![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
Vacation Rentals Information |
|
![]() |
European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips for Europe Travel - Tip #2: The Price is Right
When it comes to shopping for something on-line, we tend to become naturally more focused on a singular aspect of the product or service we desire. There is so much information to be absorbed while browsing sites that it is nearly impossible to factor everything in. This is very true of the travel industry, which happens to be the second largest on-line market (I'm sure you can guess what the first is) and the one thing most customers tend to zero in on is that magical of all numbers: price. This is of course to be expected. We can, after all, only afford what is in our budget. However, the first order of business should always be to understand the requirements of our vacation, in this case, the car rental. Before you look at prices, you should have a solid idea of how many people you need to accommodate, the amount of days you are staying, whether or not you can drive a manual shift, and the locations you are picking up and dropping off at. Provided you have those things locked down, you can safely move on to comparison shopping. While it is true that 91% of travelers at least research if not purchase their trips on-line (source: Nielsen NetRatings - EyeforTravel independent study), it is always best to have some human contact before you make that important decision. In fact, if it is difficult to elicit at least a personalized e-mail response within 24 hours of contacting a travel company, you can almost guarantee that their customer service will put you on the back burner should you have a problem. Before you settle on a price, make sure that any future dealings with the company you choose will be satisfactory, or you will end up paying much more than that number on the screen. The time honored tradition these days is "added extras", also sometimes known as local taxes, hidden fees, or much more malicious wordings, depending on who you talk to. Some companies only quote you a "base rate". Some companies will tell you their price is "all-inclusive". Sometimes this is true, other times it is anything but. As long as the company is honest in conveying this information, it should not be a deterrent, as sometimes it is not within their control. Make sure you always read any terms and conditions and if you are still uneasy, call or e-mail the company and ask if there are any other charges to be expected upon arrival. Note that I say "charges" and not "fees" or "costs". The basis of this being that in most cases a security deposit will be held for gas and key as well as a deductible for insurance purposes. The things that should either be included or not are: Value Added Tax: Like sales tax in the States, all the countries in Europe have a different tax structure. This can be as low as 7.6% (Switzerland) to 25% or more (Scandinavia) and is generally not refundable as it is on goods, since car rental is deemed a service. Insurance: While there are new types of insurance being imagined up by rental companies everyday, the main ones are usually Collision and Theft (these two are sometimes covered by credit cards - more on that in later articles), liability, personal accident insurance (like medical insurance) and personal effects coverage (covers your belongings inside the vehicle). Mileage: Only luxury vehicles and SUV's should come with limited mileage. Beware any company who does not have unlimited mileage on normal sedan and wagon vehicles, even vans. Local Taxes: These typically include premium location surcharges (airports and railstations especially), road taxes, additional drivers, eco surcharges and more. Like insurances, these are called something different every day. After inclusions are tallied up, request a free quote in writing. If you can't get a free quote in writing, chances are the company will end up billing you for something you do not know about. If the company has a website where the quotes are stored, print it out off of your browser. Make sure it has a tracking number so you can pull it up when needed. Also make sure you know the difference between a tracking number and a confirmation number. One holds a rate quote, one holds an actual vehicle. In general, you can get the lowest price from a consolidator, who deals with multiple suppliers. They have contracted wholesale rates and typically hold more weight when confirming special requests such as hotel deliveries, additional equipment and after hours pick ups. It helps if they have a "best rate" policy. The better companies will offer to beat any rate you can find provided it has the same parameters and inclusions. Always ask if they have discounts for memberships like AAA, AARP, etc. Ask friends who have used the company if they know of any discount codes. You never know what will bring down the price in the long run. To sum this up, always remember that price should not be the first thing you look at. Make sure the company is reputable, is easy to reach via telephone and e-mail, has the criteria you require available, and then worry about the price. It may sound like a lot of work but in the end you will be happy that made the right choice. Murdoch Morris does happen to work for one of these car rental consolidators, which has given him 3+ years of thorough insight into the ups and downs of keeping your dream itinerary from becoming a nightmare. Feel free to contact him with any questions you may have specific to your next trip to Europe.
MORE RESOURCES: Newberg considers instituting moratorium on new short-term ... Newberg Graphic How's the vacation rental business here? Evanston Now Asian vacation rental bookings surge 84 per cent in a year Short Term Rentalz Chattanooga will hear vacation rental violations under stricter ... Chattanooga Times Free Press 11 Lovely Lighthouse Vacation Rentals TravelAwaits Telluride is among the first Colorado mountain towns to consider ... The Colorado Sun Florida’s Short-Term Rental Squeeze Skift Travel News Proposed Amendments Related to Short-Term Dwelling and ... Boulder County (.gov) Gettysburg planners recommend against vacation rental | Local ... GettysburgTimes.com Chattanooga City Council to consider rezoning request for vacation ... Chattanooga Times Free Press Phoenix vacation rental law is tougher but still toothless The Arizona Republic Hotels Are Actually Cheaper Than Vacation Rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo, According to a New Report Yahoo Life Better Business Bureau warns of vacation rental scams Spectrum News Vacation Rentals closing HSV office effective Nov. 1 Hot Springs Village Voice Gainesville residents both welcome and criticize Airbnb growth The Independent Florida Alligator Can I Still Book an Airbnb in New York City? AFAR Media The vacation rentals allow travelers to meet their expectations with ... TravelDailyNews International Low demand results in more available vacation rentals Hawaii Tribune-Herald How rural Airbnbs stay booked Marketplace Vacation rentals on Sept. 15 council agenda The Catalina Inslader Be aware of rental and internet scams | South Lake Tahoe ... South Tahoe Now 6 Vacation Rentals Designed by Famous Architects - TOMORROW'S ... Tomorrow's World Today The Islander Classifieds: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 The Anna Maria Islander 13 Houseboats You Can Rent On Vrbo TravelAwaits Why this Gorge vacation spot can't staff its restaurants anymore The Seattle Times RIchmond places strict restrictions on Airbnb Richmond Times-Dispatch How To Transform Your Vacation Rental Property Into a Home Away ... Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Travel worry-free amid a potential recession | Things to Do ... Citrus County Chronicle Buying a second home first could be the answer The Washington Post Letters to the Editor: published Sept. 22, 2023 The Catalina Inslader Emergency moratorium on new Airbnbs approved in Athens Online Athens The Number One Reason Some Cancun Tourists Are Choosing ... The Cancun Sun Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Announces ... David Y. Ige | Newsroom U.S. Travel Tips: Rugged, Remote to Chic at Tierra Del Mar on ... Oregon Coast Beach Connection RentalReady unveils fresh brand identity Short Term Rentalz Mount Pleasant of Edinboro to Host Open House for Renovated ... erienewsnow.com Lakeshore neighborhood group lobbies to reverse short-term rental ... Crain's Grand Rapids Business California’s Hotel and Short-Term Rental Junk Fee Crack Down Skift Travel News HomeToGo reveals its 2023-2024 Autumn Winter travel forecast TravelDailyNews International Demand for Vacation Homes in U.S. Hit 7-Year Low in August The World Property Journal Jarnecke: VSBM will be innovative in bringing visitors to our region South Bend Tribune This Is the Best Way to Measure Travel Performance Skift Travel News Expedia Group promotes AI / Trip Planner features in Fall Release Short Term Rentalz Inside PriceLabs: How user insights meet data science to spark ... Short Term Rentalz Your Pay Stub, Your Passport: How To Cut Travel Expenses Harlem World Magazine Vacation rentals: Explosive growth brings jobs, money, but some say ... Smoky Mountain News Santa Barbara Vows to Take On Illegal Vacation Rentals Santa Barbara Independent Why vacation rentals are the next big designer side hustle Business of Home Time to Book a Trip: Vacation Rental Prices Are Dropping Kiplinger's Personal Finance 100+ Best Summer Vacation Rentals to Book Now Condé Nast Traveler Hotel-Quality Vacation Rentals, Without the Hotel - WSJ The Wall Street Journal 26 Common Vacation Rental Challenges & Solutions Redfin Blog How to address vacation rental questions/concerns | News List City of Sarasota Vacation Rentals Are In The Hawaii Legislature's Crosshairs Honolulu Civil Beat Board of Supervisors votes to change vacation rental regulations ... County of Sonoma Vineyard Vacation Rental Market Comes Down From Pandemic Peak The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Six Good Reasons to Take a Family Vacation When I was young, family vacations with my parents consisted of driving for a week from place to place in a hot stifling car. My parents had the knack of picking the hottest week of the summer to do so. Ten Cheap Vacations Cheap vacations can still be relaxing, fun and whatever else you want them to be. Unlike cars and shoes, vacations don't get better according to price. Looking For A Holiday With A Difference? Fancy holidaying somewhere unusual? How about a 7 day tornado chasing safari? Care for a camping safari across the desert? How about a night in an Igloo? Or perhaps you may want to attend a winter driving school and receive your reindeer license!Chloe Lim goes in search of holiday spots with a difference. You will reach areas that are totally remote, stunningly beautiful, rich in history and heritage, away from mainstream tourism and not in any guide book. Ormond Beach, FL: A Small Piece of Paradise Within Volusia County, Florida, the small community of Ormond Beach claims the highest standard of living. Since its founding, the town has always been a Mecca for those who were looking for the good things in life. Andalucia, a Wonderful Holiday Destination The Costa del Sol has long been one of the most popular holiday destinations in southern Europe, and quite rightly so as it has much to offer in the form of reliable sunshine, beautiful safe beaches, good restaurants and nightlife, good quality and affordable accommodation along with plentiful and cheap flights from a vast choice of airports. However The Costa del Sol is only a very small part of the wonderful Autonomous Region of Andalucia. Peru-Lima, Miraflores Vacation Rentals Deals Miraflores is the turistic district of Lima. The main hotels are located in this nice city by the Pacific ocean. Timesharing Without Owning A Timeshare If you're dreaming of a unique vacation experience, but don't have a budget to cover outrageous hotel expenses, or to even purchase a timeshare yourself, there are ways to take advantage of the great deals offered by timeshare owners without actually becoming one yourself.With timeshare locations found all over the globe from the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the tropical beaches of the Bahamas, the only thing limiting a destination is a person's own imagination. Ten Reasons to Move to the Costa Brava After France, Spain is Europe's most popular holiday destination, and the apparent dominance of France is to a large extent due to visitors in transit elsewhere. In 1996 between 1. Why Should You Rent Town Houses Instead of Staying in a Hotel Room? So you decided on Orlando Florida for your family vacation this year.Before you decide where to stay think about what it is like in Orlando. Boston, a Bargain Travel Guide Made famous by Revolutionary events, infamous by cold winters, and both by the World-Series winning Red Sox, Boston has its fair share of reasons to visit. With such a reputation, however, comes high prices, and it has become increasingly difficult to find bargain deals in the city. Sea Pines Plantation - The Pearl of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Sea Pines Plantation - The Pearl of Hilton Head IslandHilton Head Island is one of the nicest places to vacation, regardless of what time of year you decide to stay. And I must inform you that a stay in Sea Pines Plantation must be top on your list. Sussex County Delaware Beach Area Towns and Villages Are Unique and Historic I love Sussex County Delaware. I am native born, multigenerational and proud to be one of those who, as they say; "are from here". Top Family Vacation Destinations Planning a family beach vacation? Looking for destinations with family resorts that have fun sports and activities for the whole family, all inclusive resorts where meals are included and kid clubs? Here are some of the most popular beach destinations for families to unwind and relax:MexicoMexico, especially the Cancun area, and Mayan Riviera, an hour's drive south of Cancun, is a popular place for family beach vacations. The Mayan Riviera is one of the regions of Mexico - and the world- which offers the richest variety of landscapes and archaeological treasures including Mayan ruins, coral reef, snorkelling lagoons, and eco-theme parks such as Xcaret. With Vacation Rentals You Can Stay For a Long Time Vacation rentals are an option when you plan to go on a vacation and stay for any length of time. For example, Florida has the basic strategy of finding what the vacationer needs, what they are looking for and with what budget and then fulfilling that need. Home Away From Home on Hilton Head Island Hilton Head Island's mild climate, slow pace, and beautifully forested landscapes are unique to the Atlantic coast. Deep-sea fishing charters, turtle watching, or riding a bike along the beach at sunset are some of the many wonderful outdoor activities available on the island. Benefits of Lake Tahoe Cabin Rentals Lake Tahoe cabin complexes rangein size from small, six-unit, luxury rentals in the woods, to larger cabins with common pools and private beaches. There is something here for everyone. European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips for Europe Travel: Tip #3 Insurance Car rental insurance has to be one of the most widely misunderstood phenomena of the 21st century. In the 3+ years I have worked in this industry, close to 25% of all the issues that arise have to do with deductibles, authorizations, refunds and the geocentric validity of insurance. Vacationing in Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a pristine recreational lake area. With high-stake casino gambling and Las Vegas-style entertainment on one side and spiritual retreats and horseback riding on the other, you can't go wrong. Vacation / Honeymoons 101 - Planning for Perfect Weather on Your Trip Did you ever worry when traveling about the weather? Most people worry about weather and it can play a major role in making or breaking your vacation.People ask all the time and think just because they are going to a tropical island that it doesn't rain. Tips to Visit Valencia, a Lovely City of Spain Valencia is the third city of Spain, by number of inhabitants. It is located to the east of the Iberian Peninsula, next to the Mediterranean Sea. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 |