I just have to say, a family road trip is all very nice for the kids and the husband – they just throw a bag together and they’re ready to hit the open road in a nice new car rental.
Meanwhile, we wives spent weeks trying to figure out how to fit half a houseful of necessities (including but not limited to one oversized toy bear, one travel cot, softball gear, a 32 pound stroller and a set of golf clubs) into a medium sized SUV!
Something has to give…but oh the tears and tantrums….and that’s just at the mention of leaving golf clubs behind!
I was not going to spend another road trip being bombarded with “I’m bored, can we go to (expensive but not very good) attraction? Are we there yet? Mommy make Kevin stop”…..and they say it with that special voice they reserve for long periods in a small space!
Some questions to ask yourself before renting a car for your family include:
How many of you are travelling?
First and foremost, think about how many people are travelling and how far you’re going. Yes, you may think a hatch will be fine for four people, but if you’ve got three weeks of travel ahead you may need more space for luggage. And to get as far away from each other as possible.
Automatic or Stick-shift
Next, always double-check to make sure the car you want to rent has the transmission you’re after. There’s nothing more embarrassing than bunny hopping down the main strip of Vegas in front of all those showgirls, simply because you didn’t realise you weren’t getting an automatic.
Insurance costs
Always check out the insurance costs. If you think this holiday might be a good chance to let your 17-year-old son learn to drive, you might want to think again. As with hormones, insurance costs skyrocket when there are teenagers involved. You really want to save that extra cash for bail money after they’ve escaped the hotel and are found drinking in a nearby bar instead.
Baby on board?
Need a child seat? Always find out how much extra it’s going to be, whether or not they’re up to code, and if there are any cleaning costs involved. Speaking of cleaning, are you going to be liable for cleaning costs at the end of your trip? Better find out just to make sure. Otherwise you’ll be charged an arm and a leg for every McDonald’s wrapper the company has to scrape off the carpet.
Shop around
And always remember to shop around! There’s a lot of companies out there after your business, but are you really being offered the best deal? Ask about the possibility of an upgrade, you just never know your luck! Just remember to check to see if the car you’re offered covers all the bases.
There were a couple of different rental places to choose from so we even made sure we got the cheapest car rental deal. I recommend www.VroomVroomVroom.com. So book your car, now. It'll be so much easier than convincing a four year old to travel without his favourite toy bear, or a thirty eight year old to give up his golf clubs!