Adventure Traveling Guide

If you’re renting in another country, find out if you can choose between prepaying in U.S. dollars or paying in the local currency, then compare the two rates. Remember that if you opt for the local currency, then pay with a U.S. credit card, you may be charged a conversion fee.

Be aware of more strictly enforced fuel policies. Some companies will hit you with a top-off fee unless you show them a receipt form a service station near the rental office. Pass on the option of returning the car with less than a full tank unless you want to pay a steep premium over gas-station […]

Consider booking through a foreign car rental company when travelling abroad. Not only can you find better deals, but you can help support the local economy. Try DanDooley (which specializes in Ireland) or TigerCarRental (37 countries, including many in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East). You may even get a broader selection to choose […]

Airport locations are often required by law to add local and state surcharges. One industry consultant estimates that airport fees can hike the cost of renting a car by 25-45%. To make sure you don’t pay more than you have to, try reserving in a city center or suburban location.

 
Perhaps a lighthouse might interest you. Check out Thimble Shoals lighthouse, purchased by a private citizen from the Coast Guard. An Amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act in 2000 made it possible for people to bid for eligible lighthouses if the Coast Guard could not find a state, city or nonprofit organization to take […]

 
Carova Beach, Outer Banks, NC
Location: 27 miles southeast of Virginia Beach
Part of what keeps this area so underdeveloped is the lack of paved roads; Highway 12 stops north of Corolla. Four-wheel-drive is a must, as the only route to this 12-mile stretch of beach is a ride on the sand or a primitive […]

Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island, Fla.
Location: 27 miles southwest of Fort Myers
The secret’s out about the beauty of Sanibel Island’s beaches, but you’re sure to find a stretch of sand to call your own when you make the quarter-mile trek to Bowman’s Beach. Sanibel Island is also regarded as one […]

Roque Bluffs, Maine
Location: 75 miles northeast of Bar Harbor
Getting to Roque Bluffs is half of the fun. From Route 1 in Machias, follow Roque Bluff Road for 6 miles past lobster traps, blueberry barrens, dense forest, and finally through a thicket of beach roses where you’ll come upon one of Maine’s true hidden gems. The […]

Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Location: 5 miles north of St. John Airport
Probably the most photographed beach on the list, Trunk Bay is the quintessential Caribbean getaway. Sparkling white sands, crystal-clear water, and swaying coconut palms make this beach the perfect Honeymoon spot. The laid-back Caneel Bay Resort is nestled in […]

Carmel Beach, Calif.
Location: 54 miles south of Santa Cruz
Hidden by cypress groves and set against the waters of the electric-blue Pacific, this cozy crescent of fine white sand has played muse for writers, artists and romantics like Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Ansel Adams. Gallery-hop along cobblestone sidewalks and flower-filled courtyards en route […]