Planes Trains and Automobiles-Benefits of Renting a Car

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Last Updated on 2021-02-08 by Linda

I don’t know about you but I am dreaming about TRAVEL.  I have missed so many trips this year but that has not stopped me from planning, dreaming and scheming, OK planning really sums it up. Right now I am trying to make up for lost time and lost trips so let’s cram it all together. Multi Destination Locations is my 2021 Theme as soon as restrictions lift. With that I thought I might give you a few tips and tricks to help with your planning starting with Fly then Rent. 

If you like me are planning a multi location  trip and want to see more than one city in a country, or even go to multiple countries, you need to work out how you’re going to get around. You could take flights to get from place to place, take a train, or rent a car or even drive  if it is landlocked. 

 

Why Rent a Car

A know a lot of people don’t like the idea of renting their own vehicle because they don’t want to drive or they think that it’s going to be more expensive. But renting a vehicle does have its benefits and it can improve your trip in a so many ways, especially  if you aren’t planning a multi-destination trip. If you are unsure whether to rent when you travel, consider one of these three benefits. 

One of our last Florida trips we opted to drive instead of fly.  This allowed us to plan a fun route but it also allowed us to discover new places along the highways.  Who knew there were so many fun places we had yet to discover. 

1) It Can Save You Money

If you are doing a lot of traveling around, having access to your own car can be a big money saver. If you don’t have a vehicle and you are forced to take a lot of taxis or buy loads of train tickets, the costs quickly add up.

Although you have to pay the rental costs and buy gas, it’s often cheaper when you add up the total cost of hiring a vehicle vs using taxis and trains. Even if there is a big group of you, you should still consider renting a vehicle because you could hire a van or a bus with enough space for all of you. Honestly we have done this locally for a wedding,  rent a bus for the whole group and it is far cheaper then several cars. Plus no one than has to worry. 

You can compare the cost using this free charter bus calculator. It all depends on the length of the journeys and the relative prices of gas and public transport in the country that you are visiting, but you will often find that renting a vehicle saves you money. 

2) You Have More Freedom 

The big problem with using public transport is that you have to work to their schedule. Everything needs to be planned out beforehand and you need to buy train tickets etc.

If you decide that you are really enjoying a destination and you want to change your plans and stay there for a few more days, you will be out of pocket because you need to buy new tickets. But if you have your own vehicle, you can set your own schedule and go with the flow.

This is especially good if you are visiting a brand new country and you don’t know which destinations you will like and which ones you won’t. I cannot tell you how many awesome discoveries we have made when driving, Randomly spotting historic sites, distilleries, places of interest.  In a car we have the opportunity to stop and explore. 

3) You Discover New Places 

If you fly from place to place, city to city,  you don’t get the chance to see much along the way. A Train allows you to see locations but not to actually explore and discover.  This usually means that you’ll most likely stick to the popular tourist destinations.  Now that is totally OK, but you do miss out on the lesser known cities and towns. ( and I do love those lesser known places) 

It’s in the small places where you get a real sense of a country and its culture. Having your own vehicle and driving around gives you the chance to discover these places and have a much richer travel experience. 

Next time you plan a trip, you should seriously consider renting your own vehicle because it can certainly enrich your travel experience.