Car Rental for a weekend trip from LA to SF

[kap]

What to look for? What to avoid? TiA

[AlphaDog]

I thought you had a car. ????

[kap]

We do but neither clunker can be used for this trip

[spearmint]

Take 101 not the 5 for interest. Not that much longer but much prettier. Actually 5 is a dull stretch so bad I take the grim 99 because there is something to see. If you have time you can switch over to the 1 north of San Luis Obispo and do the tourist thing and the something mile drive. Heavy two lane traffic.

101 goes right into SF and along the way there are nice towns. Santa Barbra, San Luis Obispo are neat places. Hearst Castle is fantastic and you can/must make reservations on line. The general tour is cool but you could spend days. http://www.hearstcastle.org/ Certainly the best thing by far enroute.

On the way back if you are in a hurry you could take the 5. From Ghiradelli Square with no traffic I could do it in a little over seven hours. On Sunday with no city traffic in SF and east bay and fairly light traffic in LA it is quick but boring. Take your car ipod or some audiobooks.
The castle. Unbelievable. Sorry about bandwidth but beautiful pic.

[davester]

If you're taking the scenic route and the weather looks good, rent a convertible. You won't regret it.

[spearmint]

Did I misunderstand and think you were looking for travel tips but instead rent a car deals? Seems they all have wonderful weekend specials a lot with GPS. I find the slightly smaller companies like Enterprise have incredible hidden fees. Dropping off in SF from LA is a no-no. All the tourists do it and with this demand the rental companies take advantage and have near criminal rates. Like I said seven hours back on the 5 to LA.

One funny thing Chrysler has these incredible good looking new cars with real low roofs. A bunch of people I met recently were unanimous in saying they were awful. Particularly the sleek looking Dodge station wagon that is being discontinued next year. I know I am going to get blasted never having had 1st hand experience but I tried and could not get in because of incredibly low roof. I am 6'3" but this was ridiculous. GM products por favor.

The Culprit.

[kap]

Ok. So we'll avoid Enterprise and take a GPS. Thanks 'mint. Should we buy a car rental insurance coverage as well?

[Go To Top]

Have you heard about the new Mega Bus? Cheap.

[kap]

[quote Go To Top]Have you heard about the new Mega Bus? Cheap.
A good friend told us about the Mega Bus a few days ago. Too late to make plan for that now. Definitely a future trip.

Wonder how to they stay in business?

[spearmint]

My insurance does not include collision for my 1999 car so I take collision in spite of ridiculous expense. Ask what liability is included in rate and how much more for increase. This is not as expensive as collision. Car insurance is a grim subject both for rental and personal. I get fantastic rate but have nightmares about having to actually use it. Excuse me I have to knock on plastic phony wood.

I firmly believe it is true that this is how somewhat smaller and shady companies like Enterprise make money and the counterperson gets a bonus for peddling it. I remember an employee there telling me "Of course you would be stupid not to take insurance." I told him I was and walked a mile to Avis with luggage.