More and more business travellers are exchanging their short-haul flight tickets with driving to their destination. Obviously, this only makes sense if the distance you are driving is reasonable. This way, the time spent driving is just about the same as the collective amount of time you spend going to the airport, lining up for check-in, boarding and the actual flight itself.
PROS: You do not need to turn off your mobile phone. It could be the cheaper option, too.
CONS: If you need to drive, you cannot use the time to work or relax.
This is an ideal solution especially to those who have access to a company car.
For those who need to rent a car, take note. The advertised price you see isn’t the final price. There are additional charges which you should consider when calculating whether it is more practical to fly or to rent-a-car.
And when you do get a rent-a-car, make sure you don’t get cheated out of money due to scratches or any damage that occurred before you used the car. Inspect the vehicle and make sure that these damages (if any) are acknowledged in writing. Check out Joel Widzer's 8 tips for great car rentals. Worth a read, especially if you want to know how he was able to get an upgrade at a discount.
If you are the type who'd rather base your choice on awards or accolades earned, note that: Hertz was awarded the World's Best Car-Rental Agency by Travel + Leisure Magazine; and in the UK, the Guardian has awarded Auto Europe as the best car hire.
Thanks for this informative post, Melissa. You're a B-lister now, so I'll have to choose my words carefully :) ...
Recently I rented a car and ended up paying way too much. Why? Two big reasons: One, I returned it a few hours late and got hit with a big late fee. Two, I was 24 years old at the time (okay, so I'm still 24), so they charged me extra for being in the 18-24 age bracket.
One car renting tip I can give is, don't be afraid to get a bigger or nicer car. Generally they don't cost too much more than the tiny ones, and if you're going to be going on a long car trip, you deserve a smooth ride. Go for something with A/C, power locks, cruise control and a nice sound system. Oh, and space for all your stuff.
Posted by: Easton Ellsworth | March 25, 2006 11:14 AM | Permalink to Comment