Rental Car Insurance Precautions

"That scratch was there when I picked up the car"!  It's your word against theirs....unless, you pull out your smartphone and take pictures before you leave the rental car lot. This takes just a few moments and you can be on your way.


But that brings up the choices that confront you at the rental counter when the agent asks you to initial "Accept" or "Decline" the CDW.  What is that acronym? It stands for Collision/Loss Damage Waiver. It makes your life easier if your rental car is damaged, but at a price; about $20 per day!


So what can you do to save money and protect yourself?

• Use a Visa, Diners Club, or American Express Credit Card not a debit card, since debit cards do not offer any insurance.
• Be aware that coverage on the credit card is secondary to your personal auto insurance,  unless you use Diners Club where the card coverage is primary or buy primary coverage with American Express for around $25 per rental not per day.
• Use a Travel Insurance package that includes CDW at lower rates than the car rental co.

The card companies have limits on how long they will provide coverage:
Diners Club                45 days
American Express    30 days
MC,Visa, Discover   15 days


When traveling to the beautiful, but traffic accident prone island of Jamaica, note that the credit card companies do not provide insurance on your rental.

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SOC for the Holidays

I will be going out to check out the red rocks in Sedona for the holidays so I am using this service to prepare my Christmas cards now and they will be mailed first class while I relax. Check out the video. SOC for the Holidays Want to do the same?Contact me.

Solo Travel Appeals to More Travelers

Most hotels and cruises still are priced on double occupancy. However there is a growing trend that caters to those who want to travel for new experiences on their own.


Last year Norwegian Cruise Lines rolled out 128 Studio staterooms on their   Norwegian Epic .They are adding these to two other new ships being delivered in 2013 and 2014. These sell out quickly, drawing both solo travelers and friends traveling together who just want their own space. Also, many of the solo travelers are married, but have partners who do not share the same interests, so they want to travel with people who share those interests, giving them a sense of community and interaction while allowing them some private time.


Women compose about 90% of solo travelers. They are no longer hesitant to travel alone when they have the security of being in a group, particularly if the destination is challenging. The stigma of a woman traveling alone has gone the way of the white gloves that they once needed to go shopping downtown.


Now if some of the resorts and hotels can spot this trend and get on board, many more travelers can get out and enjoy new experiences.