Photo by Robert Landau
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The Contrarian Traveler
Rental-Car Relief
By Peter Greenberg, September & October 2008
Six ways to save money—from gas to taxes
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Avoid the airport Your car-rental bill may be significantly higher at airports than at other rental locations. The main reason? Higher fees and taxes. Local and state governments use airport taxes to help fund area projects (translation: tourists help pay for that new baseball stadium or convention center). It’s often cheaper to take a shuttle into the city and rent your car there.
Skip the 800 number The toll-free number sends you to a national call center, and agents there have less leeway to negotiate. Call the direct number of the local rental agency where you plan to pick up the car. Local franchises know their inventory better than any national clearinghouse does—if there’s a surplus of cars, the agents are more likely to make a deal.
Bring a digital camera Before you drive the car off the lot, turn on the date-and-time option on your camera, walk around the car, and take pictures of any dings and dents. Show the photos to the agent and get his or her full name—that way, when you return the car and the agent tries to hit you with repair charges, you’ll have absolute proof that the damage was already there.
Be fuel savvy Understand the companies’ refueling policies. Some make you pay upfront for a full tank of gas when you rent the car. If that’s the case, bring it back as empty as possible. Other agencies give you an option: bring the car back full or let the company refuel it for you. In that situation, you should definitely fill it up yourself. Car-rental companies often charge up to $8 a gallon.
Rent on a Saturday If you need a car for only a day, I’ve found this is usually the cheapest day to get it. Call that morning: many cars prebooked for the weekend are never picked up, so the lot may have a surplus.
Watch for falling prices In my experience, car-rental prices can rise and fall 10 to 20 times a day, based on demand. Even though you have a reservation, you can still get the lower price. A few days before you pick up the car, check the prices online. If they’re lower, call the local rental agency (not the 800 number). More often than not, an agent can magically drop the rate for you, but you have to ask.
Quick Trips
Autumn Alternatives
New England isn’t the only place for great fall foliage. In Napa and Sonoma, California, the postharvest grapevines explode into bright reds and yellows (take a hot-air-balloon ride—peak colors are usually in early October). That’s also when the sugar maples and yellow birches come alive on the 185-mile Cabot Trail on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island. Late October and early November are best in South Carolina—try the 112-mile Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway—and, yes, Oklahoma, where the 54-mile Talimena Scenic Byway crosses the border into Arkansas.
The Beer Essentials
Tired of wine tasting? Go beer tasting instead. More and more cities offer artisanal microbrews that reflect local flavors. In Madison, Wisconsin, visit the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co (608-284-0000). If you’re feeling daring, sample the tripepper pilsner. Eco Tours of Oregon (888-868-7733) offers trips to three different Portland brewpubs. The cost is $45, and—best of all—you’re not driving! On Long Island, in Patchogue, try Blue Point (631-475-6944). The summer ale is fabulous all year long.
Find Peter Greenberg Q&As and videos on AARP.org
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