MAIN Travel Car Rentals

Unless you drive yourself, in your own car, to your vacation or business travel destination you'll probably want to rent a car when you get there.

While renting cars for travel has never been easier, it's also never been more confusing.

The Internet opens up a world of options for anyone who needs to rent a car. Rental agencies, car rental reviews, and car services both discounted and full price - are just a click away.

In many cases you can add a rental car onto your vacation package at the same time that you book your flight or your lodging. But, as with most travel related decisions, you need to figure out how to balance cost, customer service and convenience.

First, don't settle for the first car rental company you come across. Take time to browse the Web (see below) for car rental reviews by other Web surfers and take comfort and money saving tips from those who have traveled that road before.

When you are reserving a rental car, think about what comfort means to you. How much time will you spend driving? You may want to pay a little extra to have a larger car with more room for passengers and luggage.

Will it make a difference if you rent a two door or four car? The two door sedans are generally a bit less expensive, but mean that the back seat passenger has to wait for the front seat to be empty before climbing out. Don't go for the higher cost if you don't need to, but keep in mind the purpose of the trip and decide how much your trip will be impacted by renting a car that will not fit your needs.

If you plan to travel overseas, you may not realize that most rental cars do NOT come with automatic transmissions. Make sure that the car you rent does not require you to know how to drive a stick shift unless you have some experience.

Let your car rental agency know that you need an automatic transmission before you get there. Driving on strange roads in a strange car with signs that may be in a strange language is no time to start learning how to drive with one foot on the clutch!

Related information & car rental company reviews around the Web:

Rental Cars - Car Rental Reviews - Hundreds of star-rated reviews of Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Avis and more.

Epinions.com - Car Rental Consumer Reviews - A great resource for finding rants, raves and general reviews of car rental companies in the US and worldwide.

Facts for Consumers - Renting a Car -US Federal Trade Commission tip sheet on how to choose a car rental company and understanding fees and charges,

Renting a Car in Europe: Secrets You Need to Know - Expert travel guide tips with advice on where, when and how to rent a car in Europe, including information on car rental insurance, questions to ask, and related resources.

UK Car Rental Directory - Extensive listings with descriptions to all major companies throughout London and the British Isles including self-drive and chauffeur driven services, with related resources (including how to drive on the left), and local rules of the road courtesy of Britain Express.

also see -> How to Find Cheap Airfares | Business Travel

Cruises | Road Trips | Hotels | Gay-Friendly Travel

Traveling with Pets | Travel Bargains | Travel Tours