Rental Vehicles vs. Shuttle Vans – Which is Right For You?

OK, you have the lodging picked out and it’s time to put the finishing touches on your ski trip with the help of your Rocky Mountain Vacations sales agent, and that agent asks … “Do you prefer your own rental vehicle, or would you rather take the shuttle on up to the resort.”



Which way should you go on this? Depends …



The case for a Rental Vehicle.



A rental car or SUV provides freedom. You decide when you go to the supermarket to stock the condo, or drive to that sister resort for a day to ski new terrain. Maybe you just want to take a side trip for an afternoon, to somewhere the resort shuttles just don’t go. With your own vehicle, the open road calls. This is All American stuff.



A rental vehicle can be a lot of fun. Indeed it should be. Always wanted to drive that new Subaru Outback, or the fancy Lincoln Navigator, see how it handles in the snow? Here’s your chance. A rental vehicle is a week long test drive, and there is no doubt that you will come away to a very clear picture about what it would be like to own the wheels you just rented. And if you happen to be a ‘car nut’ this is just too good an opportunity to pass up!



A rental vehicle is a private travel experience. After traveling for hours with 200 of the closest strangers you will ever know, dropping into a wide comfortable leather seat of your SUV, can be a soothing feeling. Turn on the premium sound system, check out the cool navigation system, feel the power of engine – and of course that new car scent. Nice.



Children do better in a rental vehicle than on a shuttle van. Lets face it, by the time to get to the west, it’s been eight hours since you left home. The kids are tired, and probably getting a bit cranky. Loading everyone into a shuttle van might not be the best experience for you – or your fellow van mates. On the other hand, with a properly sized rental vehicle, the kids can doze off to sleep because they will be comfortable, and in the company of Mom and Dad. Bring along a portable DVD player, and family tranquility is assured.



When it’s time to leave Ski Country, you can probably leave the Resort a little later for the airport than the pick up time for the shuttle would allow. This is because others have to be picked up and ready to go before leaving the Resort. You may even be stopping at another resort along the way or other lodging properties, to pick up additional travelers. Good to remember, half empty vans don’t make much money for the shuttle company.





The case for taking the Ski Resort Shuttle.



The price of a shuttle is fixed, paid for 100% within your package – whereas rental vehicle have unavoidable ‘extra costs’. These additional costs, which include state, local and airport taxes / fees, can really add up … typically to 25% or more of the cost of the rental fee.



Gasoline is not cheap these days, and SUV’s are thirsty beasts. At $3.00 + per gallon, you are looking at $50 to $60 per fill up. So you have to factor this into your vacation budget. Probably looking at 2 fill ups easy, if you take even one side trip during the week.



Insurance is not really optional. It’s true, your own auto policy probably covers you when you rent a car (always check with you insurance agent before leaving home on this important point). But even so, if you do bang up the rental, you will be charged for the time your former 4 wheel friend is in the shop for repairs. This bill really adds up quickly, because the daily rate for a walk up customer is typically the fee assessed in these situations. Solution … buy the Ski Org Travel Protection Plan – which you should do anyway, and rental car insurance is included. But if you don’t buy our plan, cover the vehicle before you leave the rental location. Hint …the Travel Org protection plan is the better value – by far.



Know yourself. Some people don’t mind driving on show covered roads - might even enjoy the adventure of it. For others, this is strictly a white knuckle experience. If you live in a warm climate, and are a member of the while knuckle crowd, opt for the shuttle and leave the driving to someone who does this work everyday.



Most shuttle drivers are courteous men and woman – and some are quite knowledgeable of the resort region and can be interesting to talk to on the way to your resort. Just be sure to keep a few dollars handy for a well deserved gratuity to be presented upon arrival.



So there you have it, the basics on rental vehicle vs. shuttle van. But there is one more huge element to all this. And that is … where are you going on this vacation? Do you basically need a rental vehicle at your resort of choice – or will you be likely to just park the vehicle and not turn the key for a week? To find the answer, resort by resort … stay tuned.