Four Two for the Price of One
Checking online for a rental car in the Bay Area this summer, I’ve been shocked at what appears to be the going rate for a minivan for a week: anywhere from $850 to more than $1,200(!).
Really.
Which inspired Plan B.
Namely, rent two economy cars instead.
The advantages of such a manuever?
–The rental car companies appear to have a glut of these — and are pricing them accordingly ($200 a week or less).
–My wife — who gets motion sick whenever she’s a passenger — gets to be a driver, too.
–We get to apply two, $50 coupons instead of one.
–My family of five can split up: I can take our two boys hiking in Muir Woods while my wife takes our daughter to a museum.
–We can rent one car at the airport — by far the most expensive location to rent — and shuttle to a cheaper, off-site location for car #2.
–And last but not least: if my temper tantrum-prone daughter has a melt-down at one of the social functions we’re invited to — we have a “getaway car” (now that’s what I call leverage).
The Bottom Line
Yes, I know we’ll have to pay more parking and tolls — but we’re staying in a motel with free parking.
And yes, we’ll have to gas up two cars — but factor in the mediocre mileage that minivans get, and I doubt we’re spending much (if any) more.
Bottom line (literally)?
My family and I are going to have a nice vacation this Summer, inflation be damned!
