Over the holiday season, several travelers were impacted by the catastrophe of Southwest Airlines canceling flights at an accelerated rate. As a result, the airline canceled roughly 160 flights, according to CBS. From non-stop complaints from travelers being stranded to a bride that even missed her wedding day, the impact of the Southwest holiday meltdown was massive.
However, amongst all the chaos, celebrity actress Raven Symone took to social media to show a different form of transportation and how she navigates her holiday travels. The “That’s So Raven” star took to Instagram to show off her new wheels provided by Turo.
“@turo had me in my feelings this holiday season. While flights were getting canceled @mirandamaday and I were cruisin in the mazii. Oh wee..,” she wrote on Instagram.
While every destination can’t be reached by car, deciding which car rental company to book is worth researching. As an avid traveler, a few aspects I consider when booking a car rental, is price, convenience, safety, and location. Traditionally, many travelers book car rentals from known places at the airport or online. However, before you go with the big names, some alternative car rental methods are just as great and might even save you a few bucks.
Check out these alternative car rental options the next time you plan a trip.
Turo
Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace where users can book any car they want, wherever they want, from a vibrant community of trusted hosts across the US, Canada, and the UK. It’s like an AIRBNB but for rental cars.Turo has an unrivaled network of Turo hosts in over 1,000 cities globally. If you’re a budget traveler, Turo rentals start at $25 USD, and they have a wild selection of vehicles to choose from. Turo is also an excellent option for those looking for convenience. Since you can book a Turo online or through the app, you cut out the wait time of waiting in long lines at the airport and other car rental locations.
Getaround
The mission of Getaround is simply in its name. The company wants to help travelers seamlessly get from point A to point B most conveniently and effectively. Getaround has a peer-to-peer marketplace where you can rent a vehicle from other members. With Getaround, you don’t meet the person you are renting from. Travelers can rent the car, pick it up, and drop it off in a designated area, such as a parking spot or apartment building. Users can unlock the vehicles via Bluetooth within the app. Getaround is available in more than 950 cities globally.
Lyft Rental
Did you know Lyft also provides car rental services? In 2019, the ride-sharing service launched Lyft Rental, allowing travelers to book rentals directly through the app. Customers can expect an easy-to-use app process when booking a rental through Lyft rental. Once you pick up your rental from the designated location, an employee will finish the process. You have to rent the car for at least 24 hours. Lyft Rental has other perks, such as Lyft credits, no-fee cancellation, and convenient locations.
Zipcar
Zipcar launched over 20 years ago. According to the company website, Zipcar’s mission is “to enable simple and responsible urban living—a future filled with more car-sharing members than car owners in major cities across the globe.” The company also has a focus on sustainability. With Zipcar, users apply to be a member. After their membership is approved, they can easily book a car through the app. Zipcar is a car-sharing service that makes it seamless and convenient for customers to get where they need to go.
