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COOL TRAVEL MAIL'S
TRAVEL TIPS
Tips & Adice for the Seasoned and Armchair Traveler Alike!
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http://www.CoolTravelMail.com
Aug. 14, 2007
Flying these days can be miserable.
Delays are more frequent than they've been in more than a
decade, flight cancellations are common, seating is cramped
and customer service is starting to make government
bureaucrats look friendly and helpful in comparison.
And then you've got to rent a car.
This week's edition includes:
* AVOIDING CAR RENTAL HEADACHES
* CLUBS, COUPONS AND CONTRACTS
* WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES
P.S. If you're interested you can now post comments on this
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AVOIDING CAR RENTAL HEADACHES
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There's a lot to think about when you rent a car.
Typically, this decision gets a lot less attention from
travelers than the airborne legs of their journey. But it
can get complicated - and expensive; especially with
gasoline selling for more than $3 a gallon at the pump.
Here are some tips:
* Fuel efficiency
It used to be that the first thing on most car renter's
lists - especially folks traveling for business on the
company's dime - was comfort. You figure out how many people
you'll have, add luggage, and look for something that would
fit everything comfortably.
Now, more travelers are willing to skimp a bit on comfort to
get more miles to the gallon. Many businesses are
scrutinizing this element of their expense accounts more
carefully, and an employee may be able to score some points
by saving his or her company some money.
Pay attention to the miles-per-gallon numbers of the rental
cars. Some rental companies don't post this info, so you
should do your research in advance. If you're going to be
driving a lot, this could save you quite a bit of money.
* Fill it yourself
Never buy gas from the car rental company. It is almost
always a bad deal.
Yes, there are drivers out there who will e-mail me to say
this option worked out for them, but successes stories are
the exception to the rule. They depend on pump prices
dropping before the rental agency bureaucracy can respond.
Lately, we haven’t had many dramatic downward shifts here.
The flip side of this is making sure you fill the car -
yourself - back to where the gauge was when you drove off
the lot. If the agency fills it, they will do so with their
more expensive gasoline, and you’re credit card charge will
be bigger than you expected.
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CLUBS, COUPONS AND CONTRACTS
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* Exploit your memberships
OK, if you're the grand wizard of the Cleveland chapter of
the Loyal Order of Raccoons, it may not mean much at the
rental desk.
But if you've got a AAA membership, you'll get a discount.
So will folks embraced by the AARP.
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 may be worth it for frequent
travelers.
* Clip coupons
I long ago stopped feeling embarrassed about handing desk
clerks coupons. Hey, a buck's a buck.
Just 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 coupon that
saves on the rental price, 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.
* Beware hidden charges
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 politicians 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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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES
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* Consider waiting a day
If the only use you plan to make of a car on your first day
at a location is to drive to the hotel and sleep, why not
take a shuttle or a cab to the hotel, and rent a car the
next morning? It could save you the cost of a full-day's
rental.
Also, car rental prices tend to drop the further you get
from an airport and the agencies' captive customer base.
* 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 (http://www.orbitz.com) or Expedia
(http://www.expedia.com). 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 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.
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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