Articles

Car, Bus, Rail

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That's Ridiculous! A "False Choice" at the Car Rental Counter

Are agents at rental agencies trying to help by selling you optional car insurance? Or are their aggressive tactics just another sign that companies love to charge extra fees?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: A Little Dent Adds $500 to My Car Rental Bill

A traveler is outraged when she is charged $500 for a small scratch on the bumper of her rental car. Will she have to pay for the damage, and why do the repairs cost so much?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Whose Car Rental Bill is This, Please?

A traveler's truck rental goes south after the car rental company charges him months later for damage that he didn't do. Will this traveler have to pay, or did the company mess up?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Help, My Amtrak Tickets Were Accidentally Canceled

A traveler's refund is stonewalled when neither the train company or credit card company will step up. Will Amtrak or American Express come through?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: My Wife Declined the Insurance, Then Signed For It

A traveler's wife declines optional car insurance but is still charged for it. Why do so many rental contracts seem so deceptive?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: False Damage Claims from Car Rental Agencies

When Enterprise rents our reader a car, there's damage to the fender. No worries, says the agency. But a few days after she returns the car, she's being asked to pay for the dent. What…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Canada by Rail, from $1,263 with Six Nights' Lodging

Enjoy a romantic rail journey from Montreal to Halifax, which includes an overnight on the train and five nights' hotel this fall.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: I Signed a Damage Form -- Now They Want Me to Pay

A rental car agency files a damage claim for a pre-existing scratch on a rental van. How can this traveler overcome this frivolous claim?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

That's Ridiculous! Parking Lot Fees Start to Multiply

The next time you pull into an airport parking lot, you could face unexpected charges on your parking bill, including fees for fuel surcharges, customer service, or airport access.…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: A Dropped Damage Claim That Keeps Coming Back

A traveler returns a rental car without incident but a month later, the car-rental company comes after him for $2,000 in damages that he didn't commit. What gives?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Summer Road Trip: Tips for Driving to Canada

If you're planning to visit Canada on a summer road trip, follow these simple steps so you can drive across the border without any hassles or delays.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

7 Things You Should Know About International Car Rentals

Nervous about renting a car in another country? Follow these seven guidelines on dealing with international car rentals.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

5 Ways to Save Money on Car Rentals

Follow these five money-saving tactics to cut costs on your summer road trip.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: I'm Being Overcharged for Gas

Even though a traveler returns his rental with a full tank of gas, the car-rental agency charges him for two extra gallons. Is this standard policy or automatic grounds for a refund?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Is My Lost Train Ticket a Lost Cause?

A student traveler lost her Eurail pass more than a year ago, and the company still hasn't refunded the money. Will she ever see that money again?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

An Unmarried Driver Fee? How Enterprising

Fees for additional drivers are not new, but the extra charge is especially frustrating for this couple. Should they have been charged the $5 fee per day?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

11 Ways to Travel Around Budapest

Use Budapest's extensive public transportation system for affordable sightseeing in and around Budapest.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Car Rental Agencies and Cities Get Ready to Go Head-to-Head Over Taxes Again

If you rent a car these days, you can expect to pay exorbitant fees and taxes, many of which benefit local cities. A proposed bill would cap some of those taxes, leading some cities to…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Snared By an Insurance Scam in Mexico

A traveler in Mexico is stunned when he is forced to buy car insurance, which more than doubles the price of his rental. Will he get a refund?

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: But I Never Asked For Car Rental Insurance

A traveler declines optional insurance on her rental but gets charged anyway. Here's how you can avoid getting taken for a ride.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: Wrongfully Charged For My Expired Tags

A traveler rents a car with expired tags. After getting ticketed, the rental company promises her that she doesn't have to handle the fine. Will she end up having to pay the bill…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Travel Troubleshooter: I Rented a Clunker, and Now They Want My Cash

Our reader's car rental does not go well after she's handed the keys to a junker and is then accused of damaging it when she returns it. Now the company wants $775 from her. What can…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Driving Home for the Holidays? You'll Get There -- Eventually

Memorize these travel safety tips so you can get home safely for the holidays.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Hotwire Car Rentals, from $11.95 per day

Speed off with a set of wheels for up to 15% less than last year's car rental prices in San Francisco, Tampa, Boston, and Orlando.

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Paying Up Front for Rental Car Nicks and Scratches

Some car-rental companies will automatically pocket your deposit or charge your credit card if a rental is damaged, scratched, or dinged. Is this business practice fair or foul?