Drivers are always looking for good deals and affordable rates. Rental rates often seem somewhat mysterious. Myriad factors are included in the rate calculation used by car rental companies. 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. Even if you ask for clarification, the counter representative may not be able to fully explain the surcharges. 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? You need to know this before signing a rental contract because if the car is stolen or damaged and you are held responsible, it can cost you.

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.

Travel accommodation is a major concern for all travelers embarking on any form of overseas trip, whether it is a short weekend getaway or an extended backpacking expedition. However, many travelers are too caught up with taking care of airline reservations and activity planning that they often relegate the selection and booking of accommodation to the bottom of their to-do list.

The number of travel accommodation types available is simply mind-blogging, and even within each type there can be countless variations. Hence, not doing careful research and planning for your accommodation could cause you to end up in a place that falls far short of your expectations.

A good hotel stay is important to help you recharge after a long day, but often comes at a high price. Hence, it is best to know how to book the right accommodation at the right time. This allows you to secure the best deals so that you can focus your spending on other aspects of your trip instead.

Here are some tips regarding when to book your travel accommodation, and which accommodation types you can consider to suit your specific needs.

Booking your accommodation in advance is a tried and tested way of ensuring that you are likely to secure the accommodation of your choice and hence do not have to worry about rooms being sold out as you approach your travel date.

This practice is recommended if your chosen destination would be packed with visitors at the time of year that you are travelling. This could include the period coinciding with major festivals such as Christmas, or international events such as the World Expo. There are also likely to be early bird deals and offers by hotels which are likely to be more attractive the further in advance you book.

On the other hand, sometimes it is unavoidable to make travel plans at the last minute, especially with our hectic lifestyle that gives rise to increasing occurrences of ad hoc travel. Many online travel agents and hotels are hence quick to cash in on this phenomenon, offering travelers fantastic last minute bargains on travel that can rival those of early bird discounts.

However, booking at the last minute is only advised if you are very sure that there will still be vacancies at the hotel of your choice as your travel date draws near. This would likely be during the off-peak seasons when hotels would be trying to fill up their empty rooms with such attractive offers. (more…)