Archive for July, 2009
Kid Friendly Attractions In Miami, Florida
Are you planning a trip to the beautiful beaches of Miami, Florida and taking the kids with you? Miami is known for its night life, great beach scene and cultural atmosphere, and many people refer to it as the Los Angeles of the East Coast. But, if you are traveling with children to Miami, you will be pleased to learn that there are many activities to pursue that are geared towards kids.
First, as always, it is important to properly prepare for your trip, and one of the first things to accomplish is to secure your car rental in Miami so that you are able to visit these wonderful attractions. Here are some kid-friendly attractions:
With all these great attractions to visit, grab the best deal you can on your Miami car rental through E-Z Rent-A-Car. One of the best ways to ensure you get the lowest pricing is to sign up for our rental car magic, E-Z Money Club.
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, MIA car rental, Miami airport car rental, Travel, visit south beath miami florida
Take A Vacation To Denver, Colorado
photo credit: LipBomb
Denver is one of the fastest growing tourism hot spots in the United States. With great ski slopes, sunny weather, a thriving economy, and so many other activities to keep you busy, there’s no wonder why Denver, Colorado is the place to be. From anywhere in the city, you’ll have a panoramic view of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. The summer is the perfect time to visit, because the temperature is in the 70s, and there is plenty of sun to accommodate doing activities outdoors.
Once you pick up your discount car rental in Denver, head on over to Denver’s world class art, natural science, and history museums. Catch a baseball game at Coors Field or check out the beautiful Denver botanical gardens. Do you want to travel green? Denver has many green hotels with high green score ratings.
The nightlife scene is just as active as the natural wonders that make this city so unique. The local bars and clubs are rich in history and some can be recognized by a younger audience who watched MTV’s Real World Denver. The top partying spots include The Shelter, Bull and Bush Pub and Brewery, Pint’s Pub, The Church, Rise Night Club and Gabors.
If a skiing or snowboarding trip this winter is what you seek, Denver delivers in a big way. Keystone, Copper Head, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Vail, Loveland and Arapahoe Basin are all within reasonable driving distance. All of these resorts are considered among the best in the country, but we suggest that you research which slopes will be best for your skill level.
Renting a car is recommended in Denver, because going just outside the city to experience their outdoor activities is the only way to truly get the most out of your stay in Colorado. You can look for coupons for your Denver car rental right on our website. We have a location at the Denver International Airport to serve your car rental needs.
Tags: cheap car rental, denver airport rental car, discount car rental
What You Need To Know About The Car Allowance Rebate System
The Car Allowance Rebate System or better known as the “Cash For Clunkers” program, is now picking up steam with dealerships heavily pushing the program and consumers showing more interest in the program. There are many requirements to be qualify for the program, because it is designed to help take less fuel efficient cars off the road and put drivers into safer, greener cars.
Here is some important information from the cars.gov website:
- Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
- Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify
- Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)
- Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
- You don’t need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase
- Program runs through Nov 1, 2009 or when the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
- The program requires the scrapping of your eligible trade-in vehicle, and that the dealer disclose to you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in. The scrap value, however minimal, will be in addition to the rebate, and not in place of the rebate.
The maximum amount you can receive for the trade-in is $4,500, and I am not certain that the government has specified how the $4,500 trade is determined. I think they are leaving this up to the dealership’s discretion. Since the dealership gets reimbursed by the government, and they want to push new inventory out the door, it’s safe to assume they will be generous with the trade value. I have already seen some dealerships offering to match the trade-in value from the CARS program to sweeten the pot.
Buyer beware of scams and bad marketing tactics
There will be a lot of people out there that try to exploit this program, so beware of any scams or unscrupulous marketing tactics by car dealerships. Use common sense. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Don’t sign over the title to the clunker without a bill of sale. The bill of sale is your only proof that the title is being transferred to another name. Make sure everything is in writing, and do your homework before you do a deal. When it comes to large dealerships, make sure you read the fine print. Large dealerships love to lure customers in with a catchy marketing tactic, but there is usually a catch to the deal. Be smart, ask questions, and don’t be scared to walk away from a deal.
If you do have an old car that you’ve been looking to get rid of and upgrade to a new car, this could be a great opportunity to save a lot of money and help save the environment!
Tags: car allowance rebate, cash for clunkers program
Top 5 Hidden Gems of Central Florida
It’s no surprise that the first thing to come to your mind when you hear the word, “Orlando”, is Disney World. After all, if Walt Disney hadn’t decided to buy thousands of acres decades ago to build his magical empire, Orlando may not be what it is today. However, talk to the locals of Orlando, and you will quickly find out that there is much more to do in Central Florida than just Disney and Universal Studios. If you are flying into the Orlando airport and getting a discount rental car for the week, read on to learn about some of Central Florida’s hidden gems.
Mt. Dora, Florida
Mt. Dora is a quaint little town just 25 miles northwest of Orlando that makes you wonder if you are even in Florida anymore. Mt. Dora is widely known for its wonderful bed & breakfast inns, antique shops, and parks. Visit the Lakeside Inn to experience the 19th century feel of Mt. Dora. It is a bed & breakfast that was built in 1883, just three years after the town was established! If you are in Orlando in February, one of the best months to visit Central Florida, be sure to check out the Mt. Dora Arts Festival which attracts hundreds of artists from around the country.
Deleon Springs State Park
Deleon Springs is located just west of Deland, Florida which is just off of I-4 north of Orlando. This state park has a bubbling natural spring as its centerpiece of the park where you can swim in a cool 72 degree pool of water year round. They also have great hiking trails and picnicking areas for the family. My favorite part of this park is the Old Spanish Mill restaurant. This unique restaurant has griddles right on the table, and you cook your own customized pancakes right on the table! It’s delicious, and you must visit it if you come to this park.
Park Avenue in Winter Park, Florida
Like to shop? Then, this is the place for you. Nestled between busy downtown Orlando and the suburb of Maitland is Winter Park, Florida, one of the most popular communities in Orlando. Park Avenue is a hip and trendy street lined with shopping boutiques, tasty restaurants, and charming small businesses. For a moment, you’ll think that you are in a neighborhood near Manhattan. Park Avenue also has a great park, and the entire area is dog friendly. Every saturday from 8am to 1pm, Park Avenue hosts the Winter Park Farmer’s market home to a great selection of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. It’s also a great place for picking up a light breakfast.
NASA Kennedy Space Center
There’s nothing hidden about the Kennedy Space Center, but it is often overlooked as a tourist attraction when visitors come to Central Florida. From the airport, the KSC is only about a 45 minutes drive to the east coast. Kennedy space center offers several different tours of their grounds, and their location is picturesque in itself. You’ll love learning about the rich history of NASA, see the space shuttle up close, and maybe even meet an astronaut! Astronauts and rockets, what more could a kid ask for?
Downtown Attractions
Just north of downtown you will find a beautiful botanical garden called the Leu Gardens. Also, there is a great science museum just off of I-4, on the Princeton St. exit. These are both great places to take kids, and the price of admission is reasonable.
So, if you are in the mood for something a little more than Mickey Mouse and roller coasters, check out these attractions near Orlando, Florida.
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando Discount Car Rental, visit Mt. Dora attractions, visiting deleon springs florida
Motor Trend Video Review Of 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid
As of June 8th, 2009, our Orlando, Florida location started offering a brand-new fleet of 2010 Honda Insight hybrids. I recently wrote an article about the advantages of renting a hybrid car for your next vacation or business trip. In that article we tried to outline the best features of the Honda Insight, but this video from Motor Trend does a great job at highlighting all of the green features of the car. Check it out:
For all of the extreme green travelers, you can squeeze out about 65 miles per gallon on the Honda Insight, but driving without air conditioning and the windows rolled up would be tough in the summer! The test driver then drove the car without any regard to fuel efficiency, and the car used about 28 miles per gallon. If you calculate the average of these two driving methods, expect gas mileage of about 44 to 48 miles per gallon. I also liked how the video shows you the green features such as Econ Mode and the green bar that lights up if you are driving in a green manner.
We are really excited about the new Honda Insight hybrids, so give it some consideration the next time you are renting a car at the Orlando International Airport.
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, honda insight car rental, hybrid rental car, Orlando Discount Car Rental
7 Tips For Renting A Car With A Debit Card
photo credit: Ciaran McGuiggan
Financial institutions have begun to tighten up their guidelines for approving credit card applications, because they are losing money from defaulted mortgage loans and the inability of existing customers to pay credit card payments. In addition to it being harder for people to be accepte for new credit cards, credit card issuers are also raising interest rates, removing rewards programs, and reinstating dreaded annual fees. This is causing some consumers to get rid of their credit cards or just stop using them for now. Debit card transactions are becoming increasingly more popular for flight, hotel, and now rental car purchases.
Rental car companies were one of the last in the travel industry to start accepting debit cards for rental car purchases, because of their interest in the rental cars they are handing out. But, now many companies are accepting debit cards with a few restrictions. Here are a few tips to help you make your rental car purchase with a debit card as smooth as possible:
- Do Your Research. Every rental car company has their own debit card policy, and some policies differ based on different franchises within a particular brand. Call different companies or search their websites for their debit card policies. Find a discount car rental company that suits your needs.
- Keep plenty of money in your checking account. Most rental car companies that accept debit cards will charge the full amount of the rental car booking plus an additional deposit between $100 to $500 at the time you pick up the car. When you return the car, they refund the deposit, but it could take up to 10 business days for that deposit to credit back to your account.
- Use Visa or Mastercard. Almost all debit cards either have a Visa or Mastercard logo on them, but make sure you use a debit card from a major banking institution or credit union.
- Be prepared for a credit check. Some rental car companies will run a quick credit check to make sure you aren’t a complete delinquent when it comes to handling money.
- Be over 25 years old.
- Don’t try to rent a luxury car or SUV with a debit card.
- Keep full collision and liability coverage on your car insurance. Many companies will require that you prove sufficient car insurance coverage in case of an accident. They may also have you verify that car rentals are covered under your auto insurance policy.
E-Z Rent-A-Car is dedicated to great customer service and making your rental car experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. We allow debit card purchases for our rental cars. Our debit card policies differ depending on the location. As an example, here is the link to our debit card policy for renting a car at the Orlando International Airport.
Tags: cheap car rental, credit card policy, Rental Car, rental car company accepts debit cards
Top Five Summer Road Trips Around The Country
Flying is fun and much quicker than driving, but you never get to experience all of the other sights along the way to your destination. My family drove the majority of the time when we went on vacation. I never understood why we had to make an 18 hour drive when we could fly and get there in less than three hours. But now when I look back on those trips, we had a lot of great memories sleeping in hotels, playing games in the car, and passing through cities that we would never visit on a normal basis. Are you itching to go on a road trip this summer with your friends or family? Here are a few road trips we think you should consider!
Pacific Coast Highway – L.A. to San Francisco
photo credit: fogonthedowns
Make the trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco driving Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) for the entire route. You can fly into LAX and pick up a cheap rental car from our convenient Los Angeles Airport location, then hit the road up the coast. Stop in and visit ritzy Santa Barbara, surfer-laden Santa Cruz, and take a look at the mansions near the Pebble Beach golf courses. Watch the surfers try to catch a wave at Steamers Lane, and grab great Mexican food from a local restaurant along the way!
A1A – West Palm Beach to Miami
Fly into the West Palm Beach Airport and pick up a discount car rental from our friendly staff, then drive down A1A (also known as Ocean Blvd), until you get to Miami, where you can fly out of Miami International Airport and drop off your rental car. Along the way, be sure to check out the Breakers Hotel on Palm Beach Island, the Las Olas outdoor shopping area in Ft. Lauderdale, and of course, the restaurants and clubs in South Beach.
I-90/94 – Fargo to Spokane
photo credit: cgaukel
My mother and her brother made this trip a few years back, and my mother never realized how beautiful North Dakota and Montana could be. This route will take you a while and it has long stretches of desolate land. Make sure you gas up whenever possible. The best part of this route is that you are only a small detour away from visiting two of the most beautiful national parks in the United States: Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. This is a great drive to make during the summer, because the weather will be great.
I-95 – Boston To New York City
My wife and I are doing this trip in December. It won’t be the most ideal time to do it, but she has a conference to go to in Boston during that time. Visiting Boston and New York speak for themselves, but along the way you’ll pass Martha’s Vineyard, Newport, Rhode Island, and New Haven, Connecticut. Do you love the Cape Cod lifestyle? Then this trip is for you.
I-15: Las Vegas to Salt Lake City
Pick up your cheap rental car from our affiliate at the Las Vegas Airport, do a little gambling, hit up a show, and head on up to Salt Lake City! Utah is a beautiful state with a lot of great mountains, and it’s famous for world class ski resorts. You can get nature and the excitement of Las Vegas all in one trip.
There are dozens of other great stretches of highway in the United States, and we want to hear your suggestions for great road trips. Make a comment below with your suggestions!
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, LAX discount car rental, Los Angeles airport car rental, MIA car rental, Miami airport car rental, PBI car rental, Rental Car, Travel, West Palm Beach airport car rental
How To Save Money On Your Car Rental
photo credit: mangpages
For most of our customers, price is a huge factor when determining what company to use when renting a car. The economy isn’t great right now, which leads to even more price-sensitive consumers. Here at E-Z Rent-A-Car, we understand that you are looking for the best price, so here are a few ways that you can ensure getting the best car rental rate from us or any other car rental company you choose.
Book In Advance
In economics, supply and demand drive the price of any good or service that we consume. This is no different in the car rental industry. The more advance notice that you book a car rental, the better your chances are of getting a great deal. As the time gets closer to your expected date of rental, the supply for a car rental goes down and the demand goes up. This is why airlines and rental car companies charge higher rates when booking a car or flight with less time in advance.
If you know that you’ll be renting a car over a busy holiday, make sure you book further in advance to lock in the best rates possible.
Take advantage of our online coupons.
If you are a veteran, senior citizen, teacher, student, airline employee, or policeman, we have a discount code waiting for you! These coupons are offered frequently on our website, so make sure you use them when you book a reservation with E-Z Rent-A-Car.
Here is the page for E-Z Rent-A-Car Discounts and Promotions
Join Our E-Z Money Rewards Program
When you join E-Z Money you’ll receive instant discounts and have access to exclusive member only coupons. Every member automatically receives 10% of their future car rentals. Plus you’ll start earning points that can be redeemed for credits on future rentals with no black out periods.*
Once you sign up, we’ll also give you a complimentary, personalized page where you can log in and easily find your future reservations, past rentals, access receipts, and keep track of all your E-Z Money points.
Click here to learn more about our three E-Z Money programs and which one suits you best.
The most important tip is to be an informed and educated consumer. Don’t just settle for the first car rental rate that you find. Search for different rates, read customer reviews, and search for the company with the best customer service and fleet vehicles. We are confident that E-Z Rent-A-Car will fulfill all of your car rental needs.
Tags: atlanta airport car rental, denver airport rental car, florida cheap rental car, Ft. Lauderdale airport car rental, LAX discount car rental, Los Angeles airport car rental, Miami airport car rental, Orlando Discount Car Rental, Rental Car, save money on car rental