Summer is quickly approaching, and you know what that means? Road trips! Here are a few awesome road trip movies you can watch to get yourself pumped for your summer adventures while you are waiting for that last bit of cold to fade away.
Easy Rider – Mexico and the United States
This 1969 classic stars Peter Fonda and the late, great Dennis Hopper as two hippie bikers who smuggle contraband across the Mexican border and into the United States. Along the way they bump into all sorts of interesting characters portrayed by an all star cast including Jack Nicholson, Phil Spector, and even Toni Basil (as in “Hey Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind. Hey, Mickey!”) Wyatt, aka Captain America (played by Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) face a variety of obstacles on their way to Louisiana, and are judged as good-for-nothing long-hairs wherever they go. This leads to some surprisingly meaningful dialogue, much of which was improvised by the actors. Despite its tragic ending, you cannot help but be overcome by wanderlust after viewing this film. Plus, it offers up a spectacular road trip soundtrack which includes The Band, Steppenwolf, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, The Moody Blues, Jefferson Airplane and Bob Dylan, just to name a few. Book a cheap car rental in Mexico for the first part of your journey, but please refrain from transporting illegal substances.
The Motorcycle Diaries – South America
This film based on Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s memoirs catapulted the dreamy Gael Garcia Bernal into international stardom. The Motorcycle Diaries tells the story of the young revolutionary’s trek across South America in what was part adventure and part coming of age. While still enrolled in medical school, Che and his friend Alberto Granado, the biochemist, head toward Peru to work in a leper colony. During their journey, they travel through Buenos Aries, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, and even Miami, discovering the Andes, the Amazon and the desert. The people they meet along the way greatly influence the story. The men meet miners forced to work in poor conditions, a couple who has lost everything they owned due solely to the fact that they were communists, and rural peoples living in extreme poverty. The world’s injustices ignite a spark in the young doctor, thus creating the Che Guevara the world would later come to know. Watching this film (or reading the book) may inspire you to explore the ever growing world of “voluntourism” and do some good while you’re abroad.
Lord of the Rings – New Zealand
Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly a “road trip” movie, but they sure do embark on a mighty journey! Really, I look for any excuse to bring up Lord of the Rings, and New Zealand might possibly be the most beautiful place on the planet, so let me have this one, eh? With a cheap car rental in New Zealand, you will be able to follow in the steps of Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pip along both the north and south islands. A trek through the Waikato area is a must. These lush, rolling hills were transformed into the Shire, and as they are currently filming part two of The Hobbit, if you visit this year you will be able to see Hobbiton in full swing. While you are on the north island, you will also want to drive through Tongariro National Park, home to “Mount Doom.” Don’t worry, the park is not guarded by nasty Orcs, and as far as we know, they’re not forging any evil rings in the fires of Mount Ruapehu, the parks’ active volcano.
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure – United States
I must have watched this movie a million times or more growing up. Super team Tim Burton and Danny Elfman directed and scored this cult classic respectively. When Pee Wee’s bicycle is stolen, he seeks the help of Madame Ruby, a local psychic. She informs him that his bike is being kept in the basement of the Alamo. Thus begins his big adventure. When his bike doesn’t turn up in San Antonio, he seeks refuge in a local biker bar. Chances are, even if you haven’t seen this film, you know all about this scene, where Pee Wee’s dance to Tequila wins over the bar’s patrons. His new friends give him a motorcycle, which ends him up in the hospital pretty promptly. While he is there, he catches a glimpse of his bike on the television. Apparently it’s being used in a big Hollywood production, so off to California he goes. You will find yourself repeating some of the film’s best lines for the duration of your road trip. “And knitting… and knitting… and knitting.” “I know you are, but what am I?!” “Au Revoir, Simone!” and of course, “Tell ‘em Large Marge sent ya!” Oh, and don’t forget to throw The Champs’ Tequila on your road mix.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Australia
Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings, V for Vendetta), Guy Pearce (Momento, The King’s Speech) and Terence Stamp (Star Wars, Valkyrie) star as three drag queens who travel across the Outback in Priscilla (their tour bus) after Mitzi Del Bra (Weaving) is offered a show in the remote town of Alice Springs. Taking off from Sydney, the trio embarks on a journey that is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Of course, summer in the United States means its winter Down Under, but don’t let that keep you from booking your cheap car rental in Australia. Winter in Sydney isn’t nearly as chilly as say, the American northeast. You will still be able to comfortably travel by rental car or on foot and enjoy the desert, national parks, botanical gardens, and even harbor cruises.
These are just a few of the movies that are certain to give you the travel bug, so call Kemwel or book your cheap car rental online today!
Leasing a car is an oft overlooked opportunity for travelers planning an extended stay overseas. The minimum amount of time you can lease for with Kemwel is 17 days, and if you need a car for over a month you can see significant savings. Leases are particularly effective when originating in France. Kemwel uses the French car manufacturer Peugeot for its leases and there is no cost for delivery inside France. Peugeot has been producing quality automobiles since 1891 and they have a loyal following. Much of Kemwel’s leasing business comes from repeat customers.
For those that have never leased before the process can seem daunting. In actuality, all that is involved is ten minutes of your time to fill out some paperwork. The Peugeot lease program includes insurance and the price that you are quoted is truly the bottom line. The program is tax free (yes, you are reading that correctly) so you won’t be surprised by any extras at pick up. Peugeot will deliver to many major cities in western Europe but there are extra fees for delivery and collection charges for leases outside of France.
Another reason people love to lease is that you receive a brand new vehicle right off the factory floor. There is nothing quite like that new car smell, after all. Peugeots come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, now including the Peugeot 5008, which is a crossover vehicle or compact MPV. Whatever your needs are Peugeot and Kemwel can make your extended stay convenient and comfortable.
To lease a Peugeot in Europe, contact us today!
There are plenty of things that we all seem to know about, but don’t really understand. I can tell you that E=mc² is the equation for the relationship between mass and energy but if you asked me to explain it…well, that might be a bit of a problem. Fortunately, there is one head-scratcher that I can shed some light on: the ever perplexing Collision Damage Waiver.
The simple explanation? It is a waiver of the car rental company’s right to make the renter pay for all damage to the vehicle. Since that description doesn’t really make it clear why you need it, what it does or how to get it, let’s take a closer look.
- Why you need Collision Damage Waiver Pretty simply, CDW is required for any person renting a vehicle within Europe and many other parts of the world. Without this waiver you would be responsible for any and all damage to the rental vehicle. This includes everything from the smallest scratch to a more serious accident.
- What Collision Damage Waiver does for you In the event of damage to the vehicle, CDW will reduce your financial responsibility. As an example, if you have CDW with a deductible of $500 and you are involved in an accident where there is $2,000 worth of damage, you are only responsible to pay $500. The rental company will cover the remaining cost. Should the damage equal a total less than your deductible, you are only responsible for the amount owed.
- How to obtain Collision Damage Waiver When renting a vehicle with Kemwel, there are three different options; First, you can check with your major credit card company to see if they offer coverage to the country in which you are picking up the vehicle. Most notably, car rentals in Ireland are rarely covered. Secondly, Kemwel offers an all-inclusive price on all vehicles that provides CDW and Theft Protection from the rental company at a low cost. Lastly, you may purchase CDW from the rental counter directly, though this tends to be the most costly option.
Still have questions? Feel free to leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer!
If you’re in the planning stages of your next vacation, this might be a spot that you’re stuck on: should you get travel insurance? You may be tempted to say no in order to save a bit of money. Though millions of people travel every year without incident, insurance is for the very things you don’t expect to happen. Here are a few points to help you make a decision. Since accidents can happen, it is important to have a plan in place. If you or your travel companions are involved in a medical emergency, your health insurance may not cover expenses from abroad and you could find yourself with a hefty bill that is unavoidable.
A car rental with Kemwel is fully refundable at any time, but there are many flights and hotels that will include cancellation restrictions. If for any reason you need to cancel your trip (a family illness or emergency change of plans), you could lose the prepaid deposits on travel purchases. Other instances include; Emergency evacuation, return of a minor child, trip interruption, or delayed departure. Travel insurance is a great way to guard against these unforeseen circumstances. On average, you’ll be looking at spending around five to seven percent of the total cost of your vacation for most travel insurances.
When determining if travel insurance is worth it, it’s important to remember that any lost deposits or prepayments will be in addition to the cost of the emergency. The peace of mind that comes with travel insurance is usually worth the extra cost alone, especially for your vacation!
These days, we are all looking for way to keep a budget and it can seem as though we are getting less than what we’re paying for. Recent news has detailed travelers taking shorter vacations to cut costs, but with a little effort you can find deals that you don’t have to sacrifice for.
With saving money in mind, it’s important to remember that you can find more for less if you’re on the lookout. Here are just a few examples:
- Look for hotels offer incentives for longer stays, ie. ‘Book 4 nights, get the 5th free!’
- Car rental rates are often the same for 5 – 7 days, letting you enjoy your vehicle for longer
- Skip using your frequent flyer miles for a free seat and use them towards an upgrade – there is generally more availability and your vacation will start right there on the plane
The best way to make your dollar stretch farther is to research a vacation and all of your options thoroughly. Try looking at it from a completely different angle to see how altering one detail can make a huge difference. Flying into London? Take a moment to compare both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save when you get creative.
How do you make every dollar count on vacation? Let us know!
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