Smarter Car Renting

Here are car rental tips from the road trip-seasoned editors of RoadsideAmerica.com:

•  Leave Nothing Behind: At a road trip's end, we find we've accumulated souvenirs, kitschy mementoes, and piles of brochures from tourist attractions. These treasures prove you really traveled -- that it wasn't just some wacky delusion. When dropping off your rental car, carefully check every door pocket, drink holder and storage bin for these keepsakes. The rental car company sure doesn't have any use for them.

•  Fear of the Unknown: Unfamiliar with the streets of San Diego? Consider adding a GPS navigation system to your rental. GPS provides turn-by-turn directions to a number of San Diego attractions and businesses, and is offered by almost all San Diego car rental agencies. The GPS helps you navigate like some mythical Greek God of Navigation! You can also add your own portable GPS on your handy windshield sucker, but remember to take it all with you when you turn in the car at the end of your trip.

•  Many States, One Car: If renting a car for a longer road trip, check with the car rental companies in San Diego, California to see if they have policies about crossing state lines that affect the final rate you pay. May be no effect, but don't assume you can crisscross the globe with unlimited mileage impunity. There may be a GPS tracker in the car!

Click here to see San Diego attractions

San Diego CA Area Attractions

• Balboa Park
• Belmont Park
• Cabrillo National Monument & Point Loma Lighthouse
• Cancer Survivor Gauntlet
• Casa de Estudillo
• Casa Del Rey Moro Museum
• Children's Hospital and Health Center
• Cleveland National Forest
• Cox Arena - San Diego State University
• Discover Adventure Sailing
• Downtown San Diego
• Fashion Valley
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
• Haunted Hotel
• Hornblower Cruises
• HUMPHREY'S BY THE BAY
• Islandia Sportfishing

San Diego rental guide