New Orleans is among the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. There’s no shortage of things to see and do in the Big Easy. It’s important to remember, however, that the fun isn’t limited to the heart of the city. If you rent a car and drive away from the crowd, you can enjoy a variety of sights and sounds many tourists never experience. Of course, you’ll need to have the right car by your side. The last thing you want is to rent an inferior vehicle and suffer a breakdown in an unfamiliar part of the town. To make sure that this doesn’t happen, we’ve compiled this handy list that every first-time renter should go through before renting a car in New Orleans.
Number of Passengers
As popular as it is, most families do not choose to vacation in New Orleans. However, if you do decide to visit New Orleans with your family, it should have a serious bearing on the kind of car you rent. If you’re searching for a vehicle that can carry yourself, your spouse, and your kids, you may have to spring for an SUV. An SUV can also be useful when navigating the murky roads of greater New Orleans. If you are traveling alone or with only one other person, a compact car should do just fine. However, keep in mind that smaller cars are often be held up by the crowds which accumulate in the streets of New Orleans during peak office hours.
Insurance Costs
Many car rental services offer free insurance with their vehicles. However, that is not always the case. In some situations, you may be asked to buy your own insurance package. While this is not ideal from a financial standpoint, it does give you the chance to cover yourself against specific scenarios not always covered by rental service-provided insurance. Certain car rental services may use insurance as an opportunity to squeeze in some hidden fees. Keep an eye out for this and if you see anything that seems suspicious, take your business elsewhere. There are plenty of high-quality car rental services in New Orleans, so there’s no need to resign yourself to the first one you find.
Rescue Services
To suffer a breakdown is terrible, but it becomes a nightmare when it happens in an area you’re not familiar with. The last thing you want is for your rental car to run out of gas or breakdown when you’re far from the safety of central New Orleans. For that reason, you should always rent your vehicle from a company that provides rescue services. The perfect rescue service package includes emergency fuel delivery, jump starts, and collection. These services should also be accessible 24/7, so you’ll never have to worry about being stranded.
