Travel Tips To Consider When Visiting Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the largest and most exciting cities in the country. There is always something going on in the city and the surrounding area on a daily basis. But like every other area, it has it’s own unique qualities and intricacies that you should know about before traveling to the City of Angels. Here are a few tips to consider before you make your trip to Los Angeles.

  1. The weather is generally mild. We see palm trees, the beach, and sun, and we automatically assume that it’s always 85 degrees in Los Angeles. This is definitely not true. Most of the year, the weather stays in the 70’s, and it can even feel chilly at night and when the sun is behind the clouds. During the middle of the summer, it definitely warms up. The valley can get VERY hot, but it’s usually dry heat. Also, many people don’t realize that the Pacific Ocean stays fairly cold throughout the year, so if you’re used to the Atlantic Ocean, be prepared for colder water.
  2. Consider alternatives to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Flying into LAX can be a nightmare. It’s one of the busiest airports in the world, and it’s also very confusing. If you can get a good rate, we recommend flying into the Burbank International Airport. It’s much more quiet, and you can still rent a discount car from us! Of course, most of the best rates will be flying into LAX, but don’t worry, we have a great staff that can help you get into a great rental car for less.
  3. Los Angeles Is a Driving Town. We’re not just saying this, because we’re in the rental car business! The Greater Los Angeles area sprawls hundreds of miles, and even though they have a decent bus and metro train system, it cannot accommodate all of the areas of Los Angeles. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that renting a car is essential when visiting the area.
  4. Venture outside of L.A. County. Santa Barbara and the surrounding area are about 2 hours away, and it is an area that you must visit. In the south, Orange County has a lot to offer as well, and San Diego is only about a 2 and a 1/2 hour drive away.
  5. Wake Up Early. If you want to visit one of the popular shows taped in Los Angeles and you don’t already have tickets, you’ll need to be up VERY early to get in line for standby tickets. Also, the tours for Universal Studios and NBC fill up quickly too, so don’t assume that you’ll be able to walk right up to the popular attractions no matter what time of year you’re there. Also, popular game shows like “The Price Is Right” don’t tape every week, so check their taping schedule first before you roll up there at 5am!

Los Angeles is a great place to visit, but make sure you’re prepared for it!

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Locations, Rental Car, Travel Comments 0 Mar 11th, 2010

Green Travel Tips While On Your Vacation

Preserving our environment is one of the single most important things we must do in the future. Our population is growing and our resources are depleting, and we have the duty to be good stewards of this Earth. Many people think of “green travel” as going to an eco-friendly location such as Costa Rica, but that’s only one segment of green travel. You can make your everyday travel more green by following these tips:

  1. Rent a hybrid car from E-Z or another rental car company
  2. Before leaving the house, turn down/up the thermostat, turn off the water, and unplug the appliances
  3. Pack light.  Choose pieces of clothing that can be easily mixed and match and bring only the shoes that you need.  Also, download eBooks instead of brining paper books.
  4. Don’t drive like your a NASCAR driver.  Not only will it keep you safer, but you’ll conserve gas.  Also, try not to slam on the gas unless only when necessary.
  5. Refuse maid service while in your hotel.
  6. Turn off all appliances, lights, and A/C or heat when  you leave your hotel room
  7. Choose a hotel that provides green amenities.
  8. Bring a re-usable water bottle with you
  9. Pack eco-friendly sunscreen
  10. Let hotel managers know that you chose their hotel because of their green amenities, and this will encourage them to keep the green program.
  11. Bring your own shampoo and soap with you.
  12. Stop newspaper delivery while you’re gone.
  13. Choose airlines such as Southwest and JetBlue with newer, more energy efficient airplanes.
  14. Avoid using disposable cameras
  15. Go local.  While on vacation, dine at local restaurants and purchase souvenirs from local vendors, not chains.

Green travel is the future, and it’s not a trend.  We are working towards offering more hybrid cars in our fleet locations around the country.  The cost of renting a hybrid will go down as demand for them goes up, and we’re steadily seeing a desire for more hybrid cars, because you’re more concerned with our environment.  It’s a win/win situation for everyone!

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Hybrid Rental Car, Travel Comments 0 Mar 4th, 2010

Annual Spring Events In Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado is the true gateway to the west, and it’s often a great central location for annual events. It’s beautiful, has a great convention center, and it has the infrastructure to take care of large crowds, so this makes it a great place to hold annual events and conferences. Spring is almost here, and the weather will be getting warmer, so here are some great events and conferences that may be of interest to you.

Travel, Cruise and Golf Expo

In mid-March, the Colorado Convention Center hosts travel agents, cruise and golf package vendors and others where attendees can explore a variety of travel and vacation alternatives in one place. Call (303) 400-3470 for more information.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The city’s biggest annual parade features horses, stagecoaches, marching bands, floats and fun, all with Western-style flair. Call (303) 368-9861 for more information.

Major League Baseball

Nothing signals the beginning of spring more than baseball, tightly meshed into American culture with historic firsts, icon performances, record-setting events, and traditions from hot dogs slathered in mustard to unexpected curveballs, and seventh-inning stretches. Books and movies about baseball are great, but nothing beats Major League Baseball action, playing out each season from April through the World Series. If you’re planning on going to a Colorado Rockies game, visit their website to purchase tickets.

Cinco de Mayo

Billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo event in the United States, this annual extravaganza draws more than 400,000 to Civic Center Park where hundreds of booths sell Latino food, crafts and art. Call (303) 534-8342 for more information.

If you’re looking for a discount rental car in Denver, look no further than E-Z Rent-A-Car. We’ve just moved to a new, in-terminal facility that makes the process of renting with us much easier!

(photo credit: StuffEyeSee)

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Events and Conferences Comments 2 Mar 1st, 2010

Spring Break Hot Spots In Florida To Visit

March is one of the most beautiful months in the state of Florida, because the weather is usually warm enough to go to the beach, but cool enough enjoy being outside. Each year, thousands of spring break college students and families from up north visit Florida in March and April for the spring break school holiday. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for discount travel to Florida, including cheap rental cars offered by E-Z Rent-A-Car. Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami are all popular destinations for Spring Break, because the night life is great, the beaches are better, and they have plenty of hotels and tourist attractions to accommodate you.

Tampa, Florida

I recently wrote an article giving you some ideas for fun, free things to do in Tampa, and I recommend you check out all of those recommendations when you’re visiting Tampa. St. Petersburg beach, Ft. Desoto beach (at southern tip of Pinellas County), and Clearwater beach are three great beaches you must try out. Also, you’ll save a lot of money in Tampa if you choose a hotel just off the beach. The area of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg is huge, and we recommend renting a discount rental car from the Tampa Airport.

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Ft. Lauderdale is only 30 minutes from the heart of Miami, it’s less busy, and it has wonderful, sprawling beaches. The beaches are also less crowded, and you’ll spend less on a hotel if you stay on the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale. South Beach has the name and recognition, and it usually boasts higher hotel prices because of it. You won’t be disappointed if you decide to stay in Ft. Lauderdale, and they have their own international airport that is less crowded and easier to get in and out of. Rent a car from Ft. Lauderdale Airport (FLL)

Miami, Florida

If you’ve never visited Miami, it is truly a unique experience. The rich Cuban and Hispanic influence make Miami such a great experience for anyone looking for something different. South Beach is the famous beach of the Miami Beaches, and there’s always something to do. It has art-deco, historical hotels, great food, and vibrant night life. We recommend this list of great restaurants in Miami to try. If you want to experience all of the great attractions that Miami has to offer such as the Planetarium, The Island Parrot Jungle, or the Art Museum, we recommend renting a car with E-Z from MIami International Airport.

(photo credit: Brisan)

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Locations, Travel Comments 0 Feb 22nd, 2010

5 Free Things To Do In Tampa, Florida

February and March are great times to visit Florida. Late Winter and early spring is the time when the weather is the best in Florida, and it’s typically known as the peak traveling season in Florida. Spring break students, snow birds, and families looking to escape the cold weather often visit Florida during this time. Tampa, Florida is one of Florida’s nicest big cities, because it offers hundreds of miles of great beaches, three professional sports teams, and a variety of things to do. If you’re like us, we like to travel on a budget, which includes finding a discount rental car in Tampa and finding fun, free things to do in Tampa.

  1. Go To The Beach. This is the most fun, free thing to do in Florida. The water is going to be chilly if you visit during the winter or spring, but if you’re visiting from up north, I am sure it won’t feel that bad to you. Clearwater, Florida, which is about 20 minutes from Tampa, has some of the best beaches in the state.
  2. University of South Florida Botanical Gardens. It’s free, and a fun thing to do with the family. USF is a premier public university, and they have great facilities. Go visit their gardens and take some great pictures to show your friends and family.
  3. Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center. This is another free and fun activity to do with the family. Manatees are native to Florida, and even though they aren’t the best looking creatures on earth, these gentle giants are an endangered species and great to view. They like hanging out around electrical plants, because the water is warmer there.
  4. The St. Petersburg Pier. This is another great attraction where you can do some shopping, sightseeing, and take some great pictures. Check out the activities going on at The Pier.
  5. Ybor City Museum State Park. Ybor City has a rich history. It’s a National Historic district, and it has been around since the 1880’s. It’s a great place to tour and follow the walking tour and visit the museum.

If you’ve never visited Tampa, we really encourage that you check it out. If you’re visiting Orlando and Disney World, Tampa is only an hour drive if you’re looking to spend a day away from the Orlando attractions.

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Travel Comments 0 Feb 19th, 2010

Promotional Video for Atlanta Airport Location

Here’s a fun promotional video for our new in-terminal location at the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. You can rent a discount rental car from E-Z with more convenience and less hassle!

Now is the Time To Rent in Atlanta!

Check this out. One of our customers just booked for $14.55/day for an economy car out of Atlanta! Try it now: Atlanta rental cars.

Hungry in Atlanta?

Check out our list of the 5 best restaurants in Atlanta.

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Promotions, video Comments 1 Feb 10th, 2010

ABC News Test Drives The 2011 Chevy Volt

Here’s a good video giving us a first glimpse of how the new Chevy Volt looks on the road and its overall handling and performance.

The Volt will go up to 40 miles without using a sip of gas, and then the engine kicks in and starts using fuel so you don’t get stranded after you hit the 40 mile mark. I was thinking about how many Americans drive less than 40 miles back and forth from work every day, and this might be a huge appeal to them. You could literally go the entire week without using any gasoline if you drove less than 40 miles each day. This would be a HUGE money savings, but it sounds like the cost of these vehicles will be substantially higher than their hybrid car counterparts. And many Americans still view hybrids as overpriced. But having said that, for those people that don’t drive much during the week, the extra cost could really even out with the amount of money they save in fuel costs.

The performance of the car looks good as well. We all know that in the United States, ther are a lot of aggressive drivers, so you need a car that can perform well enough to maneuver on busy roads, and after watching this video, it looks like the Volt will be fine in that aspect.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the Chevy Volt will be a success or will the rumored price tag of $40,000 keep people from buying it?

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Hybrid Car Comments 0 Feb 2nd, 2010

E-Z Rent-A-Car Now Awards Delta SkyMiles For Rental Car Purchases

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to create a great partnership with one of the leading airlines in the world, Delta Air Lines. It’s now official, E-Z Rent-A-Car is an official partner with the Delta SkyMiles® Program. Starting January 15th, 2010, we will begin awarding miles to Delta SkyMiles members when they rent a car from us.

To learn more about this relationship with Delta, visit our Delta page on the E-Z website.

How to earn miles in the SkyMiles program with E-Z

You will earn 200 miles for every day that you rent a car from any of the participating E-Z corporate locations.

How to present your Skymiles number to us

No Delta ticket or boarding pass is required to be awarded miles, simply present your SkyMiles number at the counter when you pick up the rental car or when you make the reservation online or over the phone. If you’re an E-Z Rewards Premier Member, you can store your SkyMiles number in your account, and it will automatically be added to your reservation.

Terms and Conditions

  • Earn 200 miles per rental day on all qualifying rentals.
  • Allow 4 to 6 weeks after qualification for bonus miles to be posted to your SkyMiles account. All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide.Earn miles at all corporate-operated airport locations. This includes Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), West Palm Beach (PBI), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN) and Los Angeles (LAX).
  • Miles cannot be earned on travel industry, travel agent, or tour/wholesale rates. Members may only earn miles, points or credits with one frequent traveler program per rental. Also, miles cannot be earned on a rental if car rental award certificates are used.
  • All Delta SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit www.delta.com/memberguide

We are really excited about the opportunity to partner up with Delta and their popular SkyMiles program, and we hope that this brings more added value to your rental experience with E-Z Rent-A-Car. If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to contact our great customer service representatives at (877) – 277 – 5171.

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Delta SkyMiles Comments 5 Jan 27th, 2010

E-Z Rent-A-Car Has Officially Moved To In-Terminal at Denver International Airport

In the past, if you flew into Denver International Airport to pick up your discount rental car from E-Z, you had to go straight to a shuttle bus and trek about 5 miles to get to our rental car location. We knew this wasn’t the most convenient set up for our great customers, so we have worked long and hard to get an in-terminal location at the Denver airport.

That time has finally arrived, and we have a huge rental counter area in-terminal at Denver International Airport. Instead of getting on a shuttle bus to travel 5 miles away from the airport to get to your cheap rental car, we are now less than a mile away for your convenience.

Some Great Features About Our New Location

  • More counter space with six computers to stream line the check-in process
  • Our fleet is now located less than a mile from the main airport terminals.
  • We have enough space to continually grow our fleet and offer more vehicles during increased demand for rental cars
  • We now have on-site car washing and maintenance facilities
  • An overall more enjoyable experience for you, our loyal customers.

So the next time you are traveling to Denver, remember E-Z Rent-A-Car, because we offer exceptional customer service and rental cars at a discounted price.

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Locations Comments 3 Jan 26th, 2010

E-Z Rent-A-Car In-Terminal Atlanta Location Is Complete!

After a lot of hard work and dedication from our E-Z Rent-A-Car staff, we have finally completed our transition into the brand new in-terminal facility at the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. This location will make it much more convenient for you, our customers. Your time from the gate to our rental facility will be reduced and a much more efficient process. Here are some pictures to help you get an idea of what you’re looking for the next time you make a reservation for a discount rental car in Atlanta.

Are you looking for a discount for your next rental car reservation to Atlanta? Check out our extensive list of E-Z Rent-A-Car coupons available on our website!

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Locations Comments 2 Jan 11th, 2010

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