While we may enjoy traveling abroad, leaving our luxury cars or sporty roadsters behind can be bittersweet, especially when you get saddled with a less-than-bargained for rental, like a BMW i3. A small electric hatchback might be the right fit for the ‘responsible you’ that has to balance a budget while getting to and from work on the busy streets, but ‘vacation you’ deserves something a little more exciting – preferably a convertible that will let you drive with the sea breeze blowing through your hair.
But you needn’t limit yourself; a seductively sporty coupe could serve you just as well, especially if you’re going to be driving around town a lot. Along a similar vein, if you plan on taking the kids along, you’ll want a bit more room both in the back seat and in the trunk. In such a situation, an SUV or even a crossover might be more suitable, but there are plenty of luxury items in both categories that will make you feel pampered and special while you’re exploring the unknown.
Can you afford it?
Going away, even for a weekend, can be pricey, depending on where you’re headed. While just about every rom-com out there makes spontaneous travel look easy, the truth is that it takes a lot of planning. Setting up a budget is one of the more stressful tasks, so you may be asking yourself, is a rental even in the cards, or will you be forced to rely on buses and trains?
Luckily, as with many things in life, if you have the know-how, and maybe a little sage advice, you can sometimes have your cake and eat it too. Renting an unexciting runabout will cost you around $50-$70 per day, but we’re here to look at the fun stuff, right? At an average price of $100 per day, you could upgrade to a Mazda MX-5 convertible. This does mean sacrificing the back seats, and you had best ensure all your luggage is safely stored at the hotel, because you won’t be able to take much with you.
Still, there are quite a few other options, too. And if you’re smart about how you source the rental and leverage the differences in prices you find online, you may be able to find something special at a much lower cost than you’d expect. Some of the most enjoyable cars to rent that you should be keeping an eye out for include:
- Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Ford Mustang
- Porsche 911
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Toyota RAV4
- Chevrolet Suburban
For you and maybe a special friend
The Miata, Mustang, and 911 are all great for keeping it cozy and personal when traveling. Only the Porsche is particularly lavish, but you should expect to pay quite a bit more for it than you would for the $100-a-day Mazda. Aside from the Mustang, each vehicle can be had as a hard- or drop-top, giving you a lot more control over how you experience the place you are visiting. Just be sure to budget a little extra for fuel, since fun and responsible fuel economy seldom go hand-in-hand.
In this regard, the Miata best balances the carefree nature of vacationing against your checkbook, but the 911 will no doubt get you noticed. All three vehicles are fast and handle well, so getting around from your hotel to the various attractions won’t be hard. The Mustang could potentially double as a family hauler, assuming the kids are small and don’t mind you giving into temptation and tossing the car around the occasional bend. And if you rent it abroad, there will be little doubt in the locals’ minds that you hail from the good old USA.
For the whole family
If you can’t get away from the responsibilities of parenthood, you’ll need to look to something that offers a more well-rounded package. Here, safety and comfort come first, meaning you will want to ensure a good list of features are included. As such, you should expect to be paying for more than a base model.
If you’re not a fan of high-riding crossovers, you could consider the Pacifica minivan. It supplies loads of space for up to seven passengers, in case you are bringing grandma and grandpa along, and it still leaves loads of room for cargo. Bearing a luxury logo, you can be sure it is well-appointed, and the interior is extremely comfortable. It isn’t low budget, though, thanks to its poor mileage figures.
Alternately, you could set your sights on a RAV4 or even a Chevy Suburban if you have a little more cash. The smaller Toyota is great for a family with small children, while the Chevy easily seats five adults without a fuss. Don’t expect too much fun here, though, since the RAV4 lacks the power and the Suburban is a bit too ponderous. These are comfortable, responsible vacation rentals that will see the whole family remembering your trip with fond memories.
