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Importance of Being Lazy

Preparing For Your Disney Cruise
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iPhone, I Travel
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Taking A 'Greener' Trip to WDW

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Key to the World Card
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Animal Kingdom Lodge: Perfect for Teens
Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge
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Home Sweet Home
Grand Californian #1
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Orlando Airport Marriott
Priceline.com
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Shades of Green
Westin Century Plaza
Making The Most of Bell Services at Disney's Deluxe Resorts
DVC's Old Key West Resort
Cruising
Preparing For Your Disney Cruise
New Ships!
Cruise Security
International Port Security
Convincing a Husband to Cruise
Palo Dinner Review
Vow Renewals Onboard
Cruising With Special Diets
Cruising St. Martin
One in a Million Cruise
Zip-A-Dee-Zip-Line: A Canopy Adventure
A 'Magic' Time In The Mediterranean
A Wrap-Up From DCL's Inaugural Mediterranean Cruise
DCL: Not Just for Kids!
Spa Villas Review
Touring
Laugh Floor Comedy Club
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Fantasyland For Adults
Mission: SPACE
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Star Wars Weekends
Animal Kingdom
Expedition EVEREST
Surviving the Parks as First Time Parents
Surviving the Holidays
Overcoming Kids Fears
Planning Park Days
Four Parks in One Day
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A Kid's Perspective
A Teen's Take
Educational Epcot
Flower & Garden Festival
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Scary Places (Halloween)
Playing "Millionaire"
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A Day With Allie
Past Attractions at Magic Kingdom
Meeting Mickey
Disneyland at 50
Future of Disneyland
Beyond the Disney Parks
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Monorail System
California Adventure
Expanding Disney's California Adventure
10 Reasons to Love Disneyland
A WDW Veteran's First Trip to Disneyland
A Disneyland Veteran's First Trip to Walt Disney World
Disneyland Homecoming
Walt Disney World With Pre-Teen Boys
Keys To The Kingdom Backstage Tour
Pirates & Princess Party
WDW with Teens? Absolutely!
Dining
Disney Dining Plan
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Dining Plan Revisited
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Artist Point Review
California Grill Review
Nine Dragons Review
Spoodles Review
The Turf Club Review
Crystal Palace Review
Yak & Yeti Review
Tutto Italia Review
Character Dinners
Dine With A Disney Imagineer
Eating Healthy at Disney
Food Allergies
White Water Snacks
MurderWatch Mystery Theatre
Disneyland Dining: Yamabuki
Disneyland Area Dining: Pirate's Dinner Adventure
Party For The Senses
Artist Point
1900 Park Fare Dinner Review
Making Magic
Romance At Disney World
Beating The Post Trip Blues
Discovering the Magic
Magic of Slowing Down
Unexpected Treasures
Wishes Fireworks Cruise
Backstage Tours
Epcot's Segway Tour
Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival
Taking Great Photos
Taking Great Fireworks Photos
Digital Photo Q & A
Souvenirs on a Budget
Pal Mickey
Birthdays at Disney
Reunions and Gatherings
Holidays (Christmas)
More Holidays
Disney Intimate Weddings
Disney Vow Renewals
Custom Events
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Finding Scrapbook Supplies at WDW
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Hidden Mickeys
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Richard Petty Experience
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Ft. Wilderness Trail Ride
Disney Podcasts
MouseFest 2006
Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba
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Adventures by Disney: Wyoming
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Zoos of the World
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New Attractions at Universal Orlando
Seuss Trolley Train Ride at Universal Orlando
Sanibel & Captiva Islands
Universal: For Non-Thrill Seekers?
Madison County, Iowa
The Great Smoky Mountains
Yosemite
Discovery Cove (Orlando)
Busch Gardens Africa: SheiKra Coaster Review
NASCAR AllState 400
Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Niagara Falls, New York
Blue Horizons at SeaWorld Orlando
International Travel:
London
London Museums
London's Globe Theatre
Kent, England
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Great Britain via Harry Potter
Stonehenge
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Quebec City, Canada
Prince Edward Island
South Africa
Leeds Castle
Pompeii
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Florence
Monaco
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Rental Car Tips
by Jennifer and Dave Marx, Authors of PassPorter Travel Guides

For 15 days, we depended on our rental car to carry us along California’s freeways, take us to the parks, and even get us up to Soledad Mountain for a stunning 360-degree view of San Diego. With this experience fresh in our minds, we wanted to pass along a few tips for those of you who decide to rent cars on your travels.

1. Money-Saving Tip! Try Hotwire when you're shopping for rental cars -- we found a great deal for our rental car through them! While Hotwire doesn't allow you to specify the rental car agency, it does use name-brand companies and you can get great deals. Thanks to Hotwire, we got a full-size rental car through Avis for just $21/day (inclusive) at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). If you do decide to go with Hotwire, keep in mind that all purchases are final.

2. Collision Damage Waiver insurance offered by the rental agencies is expensive. Before you leave home, check with your auto insurance and your credit card to see if they cover you, and if so, skip the rental agency's insurance. The Disney Visa card does offer this type of protection if you use the card to initiate and complete the entire rental transaction and decline the agency's insurance.

3. There’s sometimes little difference in price between smaller and larger-sized rental cars. Before you assume a sub-compact is all you can afford, check the cost of cars that can fit all your luggage in the trunk.

4. Bring a good map. Your rental car agency will probably give you a basic map, but you'll find it easier to get around with a good set of detailed road maps. Get them in advance from Amazon.com, AAA, or pick them up in the airport bookstore when you arrive. If you're going to Disneyland or elsewhere in California, we highly recommend the Thomas Guide California Road Atlas and Drivers Guide -- it's well-regarded by California drivers as THE road atlas to have in your car. Going to Florida? Try the American Map State Road Atlas for Florida.

5. Rental cars look alike. It seemed like everywhere we parked we saw identical silver Buick Le Sabres with the same U.S. flag decal in the window. Bring along a Disney antenna topper (available at the Disney Store) to put on your antenna and help you identify your car in the parking lot. Or you may try wrapping a bright orange ribbon around the top of your antenna!

6. Fuel up before you return your rental at the end of your trip. If you don't, you'll be charged an arm and a leg for refueling. It's easy to forget about this little detail.

Return to PassPorter.com | Discuss rental cars on the PassPorter Message Boards
 
 

Updated 12/29/06 



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