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Saturday, June 5, 2010

5 Great Trips without the expense of a Rental Car

Ever book a trip and gasp when you go to book a rental car?  I've found myself doing a ton of research finding great hotels and activities only to find the rental car costs more than my flight! Or my hotel wants to charge me the cost of a meal to park on a daily basis.

One great way to plan a trip without spending money on a rental is to go somewhere that has great transportation without the needs of a car.  Granted almost any major city in the U.S. is probably accessible without a car, but some require a lot of taxi rides, buses or other modes of transportation that can easily add up to the cost of a rental car or more.  So here are some of my favorite destinations that may require a little more walking, but it's great exercise and I guarantee you'll have fun doing it!

LAS VEGAS (Weekend Getaway)
Vegas is one of my top destinations for an easy weekend getaway. I'm not a gambler or much of a drinker, but spend your days in the beautiful sun of Vegas walking the strip and you'll be entertained for days on end.  The hotels in Vegas alone are enough to keep your eyes busy at the astonishing details of these 5 star miniature cities.  Take a gondola ride at the Venetian or book a show for some evening entertainment.  Vegas has something for everyone!  See my post on 4 great reasons to visit Vegas.

WASHINGTON D.C.  (Historical Fun)
D.C has been one of the cleanest and most transportation friendly cities I've ever visited.  Having never ridden a subway in my life, my husband, daughter and I were able to navigate the entire City during our stay.  We pre-ordered a week long subway pass for way less than the cost of a rental car and had a blast hopping from train to train.  Walking through this City full of history and museums is a sight to see and the fact that they are mostly all FREE makes this trip even more worth while!  To pre-book subway tickets and have them shipped to your home before your trip go to http://www.wmata.com/ - More on our D.C. trip

DISNEYWORLD (Family Fun)
"Zip-a-dee-doh-dah" who needs a car when your at the happiest place on earth?  Book a trip to Disneyworld Florida and once you arrive at the airport just head for the magical land of Disney via a shuttle van.  There is so much to do at the Disneyworld Resorts that you won't even have time to step foot off the 47-square-mile theme park!  This is definitely the Ultimate Family destination and FREE shuttle rides are provided from all the Disney Resorts to any theme park all day long!

CRUISING (Multi-Generational)
One of my favorite ways to travel is cruising! It's basically an all-inclusive trip if you want it to be and the boat is your vehicle.  Not only do you leave the car behind but you get to visit multiple cities and sometimes Countries in one trip.  Of course some ports may require a taxi or you may want to spend a little on a tour, but setting sail aboard a vessel is my kind of travel.  Even better, book a ship out of your home port and skip the hassle of flying while your at it!

VISITING THE FAMILY or FRIENDS (Mooching)
Maybe jetting off to visit the in-laws across the country isn't your first thought of relaxation, but it's definitely an economical way to travel if you've got a welcoming family.  You know, the parents who will pick you up at the airport, clean out their guest room for your arrival and make you breakfast in the morning.  Now that doesn't sound too bad, does it? ShareThis

3 comments:

Lora (Tripping with Kids) said...

Nice idea. Great to find cities that have useable public transportation.

HarmSkills said...

we recently went to San Juan, PR, no rental car needed. bus, cabs and you can walk many places if you stay in Condado or Isla Verde.

Sara said...

I am so glad I found your blog! I love to travel and you have so many great posts with tips and reviews. I am getting married in Oct and we just booked our Honeymoon in St. Lucia. Can not wait to read more!!

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