8 Top Vacation Spots With the Cheapest Rental Cars
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Are you planning a vacation and looking for ways to save money on transportation? One of the biggest expenses for many travelers is renting a car, but with a little research and insider knowledge, you can find destinations where rental cars are surprisingly affordable.
GOBankingRates consulted with experts in the travel industry to uncover the top vacation spots with the cheapest rental car rates, so you can hit the road without going broke. Here are the top eight vacation spots with the cheapest rental cars.
Florida and California: Budget-Friendly Road Trips
According to Mark Mannell, CEO and co-founder of CarRentalSavers.com, Florida and California are among the most affordable destinations for rental cars in the United States. “We track our bookings by pickup location, and our data shows that PBI (Palm Beach), RSW (Fort Myers), FLL (Fort Lauderdale), MIA (Miami) and MCO (Orlando) lead the way in Florida for the cheapest rentals,” Mannell said. “In California, the cheapest vacation locations are Anaheim (off airport), SNA (Santa Ana), ONT (Ontario) and LAX (Los Angeles).”
Mannell also highlighted some other popular vacation spots with below-average rental car prices: “Las Vegas and Hilton Head are great options for affordable rentals.”
Eastern Europe: Hidden Gems for Frugal Travelers
Alex Cornici, CEO and founder at The Traveler, shares that Eastern Europe is the spot for affordable car rental options.
“Outside the peak tourist seasons, cities such as Prague and Budapest throw up some really competitive rates,” Cornici said. He added that countries like these have a lot of rental car agencies and the competition helps drive down rental rates.
Milan and Barcelona: More European Gems
Giacomo Piva, travel industry analyst and co-founder of Radical Storage, an international luggage storage company, shared surprising findings about Barcelona: “If you’re looking for a road trip that won’t break the bank, then you might be surprised to know that the large European city of Barcelona offers very competitive rates, averaging $26.82.”
Piva added, “Our research found that Milan, Italy, is another European destination with affordable car rentals, costing an average of $30.99 per day for a small car.”
Cape Town, Durban and Barcelona: Unexpected Bargains
Piva also highlighted Cape Town, Durban and Barcelona as unexpected bargains for rental cars.
“Cape Town took the third spot for affordable car rentals, costing an average of $31.40 per day for a small car,” Piva said. “The next most populous city in South Africa, Durban, came in fourth.”
Both towns are great for a summer visit — with all of the most popular tourist destinations accessible by car.
Cost-Saving Tips From the Experts
No matter where you’re going, the experts shared some tips for how to get the best rental car deals:
- Book during the off-peak season. “Prices are generally going to be much better for off-peak rentals. For mainland U.S., the summer peak period runs from around June 15 to Aug. 20,” shared Mannell.
- Consider off-airport locations. “As a global average, it was usually $14.84 cheaper to pick up a car from a city branch rather than the airport,” noted Piva. “In Paris, choosing to pick up your rental car from the city is $81.82 cheaper, while visitors to London can save $54.41 by opting for a city pick-up compared to the airports.”
- Utilize package deals. “Be ready to book ahead of time and utilize package deals through websites that put together flights, accommodations and car rentals. They actually help save the wallet,” suggested Cornici.
- Watch out for add-ons. Piva cautioned, “The research found that cheap car rentals can get more expensive with add-ons like protection, insurance and accessories.”
Whether you’re driving across the United States, hitting the autobahn in Europe or off the see the sites of South Africa, these tips and tricks will get you there in style — and for cheap!
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