California Road Trips - 2019 - 14

ROAD TRIPS 2019

W H AT
TO DRIVE

EXPLORE THE FLEET
You're a car rental loyalty member
who has racked up a zillion points.
But have you ever scrolled through
the list of vehicle offerings? Your
hard-earned points could be earning
you much more than a boxy sedan.
Hertz's "Dream Car" collection
features Porsches and Range
Rovers. Avis Select has sleek rides
from Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz.
Enterprise's lineup includes Ferraris,
Lamborghinis, and Maseratis. Maybe
it's time for an upgrade.

LOVE THE PLANET
Want to minimize your carbon footprint? Most rental companies offer the
Toyota Prius Hybrid, which runs on
gasoline and electricity. Driving one
is as easy as driving a "regular" car-
except it's quieter and you rarely need
to refuel. Another eco-smart option is
the Smart Fortwo, a peppy 3-cylinder
14 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

Pl a n a h e a d t o m a t c h you r
r oa d t r i p d es t i n a t i o n w i t h t h e
perfect set of wheels

with low carbon emissions that seats
two (get it?) and squeezes into tiny
parking spaces. (Rent one from Avis,
Budget, or Sixt.) Enterprise rents Tesla
models, but you'll need charging stations along your route (easy in big cities, not so easy on backroads). Check
websites PlugShare or ChargeHub for
station locations.

GO ONE-OF-A-KIND
If you're celebrating a big anniversary
or planning a proposal, elevate your
wheels to match the moment. In Los
Angeles, Simply Rent a Car rents midcentury dream cars, like a flashy 1964
Mustang or 1957 Thunderbird. In San
Francisco, Gotham Dream Cars will
put you behind the wheel of a RollsRoyce convertible. Or test out wheels
from Monterey Touring Vehicles' eclectic fleet, which includes everything
from a 1949 Willy's Overland to a 1970
Chevrolet Corvette.

#VANLIFE
Road-tripping in an RV is a longcherished American tradition-just
be prepared to master a new school
of maneuvering. Cruise America and
El Monte RV rent RVs that sleep 6-8
people. If your clan is small, consider
an easier-to-drive VW Bus from Costa
Mesa-based Vintage Surfari Wagons
to cruise down the coast to San Diego.

CONQUER SNOW AND SAND
If you're headed to the mountains,
having four-wheel-drive is more than
just a good idea-it's required. Make
sure your rental agent knows exactly
what you need. When traveling to the
desert, you may be tempted by dirt
roads, but most car companies forbid
off-road driving. Consider renting locally: In Death Valley's Furnace Creek,
Farabee's rents Jeep Wranglers for
desert adventuring.

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California Road Trips - 2019

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