Travel Deal of the Day (August 7, 2007)

If you are renting a car, you should consider ways to protect yourself against an accusation that you damaged the car during the rental. Two simple steps can save you tremendous aggravation and will document the condition of the car before and after the rental.

The Deal:
When returning a rental car, most people assume that they do not have to worry about being charged for any damage to a rental car once a rental car is "checked in" and the car rental attendant (who may or may not inspect the car) does not complain about any damage to a rental car. This is not true – a rental car company reserves the right to inspect the car for damage long after you have returned the car. To protect against being charged for damage that occurred before you rented the car or damage that occurs after you returned the car, you should complete the following two tasks when renting a car:

Step One (When Picking Up Car Rental): Inspect the car thoroughly and notate any damage. Some car rental companies will have a form for car rental damage that they will require you sign before renting. Other companies will have no mandated procedure for inspecting damage before a car rental. Regardless, make sure any damage is noted and that you have written proof before you leave the car rental lot of any pre-existing damage on a rental car. (Most companies have a form which can be used to notate damage before a car rental. For companies without a standard form, have the car rental company notate damage on the car rental contract.)

Step Two (When Dropping Off Car Rental): Take pictures of the car. Use a digital camera (even the camera on your cell phone, if applicable) to document the good condition of the car. Remember, a car rental company reserves the right to inspect the car at a later time (which may occur after one or more people have rented that car) – so this is your opportunity to document the condition of the car at the time you returned the car.

Travel Deal of the Day (Jan. 23, 2007)

Did you ever wonder how car rental companies get rental cars to Florida for all the winter tourists and then move those cars elsewhere for the summer when fewer tourists visit Florida? The answer is that they offer car rentals for essentially free for customers during Spring who want to drive cars from Florida to a variety of northern and western cities.

The Deal:
Starting April 8, 2007, you can get a one-way car rental for as low as $1/day when picking up a Hertz rental car in most major Florida cities and driving it to a variety of northern or western cities. You can see the applicable Florida and northern/western cities as well as the rates here.

How:
1) Go to the Booking Page

2) Click on “Quote It” next to the car size you would like to select

The Inside Scoop:
This is a great deal if you are a “snowbird” that lives in Florida during the winter but in the north/west during the summer, if you are moving from Florida, or if you are taking a trip to Florida but would like to drive back home.

Travel Deal of the Deal (Jan 18, 2007)

Do you need a one-way car rental?

As mentioned in the January 10th post, National Car Rental often has the best one way car rental rates. And now, National is offering $25 off its one way rates.

The Deal:
Save $25 off of one way car rentals of at least 3 days from National Car Rental. This offer is valid until the end of March 2007.

How:
Go to: National Discount