The Car Rental Tip Rick Steves Urges You To Keep In Mind While Booking In Europe

If you want to explore Europe without dealing with tickets and timetables, driving is the way to go. Renting a car makes it easy to reach multiple cities and even multiple countries in just a few hours. However, the costs can add up if you're not careful.

You may already know that renting a car from an airport is a pricey mistake to avoid on vacation, but there are other pick-up spots that also come at a premium, according to Rick Steves. In an article on his website, the travel expert shares that rental cars in major cities tend to be more expensive than those picked up in smaller towns. He writes, "It's best and less stressful to begin your driving experience away from big cities, so try picking up your car away from major destinations."

Steves offers an example in England, where you may want to visit London as well as a couple of other smaller destinations. Instead of driving from London, he suggests exploring Bath, one of the best European cities for history buffs, without a vehicle. Once you're finished touring the Roman baths and eating at Sally Lunn's, pick up your rental car and drive around at your own pace. Then, in Steves' example, you drop off the car in York and take a two-hour train ride south into London, where you can continue sightseeing without paying an astronomical rate for a rental vehicle.

Rick Steves' rental car tip could help you save money, but know that it will take some planning to pull off. First, it's crucial to make sure that public transportation, whether it be a train, a bus, or another mode, is available between your destinations. Some remote places in Europe can be difficult to reach without a car, so plan your route carefully to avoid having to book an expensive taxi (which can quickly negate the economic benefits of the travel expert's strategy).

On that note, also beware of the limitations of some out-of-the-way rental agencies. Steves explains, "[A] tiny regional office has a smaller fleet than a major airport agency. Don't plan to pick up or drop off your car in a small town on a Saturday afternoon, Sunday, or holiday, when offices are likely to be closed." Additionally, the travel expert warns that picking up and dropping off in different countries can incur a fee, so if you plan to cross borders in Europe with a rental car, be sure to factor this into your budget.

If you'd prefer to have a car for the entire duration of your trip, there's another way to approach Steves' hack. Rather than only renting a car once you've arrived in a smaller town, search for vehicles on the outskirts of a major city. You may find more affordable options than if you rent from the airport or the city center. All it usually takes is a bus or train ride to reach the suburbs; from there, you have the freedom to drive wherever you like.