIBILITY, PACKAGING AND DREAM CARS
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* Be flexible
OK, this is a different kind of flexible than the one I
refer to when I talk about squeezing into coach-class
airline seats.
Being flexible about your travel plans can save you money.
Rental companies that focus on business travelers or the
customers of body shops often have great weekend specials.
Like hotel rooms and airfares, the best rates are found
during the off season and at other times when rental
agencies have extra cars sitting around.
* Package it
Check into booking your vacation as a package. You might
be able to save by booking your car along with a certain
airline, hotel or attraction ticket package. Most of the
major consolidators allow you to investigate this online.
* Rent small, dream big
Book the smallest car that you will need and hope for a
free upgrade. On at least two occasions in recent years
I've booked a popular economy car, only to be told they
were out of that model when I went to pick it up. In both
cases, they gave me a better, bigger car that wouldn't
have otherwise been within my travel budget.
It never hurts to ask about an upgrade. Once you're there,
at the desk, and the folks know what the situation is on
the lot, it may be in their interest to give you a good
deal on a better vehicle that wouldn’t have been offered
online or over the phone.
Do not, however, rent a vehicle smaller than the minimum
size you need, expecting some kind of upgrade. Chances
are, whatever you commit to rent from your laptop is what
you're actually going to drive away from the airport.
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BRIEFCASE/LAPTOP BAG
Normal Price: $19.99
DEAL PRICE: $5.99
Plain and simple this is one heck of a deal. Discounted
below cost, you'll want to pick up a couple. Makes a
great gift. Check it out by visiting:
Briefcase/Laptop Bag
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SORRY, YOUR COUPON EXPIRED YESTERDAY
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* Clip coupons
It's not particularly stylish, but it can save you money.
But make sure that you read any coupon you plan to use
carefully for conditions and exceptions. And do it ahead
of time. If you think it's a little embarrassing to pull
out a coupon at the rental desk, imagine how you'll feel
if you find out that coupon isn’t valid and you've got
to drop down a model.
Most upgrade coupons are "based on availability", so if
you plan to use an upgrade coupon and also have a monetary
discount coupon, bring them both. If they can’t honor the
upgrade, they may still give you the price discount.
Also, if you're going to use a coupon or any other kind
of discount, remember to mention it at the time you book
your reservation.
* Metered miles
Most major car rental companies these days offer unlimited
mileage as long as you stay in the same state, but it's a
good idea to check each firm’s policy before confirming.
Many smaller, independent companies charge mileage after
allowing you to drive a set number of miles per day. Once
you pass that magic number, the dollars start adding up
pretty fast.
* Check your membership cards
Are you a member of AAA? How about AARP? Any other
organization with an acronym that sounds like a dying
comic book character?
Many organizations, companies, credit unions, etc., have
arrangements with car rental agencies to offer special
discounts to their members. You may be eligible for a
5 to 15 percent discount and not be aware of it.
The same holds true for the holders of some credit cards.
You also want to look into joining one of the preferred
customer programs offered by the big rental agencies.
Membership, usually doesn't cost much, and it can often
give you deals on out-of-budget upgrades. The head-of-
the-line express treatment alone is likely to be worth
it.
Well, that's it for this week, group. Thanks again for
reading, and please keep those comments, complaints and
questions coming in.
You can send me an e-mail message at: Email Pierce
Until next week, thanks for reading.
Your Tipmeister,
Pierce
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