Road Trip! Rent a car or take your own?

[Tink]

So you are planning a big road trip this year. Which car are you going to drive? Are you thinking of renting a car? Here are some pros and cons for car rental and driving your own car to help you make that decision.

Your own car:

Pros ?

You are completely familiar with your own car. You know how it drives, how comfortable it is and where to find the important things such as windshield wipers and lights.

You probably have a CD player.

You know what kind of gas mileage your vehicle gets.

Cons ?

Putting excess mileage on your car.

For a long road trip, you may run out of cargo space in your own car.

Wear and tear on your car because of the mileage during a road trip, in addition to wear on your tires.

Your car may need extensive work before it is safe enough to take on a road trip worry free.




Renting a car:

Pros ?

You put the mileage from your trip on someone else?s car.

You can get a bigger or smaller vehicle depending on your size needs.

If your car is older, you can rent a new model.

Rental cars are usually kept in mint condition.

Cons ?

It costs money to rent a car.

You must have a credit card.

Each car drives differently, so it may take a while to become familiar with a rental car.

It takes time to find out where the lights and windshield wipers are located.

Most rental cars do not have CD players.

Leanne

[Disney5]

Last time we rented a car (on our Denver trip) we got an SUV (actually smaller than our current one) that had CD player and DVD player - awesome for road trips with kids!
Also, it you rent, make sure you get the unlimited mileage option - you DO NOT want to take a rental car on a road trip without out - it will cost you big big bucks!!!

[Tink]

Oh no kidding, I could not imagine paying for mileage!
I am always up for a road trip to Disneyland. Unfortunately Andy doesn't want to extend the trip by 2 days (a hotel night each way because of the distance).
One day, maybe I will talk him into doing it though.

[Disney5]

With small kids, unless the ride is less than a few hours, I just would rather not do it. Before Morgan I'd drive anywhere. It's just not fair to her and she doesn't enjoy it. She's a do-er, not a sitter so it just it miserable for us all!

[Tink]

Yep, that's why the night in a hotel is needed. Before Alex, we did road trips with no problems.
Leanne

[Disney5]

Now I wouldn't even do it with a night in a hotel, for kids that's an incredible amount of sitting time. Even if you drive while they're sleeping, they're confined in that carseat and can't move around a great deal. At this point, I'd go maybe a 6 hour drive with a night in a hotel, break it up into 3 hour drives and stop for activity and fun. I don't think I'd even do the CO to CA trip until she's at least 8 or 9.

[Tink]

Oh yes that is why we don't drive to California. lol I would never want Alex to sit that long, and frankly don't know if I can. lol

[Disney5]

Lol - the picture of you sitting for that long and waiting for Disneyland - NOT gonna happen - you'd be a mess when you got there. And you couldn't possibly drive because you'd have a lead foot getting there in record time! No, you fly Leanne, that's the safety way for you to go! lol!!!!

[Tink]

Yep, we got our airlines tickets. No driving. December can be really tricky to drive anyway. lol Now we just need to hope for good weather the day we leave.

[fantasmicmom]

I hope you have great weather Leanne! Isn't it so fun to leave a cold palce for a nice, sunny, and warm one? It was snowing in Idaho the day we flew to DL, and that was in March!

[Disney5]

This last year was just crazy weather here in No. Cal - we had snow in February and March - unheard of!!!! That was even after these fabulous temps with shorts weather (and I mean for those of us who are no longer used to actual cold weather like CO, ID, WY!) I just wanted the sun so bad!!!!

[Tink]

Thanks Katie. I love the snow, but not when I have to fly in a storm!