Whenever
possible, make all car rental arrangements, from booking to payment,
before you leave the United States. It is almost always cheaper,
safer, less likely to include hidden clauses, and
easier to do it
this way. Once you are overseas, shifting exchange rates, unfamiliar
rental specs, language barriers, and general cultural differences
can cause unexpected problems.
Most European cars have manual transmissions, although automatic
cars can be found, often at a price. If you can drive a stick shift,
it could save you money and hassles.
You should expect to share driving chores. Driving in Europe is
often more strenuous than driving in the United States, as back
roads and even some highways tend to be hilly, winding, and often
precariously placed on a mountainside or ocean cliff. Don't expect
one person to do all the driving, and if not everyone can drive a
manual transmission, consider looking for an automatic.
When making reservations for car rental pickups at an airport,
choose a smaller car than you would typically desire. Airport fleets
are often stocked with larger cars, as they are primarily used by
business travelers, and you will often receive a free upgrade from a
subcompact booking.
Book in advance. Rental rates are almost always higher at the
counter than they will be over the phone even just 24 hours before
pickup. If you have time, comparison shop. Call a couple of rental
agencies and ask for identical cars for your travel dates.
Ask what time a car is expected for drop-off. Many rental agencies
begin charging for each 24 hours from the time of rental, and will
bill a full day for cars returned after another 24-hour period
begins.
Ask about weekend specials, late penalties, and gas charges. Many
hidden discounts or additional costs will not be explained at the
time of rental, and it may be too late once you find out.
Whenever possible, if you see an ad for a special rate, clip the ad
or write down the promotional code. Many of the best rates do not
show up on agents' computer screens without a little prompting.
Always ask about senior citizen, AAA, credit card, and frequent
flyer program discounts or add-on offers.
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Reference Guide |
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