Should You Rent A Car At An Airport? A Short Guide
- (Photo : Clayton Richard)
Flying is one of the most efficient and wonderful ways to travel. How else can you get from one corner of the country to another in less than a day? You just can't do it with driving or public transportation. And yeah, trains are cool but they are a bit on the slower side. So, taking a plane for your vacation or business trip is the ideal way to go. But what do you do for transportation once you arrive at your destination? You have a few options. There's always a ride to share service, trains, public transportation, and taxis. But getting a rental car is one of the most flexible and easiest means of travel when you are in a new city. That's something you should consider. Here is a short guide to getting a rental car at the airport.
How Airport Car Rentals Work
Airport car rentals work very much the same way as other car rental companies do. You look and see what kind of vehicle you want, select it, and the company draws up a quote for what it will cost to take the vehicle out. The only difference is that with an airport car rental service, you can get right off the plane and head straight to the vehicle rental without having to search the city for any other possibilities. It's extremely convenient and localized. You're not wasting the money and time that you would while seeking vehicle rentals elsewhere. Another key differentiation between airports in standard car rentals is that you can definitely get well maintained, low mileage rental vehicles that fall into the luxury category more often than at your standard rental outfit. They also offer a designated return area, usually with 24-hour returns. A lot of other rental car companies don't have that opportunity. Furthermore, there are usually corporate discounts or other special arrangements that can be made to reduce costs.
Why Rent One In Las Vegas?
Knowing how easy it is to rent a car at an airport is only one reason to rent a car in Vegas. There are plenty of others. Las Vegas is more than just the casinos that make up the Las Vegas strip. Think about it this way: if you want to go back and forth between downtown and the strip or just generally explore the city, it's actually going to be easier to do that in a car than it is by relying on some other form of transportation. Public transportation is great for getting around sometimes, but there's not as much flexibility as having a vehicle of your own to use. You might want to do more than just gamble or see the sights and take a day trip out to some of the more natural features surrounding the city. While parking and traffic can sometimes be troublesome, it may be better to rent a car to explore then rely on walking or using other forms of transportation.
Rental Deals and Details
Among the finer details of car rentals you might be thinking about are if there are any deals you can get to ease the cost of a rental. Luckily, many car rental outfits do provide some discount opportunities for using their fleet. So, what's the scoop on reducing the cost of a rental? Well, if you're on a business trip you might be able to get a corporate discount. These are usually determined by your office or organization ahead of time, so that you can leverage them when it comes time to do the rental. Occasionally, there are discounts simply for being a certain day of the week. Mid week specials are not uncommon. There are also discounts for paying online, or choosing different types of vehicles. If you go with a Nissan Versa or Toyota Camry, for example, you will be paying less than if you rent a BMW or mercedes-benz. Of course, getting the rental itself is easy once your profile gets matched to available vehicles, and there are usually plenty of luxury vehicles from which to choose.
How To Get A Rental
To begin with, you need to find a car rental opportunity at or near your airport. Simply search for convenient car rental places near the Las Vegas airport as you roam around the terminal. You'll usually find something quite fast and be ready to rock and roll. Find out what the rental fees are going to be, see if there are any available discounts for you, and choose a car from the existing fleet. Or you can possibly have them select a car for you based on your needs. When all is said and done, you'll sign up, get matched, and be driving one of the fleet cars in no time.
Returning A Rental
Once you have finished using your rental car or are ready to get back on the plane to head home, you want a quick and convenient means of returning your vehicle that won't be time consuming or unpleasant. Luckily, many Airport rental car companies offer 24-hour returns. Simply drive it onto the lot and into one of the designated return parking spaces. Make sure you remove all of your personal items, top off the gas tank, and lock all of the doors. Then it's simply a matter of taking the key and dropping it in the company's provided dropbox. The option of a 24-hour return negates any issues related to late returns that might result in additional rental fees. After that, you can board the plane secure in the knowledge that your vehicle was returned in great condition and with the memory of driving a quality car with a good customer experience.
