A classic road trip is on nearly everyone's list of travel goals.
There are so many iconic drives in the U.S., that it's hard to name them all. However, each one involves three simple ingredients: traveling over wide-open interstates, staying in motor lodges and stopping in at roadside attractions along the way.
Tack on to that stunning landscapes, beautiful national parks and some of the world's coolest cities, and you have the recipe for the ideal vacation.
One thing you are going to need, however, is a car. If you are going to rent one, here's how to make the most of it:
Look For Deals
Search for deals and see if there are any that fit your budget. Taking advantage of weekly deals or special upgrades may get travelers a steal on a car or could just mean a little more added comfort and space with savings on a higher quality vehicle.
Sometimes, it's not a bad idea to book a car for longer than you need it to take advantage of lower weekly rates. And if you are taking a really long trip, companies such as Enterprise even offer monthly options.
Use Off-Airport Locations
If you are going to be renting a car during your trip and want to save money, try using off-airport locations. There are a lot of fees that are incurred by renters when they book from an airport that don't apply locally.
Look into rental car locations that are in the city and try to book a hotel with an airport shuttle-or take an uber to get you to your destination and book the car from there to save.
Car rental companies such as Enterprise will even pick you up at your location and bring you to your rental car.
Be Strategic
You don't have to book a car for the entire duration of your journey.
Make the most of your car rental and don't leave the car sitting around. Hotels often charge a fee for parking, so if your car isn't being used, it's just racking up extra costs.
Companies usually provide details on all of their fleets that include how many people each car will seat and how many bags it will hold. Think about what sort of luggage you will be bringing and whether or not you will have enough room for bags, large items and car seats before you select your car. If it doesn't all fit in your own car, it's probably not going to fit in a rental car of the same size or smaller.
Join a Loyalty Program
If you know that you are going to be booking cars frequently, join a loyalty program.
Enterprise Plus rewards members with points for each dollar they spend worldwide. Points don't expire as long as you book a car every three years and they add up to free rentals at participating locations worldwide.
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