Many options exist for travelers who want quality rental services at cheap car rental rates . Looking into each option can increase your chances of finding the best rental deals. There are benefits and risks associated with each that should be considered before you make a final decision.

Blind Rental Sites

For travelers who do not care who they rent from, it is possible to get great deals through these sites. You may end up with a well known car rental agency or a lesser known one. It is a risk you take when you use these sites. Only you can decide if the discounted price is worth it or not.

Use an Aggregator

You can comparison shop at aggregator sites. All you need to do is enter your travel information such as departure and arrival dates and times. You will need to provide personal contact information to get quotes from multiple rental agencies. Review the quotes to see which offer the best services at the lowest rates. Then make your reservation. It is that simple.

Rent Locally

This means if you travel internationally, you can get better rates using the rental companies in your destination country. You have a better selection from which to choose when you add them to the mix. There are websites that can help you with this so you can get the lowest rental rate possible. You will most likely have to have an international driver's license to rent a car locally.

Avoid Airport Rentals

Airport locations are the most expensive option because they are often legally required to add surcharges to your rental fees. And this additional cost can increase your final price by nearly 45%. Never pay more than necessary.

Understand Restrictions

Violating restrictions can cost you. If you drive your rental car to restricted areas, you may have an additional fee to pay. Rental companies in countries that limit travel use GPS devices to monitor the location of rental cars so there is no way to trick the company. There may even be limits on the number of miles you can drive during the rental period.

Check Conversion Rates

International cheap car rental may involve currency conversion. If you do not have the option of using your own currency, be sure you know what the conversion fees are so you are not surprised by the additional cost with this cheap car rental. Read More......

Traveling can be a wonderful experience. But it can also be expensive. Fortunately, travelers can get cheap flights to even the most popular destinations if they are willing to follow these basic guidelines.  You must be willing to be flexible in your travel schedule to get the very lowest airfare rates.

Time Your Flight

Peak travel times cost more - there really is no avoiding this fact. If you must travel during holidays or on weekends, you can still save money by booking several weeks in advance.  You can also select the day before or after peak days for your own travel departure times.  For example, airfare on the day before a major holiday costs more than if you fly on the actual holiday.

Try Secondary Airports

Tickets at major airports often cost more than those at smaller nearby airports.  Regional airports may offer additional discounts to encourage travels to use their services. And you can still travel to popular locales from these airports.  Smaller airports may have limited destinations but are still worth checking out if you are headed to a major destination.  You may even be able to take a flight to another major airport that is closer to your destination which can save you money.

Take the Long Route

If you are willing to stop in multiple cities on the way to your destination, you will find lower airfare rates.  Travelers pay more for the privilege of direct flights.  But a more leisurely approach can save you quite a bit of money.  These layovers may or may not require you to de-board the plane.  People who just do not like flying may be unwilling to do this and will need to seek other options to get cheap tickets.

Use Connecting Flights

This takes the previous recommendation one step further.  You can save money if you do not mind changing planes along the way. Most travelers do not like doing this if the departure times are too close together or because the chances of you losing luggage increases.  But if you plan it well, using several short connecting cheap flights can produce significant savings.

Travelers have many options when it comes to saving many.  Cheap flights are available to those who are willing to be flexible and enjoy flying. And you can use online aggregator sites which can easily help you in developing your flight itinerary.
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Learning new cultures and sightseeing is something that travelers love. They can do without the expensive car rental fees. By following these guidelines, travelers can get cheap car rental rates from reputable rental agencies that also provide quality services to customers.

Select the Right Car

Every type of car has separate rental fees based on its value and popularity. If you are willing to rent on the lower end of the spectrum, you can get lower rates. Also, consider the cost of gas when choosing a vehicle. Larger cars will require more gas and are not as good on gas as some smaller cars.

Ask About Discounts

You should always ask about any discounts that you may possibly be eligible for if you are looking for even lower rental fees from the rental agency. Common discounts include savings as result of membership in certain auto organizations such as AAA. You can also get discounts if you are willing to take a rental car that nobody else wants.

Understand the Fees

Certain fees can be avoided if you make different decisions. For example, you may have to pay surcharges if you use an airport rental company. They are not trying to rip you off - they are required by law to charge you those fees.

Avoid Cleaning and Refuel Fees

Before you return the car you should always ensure that you clean it. Many rental agencies charge a cleaning fee so they can make the car suitable for the next customer. But if you handle this yourself, you can ask that the fee be waived. Same goes for the refuel fees - top off your tank before you return it so you are not charged if they have to refuel the car.

Negotiate Rental Fees

You do not have to settle for the final price offered. There is absolutely nothing that prevents you from negotiating with the rental company until you reach a compromise on the rental rate. If the counter representative is unwilling to negotiate, ask to speak to the manager.

Comparison Shop

To be able to compare cheap car rental rates and services you should get online quotes from the various rental agencies. Gathering this information can help you make informed decisions so you pay lower rental fees. If you are willing to be flexible in your travel dates, you can obtain even lower rates. On average, renting is cheaper on week days than on weekends. By comparison shopping it is easy to get cheap car rental.
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Have you ever had the experience of going to the gate only to find it empty of passengers? There's something strange about the way airport communicate with those in search of planes. In theory, there are speakers located at strategic points about each terminal and, no matter where you sit or stand, you will always be able to hear each announcement perfectly. Indeed, when you pay attention, you can always hear calls for other flights. Yet when it comes to your own, there's a strange disconnection as if the message suddenly enters a parallel dimension and fails to reach your ears.

You then find yourself in completely the wrong place and you can't find you where you should be as no-one is around. When you do finally track down where you should be, have you noticed how everyone gets asked to board the plane before you? That means you get to your seat to find the the space in the overhead compartments up and down your aisle has been taken up.

When you are finally in your seat with baggage stowed, you realize you're not yet in the air. You'll be pleased to know there are federal regulations that limit the time you can be held in the plane on the ground. For domestic flights at the larger airports, you have to be offered release after three hours. The airline is also to ensure you have enough to drink and the toilet arrangements are adequate. There are fines for both US and foreign airlines if they leave your international flight on the tarmac for more than four hours. In theory, this makes it more economic for the plane to take off than go back to the terminal.

Let's say you're now in the air. Have you noticed it's difficult to get anything to eat or drink unless you pay? It's well known food has never been great but, in the days before pricing got less than transparent, you used to get one of those trays with something edible on it as a part of the ticket price.  Permission to have a seat on the plane is the only value a ticket has these days for the airlines.

Remember, never ever say anything that could be interpreted as insulting about the airline or any of its staff. Even more important, never joke about terrorism. Indeed, until you get in the air, it's probably safer not to talk to anyone about anything connected with flying. Paranoia is everywhere and, if you're considered a threat to security, an air marshal is likely to arrest you and drag you off the plane to a holding cell.

You would have you own private jet and people around you would bow and scrape as you walked towards your plane whenever you needed it in a perfect world where you had a piece of the American Dream. Until that day dawns, you're in the cheap flights with the rest of us and pathetically grateful because, if you were thinking about using the train as a substitute, it would take you more than fifty hours on the California Zephyr to get from Chicago to San Francisco. No matter how comfortable the train, even a cheap flight may be more convenient.
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It is not surprising that car rental companies are experiencing an increase in popularity. Local drivers are responsible for this boost in demand for rental services. Rentals offer tangible benefits for local drivers who are seeking alternatives to the expense of gas-guzzling vehicles that have costly price tags, require ongoing maintenance, and are parked more than they are driven.

Cost-Effectiveness

Hiring a rental is cheaper than paying for a taxi or using public transportation when available.  And if you share the cost of a rental, your personal expenses drop even further.  Many companies offer discounts to local drivers as an added incentive to use their services over other transportation options. Rental rates that are based on mileage can be particularly cost-effective for local drivers.

Reliable Transportation

In recent years there has been an increase in public transportation use among young people. Now they are turning to rentals so they are not tied to a public transport schedule. A group of friends or coworkers may go in together to share the cost of a rental.  They do not have to worry about a car payment or maintenance.  And they save on gas expenses by sharing the costs between them.

Convenient

Hiring a rental is more convenient than relying on taxi services.  You do not have to wait to be picked up.  You can just get in the car and drive to your destination.  It is common for travelers to rent transportation once they reach their city of destination.  They prefer to be in control in their travel schedule rather than depending on people they do not know.

Public Image

Local professionals use rentals to present a more sophisticated image to prospective clients. You may be picking them up from the airport or meeting them at a restaurant.  Whatever the case, you want to manage how they view you and the type of vehicle you drive says a lot about you.

Environmental Concerns

Sharing the expenses of a rental car basically reduces the need for additional cars on the road.  Many car rental companies include eco-friendly vehicles as well as hybrids in their fleet.  You can have a real impact on the environment by using rentals rather than purchasing your own vehicle.

It is anticipated that car rental companies will continue to grow in popularity, especially in cities and high-growth urban areas.  See if this is a money-saving option for you.

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Increasingly tight budgets are forcing travelers to look for cheap air tickets. This is true for individuals who travel for leisure and want to spend less on tickets so they have cash once they reach their destination. Businesses that routinely pay for employees to travel also need to pay less for airfare. Corporate budgets have been reduced in recent years because of the economy. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make sure you save money on your airline tickets.

Plan Ahead

Although there are times when you have to make arrangements last minute you should always try to plan ahead. Otherwise, you should be able to buy tickets in advance so you get great prices. Try to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays whenever possible. Even if you get to your destination early, you will have saved significant money. Putting in a little bit of time to save a lot of money is, for most people, a tradeoff that is worthwhile.

Monitor Airfares

There are two ways to do this. You can sign up for electronic newsletters or mobile alerts so you know when new offers, coupons, and discounts are available for your review. In particular, you want to be able to tell when prices increase or decrease so you can plan accordingly. Airlines offer this information directly or, if you prefer, you can sign-up for this service through any site that provides ticket information from multiple airlines.

Do Not Wait

Don't wait to see if the next deal you get is the best one, take a good deal as soon as you find it. There will always be a better deal. The problem is at some point prices on cheap air tickets will increase again and you may miss your opportunity to save money. It is not always obvious when airlines will increase airfare. Looking at getting a last minute deal is usually the only time when you should wait.

Look for Refunds

If you have already purchased your ticket but you notice the final price of comparable low cost air tickets on your flight is much lower, contact the airline and ask for a refund of the difference. Most will honor your request. You may have to do this in person at the ticket counter. You can call the airline directly to find out what their refund policy is or you can check their website for information.
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Drivers are always looking for good deals and affordable rates. Rental rates often seem somewhat mysterious. Car rental companies calculate rates using a myriad of different factors. The more you know about the different rate factors, the better prepared you are to negotiate with your current rental agency or simply find a new one that offers more competitive rates.

Reservation Fees

You will be assessed a fee when you reserve your rental.  If you are unable to follow-through on your reservation, you may still be required to pay this fee which will be charged to the credit card you used to make the reservation.  Some agencies drop the fee if you honor your reservation while others add it to your bill.

Rental Fees

Each rental company calculates their fees differently.  Some base rates on distance traveled while other rental vehicles by the hour.  Fuel expenses may or may not be included in the fee structure.  If you plan to drive in areas deemed to be high-risk by the rental agency, you will have higher rates.

Taxes and Surcharges

Added to your rental fees, these can be the hardest to understand. You may have multiple taxes depending on the particular rental agency as well as its location.  Many counter representative cannot explain the surcharges fully even if they are asked for clarification. Do not accept a vague response. If they do not know why a particular charge is included, ask them to remove it.

Rental Insurance Costs

Not all renters buy the additional insurance offered by car rental companies.  Those that do will have that added to their rental cost.  Not everyone needs to purchase rental insurance. If you already have this included in your regular car insurance policy, it is not necessary to also purchase it from the rental agency.

Vehicle Damage Fees

What happens if you are involved in an accident while driving a rental car?  Who is responsible for the damages?  If you are responsible for the car being  damaged or stolen it can cost you so this is something you have to know before you sign the rental contract.

Discounts

These are the last to be applied during the rate calculation.  You might get discounts because you belong to AAA or another membership organization.  Special offers may be given by car rental companies during slow rental times to encourage drivers to rent from them.
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