How to Make Your Thanksgiving Travel Less Stressful
Millions of Americans travel around the country during the Thanksgiving holiday time period. It seems like a tradition to watch the news with all of the airport delays, bad weather, and traffic jams that go along with Thanksgiving travel. Most travelers think of it as an inevitable chore for their Thanksgiving travel to be long and stressful. However, there are some strategic moves you can make to allow your Thanksgiving travel to be less stressful. Here are a few tips to follow:
Travel on off-peak days
If possible, try to travel on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, or Thursday morning. The period between 3pm and 9pm on Wednesday evening is always the worst traffic and the worst time to be in an airport. When traveling back, try to leave on Saturday or Sunday morning. Sunday night and Monday morning are typically the busiest travel times to be coming back from your Thanksgiving travels.
Avoid Flying
If you aren’t traveling very far, driving might be a better solution than flying. The nightmares that we all hear about during the Thanksgiving holidays are the snow storms or the overcrowded airports that caused massive delays. If you don’t trust your car or you don’t own a car, consider renting a discount rental car from E-Z Rent-A-Car.
Service Your Car This Weekend
The last thing you want while driving to your Thanksgiving destination is to have your car break down. Get the oil changed, get a maintenance inspection, rotate the tires, fill them to the proper pressure levels, and make sure your fluids are full.
Take a train.
The train is often overlooked as a viable means of transportation, and while it might be impractical to take Amtrak from Florida to New York, it’s not impractical to take the train out of New York City to Boston or Connecticut. There are many other commuter type trains around the country that are cheap and easy to use and they will be less crowded than the roads and airports.
Tags: cheap car rental, discount car rental, traveling on Thanksgiving
Denver and Atlanta Are Now In-Terminal Locations
Tired of getting off the plane, grabbing your luggage, hopping on the shuttle bus, and finally reaching your rental car? You should be! By the time you reach your car, you’ve already wasted an hour or so, and that’s not a good experience. We want to make your experience as smooth and easy as possible, so that is why we are moving our locations in-terminal at the Atlanta and Denver international airports.
Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport
Starting December 8th, we will be moving to Atlanta’s brand-new consolidated facility. You’ll be able to walk up to our counters, check-in for your reservation, and get your car keys without leaving the airport. Our cars will also be located on airport property in parking garages, so you can walk to your car! This will rapidly decrease the amount of time it takes for you to get to your destination. This new move will work great for time sensitive travelers such as business travelers going to a meeting or conference in downtown Atlanta.
Denver International Airport
Beginning December 1st, we will now have a counter location in-terminal at the Denver International Airport. Like all other rental car companies, our office will be on airport property, but our cars will be located off airport property, and a friendly E-Z shuttle driver will take you to your car. The ability to get you checked in and sign the paperwork in terminal will drastically reduce your wait time to get you to your car. This will allow Denver travelers to pick up their car quickly and efficiently.
If you have any other questions about this change, please do not hesitate to ask us by contacting us or posting a question on our Facebook fan page.
Tags: atlanta airport car rental, denver airport rental car, in-terminal locations
Top 5 Restaurants In Tampa, Florida
credits: ShootsNikonOne of the toughest things to do when you are traveling in an unfamiliar city is find good food. Unless you have friends that live there to give you recommendations, you’ll need to guess or visit a chain restaurant. One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding new restaurants and tasting new food creations. We want to help you avoid wasting gas in your cheap rental car in Tampa, so here are our top 10 restaurants in Tampa, Florida to help you when dining out in Tampa.
- Columbia in Ybor City.
- Oyster Catchers at the Hyatt Regency
- Bern’s Steakhouse
- Ceviche Tapas Bar
- Roy’s Restaurant
This is cuban food at its finest! Make sure you get the Sangria and try the Cuban bread! This is a casual place and it’s moderately priced.
Here’s a review from Yelp.com:
website: www.columbiarestaurant.com
This the #1 rated restaurant per the reviews on Yelp.com. The cuisine is seafood, the attire is dressy, and the menu is a little pricey, but what nice seafood restaurant isn’t pricey right? Out of 20 reviews on Yelp.com, this restaurant received a 4.5 out of 5 score.
Check out the reviews: What people on Yelp.com had to say.
website: www.oystercatchesrestaurant.com
Bern Steakhouse is well-known by the locals of Tampa, and it’s the premier place to get a great steak in Tampa. The place is fancy-schmancy, so make sure you’re not in shorts and flip-flops. It’s also pricey, but you pay for what you get. Their desserts are world-class! Here’s a good review from a Yelper.
website: www.bernssteakhouse.com
This is a fun place, where you can have a drink and eat some tapas in a casual-trendy atmosphere. The cuisine is mainly Spanish cuisine, and the attire is business-casual. The prices are moderate, and it’s usually a place where you share entrees with friends or your significant other. the Mahi-Mahi is great here!
Yelp Reviews: Want to hear what Yelpers said about Ceviche?
Website: www.ceviche.com
Roy’s is like no other eating experience. They call it “Hawaiian Fusion”, and your mouth will love the combination of flavors in every entree here. The atmosphere is comfortable and the attire is casual, but you wouldn’t be out of place if you went business-casual. The menu is a little pricey, so make sure you are prepared to spend some cash. Here is a good review from Yelp.com
website: www.roysrestaurant.com
Have we made you hungry yet? When you pick up your discount rental car the TPA airport, make sure you think about E-Z Rent-A-Car!
Tags: best restaurants in Tampa, TPA airport car rental
4 Great Places To Visit Outside of Los Angeles
Are you flying to Los Angeles soon and booking a discount rental car? There are so many things to do in Los Angeles, but sometimes the heavy traffic and fast-paced nature of the city can be overwhelming. If you want to experience more than just Los Angeles, check out these areas just outside of the city.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is about an hour and a half up the northwest coast, and you’ll love the scenic drive up there! Downtown Santa Barbara has a specific charm about it, and they preserve the historical nature of it as much as possible. The beaches are great in Santa Barbara, and the Universit of California in Santa Barbara is a great area to walk around. Make sure you visit the Palace Grill for great Louisiana-style food. Every night the restaurant pauses for a few minutes to sing Louie Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful Life”. It’s a great atmosphere!
Malibu, California
credits: Canada GoodDo you want to feel like a high-roller or go celebrity spotting? Then, you need to visit Malibu, one of the wealthiest towns in the country! Malibu is about 45 minutes northwest of the city, and they have great beaches there. The beaches are as wide as the freeways. Another fun thing to do is tour the beach houses and mansions.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a great little town with a lot of charm. It’s just 30 minutes northeast of the city, and there is plenty to do there! Their downtown strip along Colorado Blvd. is for shopping and dining out. The Rose Bowl features one of the most famous flea markets in the country every second Sunday of the month.
Orange County, California
credits: esthereggyAsk any local, and they will tell you that there’s a distinct difference between Orange County and Los Angeles County. Many people that don’t live in California associate Orange County with Los Angeles, but it’s definitely it’s own area. This is where you’ll find Disney Land in Anaheim and fun beach towns like Huntington and Laguna Beach.
E-Z Rent-a-Car has a location at the LAX airport, so book a reservation with them to start exploring outside of Los Angeles.
Tags: Los Angeles airport car rental, rose bowl travel, santa barbara tourism, visit disney land
E-Z Rent-A-Car Implements A No Smoking Policy In All Rental Cars
On October 1st, 2009, E-Z Rent-A-Car made an executive decision to implement a “no smoking” policy in all of its fleet cars. From now on, if you rent a car from E-Z Rent-A-Car, you are prohibited to smoke inside the car while it is in your possession. We understand that this poses an inconvenience to some customers who smoke cigarettes and cigars, but the majority of our customers appreciate a rental car without the smell of smoke in it. The decision was made to enhance your overall customer experience when renting a car from E-Z Rent-A-Car.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why Did You Make This Decision? We have had numerous customer requests to make the cars smoke-free, and we believe that a strong majority of our customers want smoke-free, discount rental cars.
- What Will Happen To The Cars That Smell Like Smoke? We are quickly working to remove them from our fleet inventory, but the process does take time.
- Is There A Penalty For Smoking In The Car After October 1st? Yes, if we rent a car to you with no smell of smoke, and you return it with an obvious smoke smell, you may be charged a cleaning fee of up to $250 to remove the smoke odor. While we are in the process of removing fleet vehicles with a smoke smell, please self-inspect the interior of your rental car before leaving the rental facility. If you detect a smoke odor, please notify one of our employees and ask them to make a note in your contract to prevent you from being charged for an odor that you did not create.
What are your thoughts about this new policy? We want to hear your feedback. Post a comment below.
Tags: E-Z Rent-A-Car no smoking, no smoking discount rental car, no smoking policy
Great Summer Photos Posted By E-Z Facebook Fans
Our “End of Summer” $100 AMEX gift card giveaway on our Facebook page has already been a great success. We’ve had hundreds of entries, and many of our fans have shared great photos of their vacations over the summer. There are dozens of great photos posted, but here are five that we really enjoyed!
Chicago, IL
Amy posted this cool photo watching the fireworks at the Navy Pier, overlooking the Chicago skyline on the Fourth of July.
Orlando, Florida
Kayla posted this photo at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World of the fireworks at Cinderella’s Castle.
Augusta, Georgia
This photo was added by Gina on Facebook. It’s a photo of the Riverwalk in Augusta, Georgia. Didn’t think Georgia could look so pretty, did you?
San Francisco, California
A funny photo from Kathryn of monkey statues in Chinatown.
King’s Canyon National Park, California
Beautiful photo from Elaine of the Sequoia trees in King’s Canyon National Park.
Thank you to everyone who have contributed to our Facebook page so far. The success of it is all because of you! We still have two more giveaways for a $100 AMEX gift card tomorrow, September 30th and October 7th. Become a fan of our Facebook page and post something fun that you did over the summer to enter our giveaway!
Tags: end of summer giveaway, Facebook fan page
Photo Stream Of Our United States Locations
Everyone loves pictures, and pictures say a thousand words. Here are photos of our main United States locations, not including affiliate locations.
Orlando, Florida
The appeal of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, warm weather, and world-class hotel resorts make Orlando one of the top vacation destinations in the world!
Rent a hybrid rental car at MCO
Miami, Florida
Whether you’re having a night out on South Beach or visiting the many ecological attractions of Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida has so much to offer. Don’t forget to get a Cuban sandwich or black beans and rice while you are there!
Rent a discount rental car from MIA
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Just up the coast from Miami is beautiful Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. If you are looking for an alternative airport to fly into other than MIA, Ft. Lauderdale is a great choice. Plus, the beaches are nicer and less populated.
Rent a cheap rental car from FLL
West Palm Beach, Florida
Historic Palm Beach, Florida is a great place to vacation. The Breakers is a world-class hotel and resort, and the Flagler museum is a great piece of South Florida history. Downtown West Palm Beach has all the shopping and night life that you can handle.
Rent a discount rental car from PBI
Tampa, Florida
If you’ve ever been to Tampa, you know they love their sports. No matter what time of year you are there, you’ll be able to catch either a football, hockey, or baseball game. Plus, Clearwater, Florida which is only about 20 miles west of Tampa, has some of the best beaches in Florida.
Rent a discount rental car from TPA
Atlanta, Georgia
Stroll along Peach Tree street in Downtown, visit the night life of Buck Head, or visit Stone Mountain just outside of Atlanta. Atlanta is the hub of the southeast for a reason. It’s a vibrant city with a lot of young professionals, and there’s always something going on to keep you busy.
Rent a cheap rental car at ATL
Denver, Colorado
Denver is a beautiful city, and if you love winter sports, Denver is the place to be! Denver is also a huge sports town if you’re thinking about catching a game.
Dallas, Texas
Eat a juicy steak or visit the new $1 billion dollar Dallas Cowboys stadium! You could also travel down to Austin to hear great live music or tour the University of Texas.
Reserve a discount rental car at DFW
Ketchikan, Alaska
Alaska is like one big postcard. If you are a nature buff, then Alaska is the place for you. Go for a hike, camping, dog sledding, or kayaking to take in the beautiful sites and wildlife of Alaska.
Reserves a discount rental car from KTN
Los Angeles, California
The City of Angels is a great destination for vacationing or business. Drive down Sunset Blvd. and maybe you’ll spot a celebrity! The Getty museum is a great place to bring the family. It’s free to the public!
Reserve a discount rental car from LAX
Tags: atlanta airport car rental, cheap car rental, denver airport rental car, discount car rental, florida cheap rental car, Ft. Lauderdale airport car rental, LAX discount car rental, MCO discount car rental, Miami airport car rental, Orlando Discount Car Rental, PBI car rental, TPA airport car rental
Update On Current E-Z Promotions
Facebook Promotion
Our “End of Summer” Facebook promotion has really taken off thanks to you all who became fans of our page and posted great stories and photos about your summer. We have had a great time connecting with you and being a part of what’s going on in your lives!
Our first winner was Amanda Bile from Maryland. She won the first $100 AMEX gift card, and we will be giving away three more gift cards over the next three weeks! If you haven’t already, make sure you become a fan of the E-Z Rent-A-Car Facebook page and post a story/photo/video about your summer.
Travelocity Promotion
Today, Travelocity ran a promotion for an 8% off promotion code for their Twitter followers and Facebook fans when making a reservation for an E-Z rental car through their website. We are big fans of Travelocity, and they do a great job with their Facebook page and Twitter profile. They are constantly offering exclusive Facebook and Twitter deals, and they also alert you of last-minute deals that are time sensitive.
Become a fan of the Travelocity Facebook page and a follower of their Twitter profile to take advantage of their exclusive E-Z Rent-A-Car promotion and other travel promotions.
Tags: exclusive twitter promotion, facebook amex promotion, travelocity discount promotion
How 10 Travel Websites Looked When They First Launched
Back in the days when installing Netscape was an essential part of your internet experience, 56k dial-up modems were the latest technology, and Prodigy was booming dot com company, you had ugly websites with not much to them! Here are some great examples of travel sites when they first launched. Enjoy!
- Travelocity
- Orbitz
- Avis Rental Car
- Enterprise
- Southwest Airlines
- E-Z Rent-A-Car
- Jet Blue Airlines
- Wall Street Journal
This one is my favorite! We love Travelocity and their commitment to their travel partners, but we couldn’t help but poke some fun at them for their old website!
Not bad for their first shot, of course, their first launch wasn’t until after 2001.
Wow, Avis has come a long way!
First attempt was a good one. They haven’t deviated much from the original.
Below the image is a bunch of text that wasn’t formatted very well.
We couldn’t do a post like this without including ourselves! Now THAT is ugly! But we were still offering discount car rentals even then!
This was only about 6 years ago.
And now for a few non-travel websites:
Even Google has come a long way since 1998!
This screenshot is from 2005!
Make sure you share this fun list with your friends!
Tags: travel websites, website screenshots at launch
Enter Our “End of Summer” $100 AMEX Gift Card Giveaway!
The end of Summer is quickly approaching, but E-Z Rent-A-Car wants to extend it a little further by sharing all of your summer experiences! We are giving away (4) $100 AMEX gift cards over the next month to any Facebook fan that uploads a story, photo, or video to our Facebook page wall of somewhere you visited or something fun that you did this past Summer!
Here are the official giveaway rules:
ELIGIBILITY
This sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States, 18 or older. This sweepstakes is not open to employees and their immediate families/households of E-Z Rent-A-Car, Inc, or anyone involved with the production of this sweepstakes. Void where prohibited and subject to all federal, state and local laws.
HOW TO ENTER
No purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes. To enter, become a fan of the official Facebook fan page. Once you have become a fan, share with us your favorite memory of this past summer. To share with us, post on of the following on the Facebook page wall: a story, picture, or video describing a place you visited or something fun that you did over the summer. Fans that do not share something on the Facebook wall, will not be entered for the weekly drawing. Only one entry will be permitted per household. If a participant enters the giveaway and does not win the weekly drawing, he or she will be automatically entered into the subsequent weekly drawing.
AMEX GIFT CARD
The winner of each weekly drawing will receive one (1) AMEX gift card in the amount of $100.00. The value of this prize is explicit dependent on the face value of the gift cards. All rules and regulations of the AMEX gift card can be found here. The gift card and AMEX name are the property of American Express. The odds depend on the number of entries received. This prize cannot be transferred or otherwise substituted.
CONDITIONS
Upon entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to the posted official rules found herein and the decisions made by the judges. Submissions will be considered void if incompleted or erroneous. E-Z Rent-A-Car holds no responsibility for lost, late, stolen or untransmitted submissions, or any damage to any computer resulting from participating in this giveaway. The person whose Facebook profile is used to signup for E-Z Money will be deemed the official entrant for this giveaway. If E-Z Rent-A-Car determines or suspects that any tampering to the integrity of the data received has occurred, E-Z Rent-A-Car reserves the right to terminate the giveaway and hold a random drawing of received entrants to that point. Taxes on the prize are the responsibility of the winner. If the giveaway is modified, terminated or otherwise changed, a notice will be placed on the official Facebook fan page. Winners may be required to respond to the notificiation email within seven (7) days and failure to do so could result in disqualification and selection of a new winner.
SELECTION OF WINNER
One winner will be selected on September 16th, 2009, September 23rd, 2009, September 30th, 2009, and October 7th, 2009 at 12:00pm. The giveaway will begin at 12:00pm on September 9th, 2009, and entries will for the first weekly drawing will be accepted up until 11:30am on September 16th, 2009. Subsequent weekly drawings will follow the same timeframe guidelines as the first weekly giveaway. Any entries received after 11:30am on the day of the giveaway will be placed into the subsequent week’s drawing or they will not count if submitted after 11:30am on October 7th, 2009. Winner will be notified via a Facebook message on the day of the drawing.
LIST OF WINNER(s)
Visit the official Facebook fan page of E-Z Rent-A-Car for a list of winners at approximately 12:00pm on September 16th, September 23rd, September 30th, and October 7th.
Tags: $100 AMEX gift card, end of summer giveaway, Facebook giveaway