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Car Rental | Top Companies: This Week's Reviews |
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| Services Offered:
Car rental |
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| Company Overview:
Travelocity was established in 1996, and now has
websites in 12 different languages. They are a leader in
travel services for consumer-direct pricing. In 2005,
their revenue was about $830 million, and it keeps
growing. They offer services around the world through
their website. |
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| Our Review:
Travelocity is a great company to work with. They have a
solid reputation and plenty of great products and
services for consumers. They offer travel deals and
discounts on combo packages, as well as some great rates
on rental cars by themselves. The customer service is
superb, which you would expect from a company of this
size, and the website is really easy to use. |
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| User Review:
I always figured that those travel sites you saw on TV
had some kind of catch. However, when I needed to rent a
car for my vacation, I decided to check them out for
myself. I went to Travelocity, and couldn’t believe the
deals that I got on my rental car. Next time I plan a
trip, I’m going there first. |
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| Services Offered:
Car rental |
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| Company Overview:
Expedia was originally created within Microsoft in 1995,
and the company went public in 1999. They are owned by
Expedia, Inc. The company owns and operates other travel
and trip planning websites, as well. Expedia
specifically offers car rental services, full travel
planning, and flights and hotel discounts. |
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| Our Review:
Expedia is a leader in the car rental industry. They
have something for just about everyone, including other
travel services that can be combined with car rental
services, as well. The website is easy to get around,
and the customer service is excellent. Plus, their
reputation for low prices is pretty spot on, as well. |
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| User Review:
Expedia has amazing rental car rates. I couldn’t believe
my eyes when I saw how much cheaper their rates were. I
love the service that I got, and I can’t wait until my
next trip, because I’m definitely booking through
Expedia. |
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| Services Offered:
Car rental |
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| Company Overview:
Budget Rent-A-Car was established in 1958 as a car
rental company for the budget-minded shopper. They are a
subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc., and have more
than 1,900 locations worldwide. The company has many
promises that they offer customers, including low rates
and no booking fees. |
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| Our Review:
Budget is a great company to rent a car from. Their
prices are very low when compared to other rental cars,
and the customer service is top rate. The website is
simple to use, and they have products for all types of
people in a variety of locations, which is great. |
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| User Review:
Budget has been a company that I have worked with for
many years. They have plenty of rental cars to choose
from, and their prices are way better than even Dollar
rental car or Thrifty rental car. Plus, the customer
service is better, too. |
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| Services Offered:
Car rental |
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| Company Overview:
Priceline was established in 1998. They have around 300
employees, and are best known for their Name Your Own
Price guarantee. The company has many websites in
addition to priceline.com. They operate worldwide and
offer websites for various countries around the world. |
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| Our Review:
Priceline is a leader in the travel industry. They have
many different services for consumers, including car
rental. Their website is really easy to navigate, and
their products are very affordably priced. Also, their
customer service department is top rate, which is always
helpful. |
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| User Review:
Priceline had better prices on car rental options that
even some of the companies did. I went to Thrifty rental
car and Hertz rental car, and still ended up getting a
better rate by booking with Priceline. I love the
customer service and the easy website, too. |
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Other Top Companies for
Car Rental : |
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3 Things You Should Know About Car Rental: |
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Rental cars are
not cheap. They might seem to be when you read the
advertisements that companies have, but they’re not
always as affordable as they appear. That company that
offers a rate of less than $100 for a week might have so
many restrictions and added charges that it could easily
cost more than a different company. Also, some of the
terms and conditions of renting a car can be complicated
to understand. For people who aren’t familiar with car
rental policies and information, here are three things
that every renter must know before renting a car:
-Rental cars must always be returned in the condition
that they were rented. If you miss even an ounce of
gasoline when you fill it back up, you’ll likely be
charged for a full tank of gas by the company. They are
very specific about the use of the car, so make sure
that you follow the rules to avoid penalties and
excessive charges.
-Shopping for a car rental is best done online, and
often through travel sites. These travel sites have a
partnership with the car rental company, which allows
them to offer better rates. Plus, a lot of travel sites
run specials and combo packages where you can book a
flight, hotel, and/or car all together if you’re
planning a trip.
-Don’t ever rent a car from a company that you don’t
feel trusting of. Uncle Fred’s Budget Lot might seem
like a great idea in theory, but shady small-time car
rental companies are often more expensive in the end
than big-name companies that might cost a little more up
front. Make sure you choose a company that has a
reputable standing in the car rental industry.
Keep these tips in mind next time you go to rent a car,
and you’ll be likely to have a much more successful
experience on many different levels. Rushing into
something like renting a car without proper preparation
can prove to be complicated for anyone, especially for
those who have never rented a car before.
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