If you plan to park your car at an airport for more than a day or two, fees can add up quickly—even at the discounted off-site lots. And even if you don’t leave your car at the airport while you’re gone, your car just sits somewhere being of no use to anybody while someone you don’t know arrives at your hometown airport and rents a car, again for a stiff fee. And maybe you’ll need a car rental at your destination, too.
Sound familiar?
The idea of matching idle cars with car-seeking drivers has occurred to several entrepreneurs, setting up peer-to-peer car renting operations that mimic Airbnb. The earliest attempt, called FlightCar, failed. It was considered too airport-centric and risked losing money by guaranteeing travelers free airport parking regardless of whether anyone rented their cars. But now two major current operators, Turo and Getaround, have emerged. Here’s how the technology works.
Related:9 Nasty Truths About Car Rental Insurance How Peer-to-Peer Car Rental Works As a car owner, you list your vehicle, describe it, and upload some photos, and state when and where it will be available. The operator may set a rental rate based on your car’s market value, or you can set a different rate. You can also set a mileage limit if you wish. When someone requests information or books your car, you confirm or deny availability. At pickup time, you set up a meeting with the renter and hand over the keys. At return time, you meet the renter again, retrieve the keys, and go on your way. During the rental period, the matching service covers your car with million-dollar insurance and a 24/7 roadside assistance program. As a renter, you check out the options available for your trip, along with posted prices. Select one, agree to terms, set up the meeting with the owner, and then you have a car to drive around. Afterward simply replace the gas you used, return the car, and head for your next destination. The operator charges the renter by credit card or money transfer, takes a cut of 15 to 35 percent of the rental fee, and pays you the remainder. These services don’t offer airport parking, and they don’t promise to rent your car. Still, the services are intriguing for travelers. Related:This One Trick Could Save You Hundreds on Car Rentals Peer-to-Peer Car Rental Options
Turo has recently expanded and generating a good bit of traveler interest. Although Turo is not airport-centric, it comes with the expectation that most renters will be visitors and that most exchanges will occur at or near airports. But, it’s available in lots of places, even airports as small as mine in Medford, Oregon.
Getaround works about the same way: It appears to be pitching car owners the rental income rather than as a way to
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Labor Day is right around the corner, and what better way is there to kiss summer goodbye than with one last adventure? Right now, a handful of travel companies are coming in clutch with late summer deals, while others are looking ahead to fall, winter, and beyond to make sure you have something to look forward to when the temperatures start dropping.
Vibrant, culturally rich and visually stunning – the islands of the Caribbean are like nowhere else on Earth. From cocktails to coral reefs, hiking to heritage, they offer something for all tastes and tempos. Here are seven unmissable highlights of the Caribbean.
New airline passenger protections have passed for our neighbor to the north, offering increased Canadian air rights for travelers impacted by delays and other air travel inconveniences. But advocates on both sides—the airlines and some consumer groups—are not happy with the new rules.
Enter the Golf Advisor “Great Scot Getaway” sweepstakes by May 22, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a seven-night trip to Scotland for four, including air, hotel, golf rounds at five clubs (including St. Andrews), rental car, and $1,000 spending money.
Wondering which airports are most likely to put you behind schedule during the busy summer travel season? If you’re flying to the Boston, Chicago, New York, or San Francisco areas this summer—or even worse, connecting to another flight there—be especially wary.
Airline trade sources are reporting that the founder of JetBlue, David Neeleman, is getting ready to launch a new low-cost domestic airline. Neeleman is by far the world’s most proficient and successful airline-starter. The proposed airline, originally named Moxy (which is likely to change), will reportedly fly 60 Bombardier C300 jets on routes connecting secondary airports near major U.S. cities. The service could begin as early as 2020.
American Airlines is bringing carry-on bags back to its Basic Economy fares this September. In a release this week, the airline said it’s “removing the carry-on bag restriction that is currently part of its domestic and short-haul international Basic Economy fare rules” effective September 5, for tickets purchased or flown that day.
The latest study from J.D. Power proves something you might have already suspected: Air travelers aren’t too happy. The 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction Study found that travelers’ satisfaction with domestic airports plateaued this year amidst widespread delays and crowds. According to the findings, the halt in passenger satisfaction comes after several years of rapid growth.
At the southernmost tip of South America is the region of Patagonia, spread between Chile and part of Argentina. The region is one of the most extreme on earth, with huge mountains, rushing rivers, massive glaciers, rare wildlife, and the remnants of volcanos so tall they’re often shrouded in weather patterns different from those at the base. It’s extremely undeveloped and wild, thanks to federal protections from the two countries.
At the far north of New Zealand’s South Island, visitors flock to the Nelson Tasman region to hike and kayak in spectacular Abel Tasman National Park. The turquoise waters and sheltered bays of this protected coastline are undeniably beautiful, but increased visitor numbers in New Zealand's smallest national park are putting pressure on infrastructure – particularly along the popular 60-kilometre Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Just beyond Abel Tasman’s northern rocky headland, peaceful Golden Bay sees a fraction of the park’s visitors.