High-rise buildings in downtown Calgary (Photo: Madhu Madhavan via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Earlier this year, a new report found that parking in downtown Calgary is more expensive than in any other Canadian city. And while this is unlikely to be news to those who live there, for more transient visitors the hefty prices are likely to come as a real shock. But fear not, as we’ve done the research so you don’t need to and come up with the best tips on how to find affordable parking – for anything from overnight all the way through to several months – in downtown.

As with pretty much all cities, the options for short-term parking in downtown Calgary mainly come down to metred street parking or off-street lots and garages. There are a large number of metered street spaces available, with prices starting at CA$0.25 cents per hour, rising to almost CA$4 per hour, depending on the area. Alternatively, if you prefer the security of off-street covered parking, there are several lots and garages dotted across downtown. Our number one pick is a garage located at the Watermark Tower, steps away from Bankers Hall, where you’ll pay CA$6 per hour with a daily maximum charge of CA$19.05. Another garage we’d recommend is situated within the CORE shopping mall, which charges $6 per hour and a daily maximum of $45.

You can book both garages on Spothero.com, as well as at several other parking lots in downtown Calgary.

Free parking in downtown Calgary

Calgary Parking Authority offer free street parking after 6pm daily and all day Sundays and public holidays. You can also shop and get three hours of free validated parking at The CORE Shopping Centre, while at Banker’s Hall you can park overnight for just CA$2, and at the Bow Parkade behind Hudson’s Bay for $3 for evening and weekend overnight parking. Alternatively, while not free, if you want to park off-street, you can get 50% off Fridays after 11am every week at several authority-run downtown garages and lots.

Long-stay parking in downtown Calgary

If you’re staying in Calgary for a longer period but don’t have any private parking at your hotel, you may want to think about finding a long-term parking spot to save you searching for metred street parking each day or paying hefty day rates at a garage. So, for example, at Calgary Tower Parkade, located on the southern borders of downtown, day rates start at CA$13, but monthly rates are upwards of CA$130 – representing a saving of almost $10 per day compared with paying for individual days for an entire month.

For the best parking rates in downtown Calgary, go to Spothero.com.

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San Jose, Costa Rica (Photo: Domenico Convertini via FLickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

When choosing a vehicle, renters should be aware that not all the roads are in perfect condition, especially the ones leading to remote AirBnbs. And when it rains, it really rains. For extra security, you might want to choose a 4×4 or a SUV.

To determine which rental car companies offer the best vehicles across our three categories (Most Affordable, Best for Luxury, Best for Minivans), TravelMag.com carefully researched prices, availability, policies and customer reviews of the car rental companies operating out of SJO. Here are our findings:

Most Affordable: Keddy

If you’re in the market for cheap car rentals, Keddy, the budget brand owned by Europcar, has the cheapest rates at SJO airport. Keddy’s fleet runs the full range from compact cars to family cars and large sedans. Their cheapest rentals are the Chevrolet Aveo, Cavalier and Trax that are all available for under $100 per day. Overall, Keddy scores an acceptable 6.1/10 on popular car rental website rentalcars.com with many people praising the cleanliness of the cars and the friendliness of the staff. Equally, there is some criticism of the lengthy pick-up and drop-off times. If these negative comments put you off, then we’d recommend Alamo that not only has a fine selection of cars, but also receives some of the best customer feedback on social media platforms.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Luxury: Sixt

Known globally for its great customer service and premium vehicles, Sixt doesn’t disappoint in San Jose and is undoubtedly the local champion in this category. With a number of top of the range Mitsubishis and BMWs, Sixt has plenty of variety in its range. As is often the case, Sixt’s vehicles are not cheap, but if you rent through rentalcars.com, the deal includes a collision damage waiver, theft protection and third party liability in the base price. And in a country with some tricky roads to navigate, extra security is another reason to choose Sixt.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Minivans: Keddy

We only found one company at SJO offering a bonafide minivan and that’s Keddy. Keddy’s Hyundai H1 is a reliable, 12-seater vehicle that at $150 per day offers excellent value for money. Keddy’s base rate includes unlimited mileage and third party insurance that includes theft. In addition, for just $3 per day (plus VAT), child and infant seats are available for rent. In order to access Keddy’s counter, you will have to board the shuttle bus just outside the airport terminal.

Book at RentalCars.com

The post Car Rental at San Jose International Airport: The Best Companies appeared first on TravelMag.

A view over downtown Philadelphia (Photo: Reading Tom via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Philadelphia is a highly walkable city. And sometimes, hopping on the SEPTA transit system, riding your bike, or traversing by foot makes the most sense. But for the rest of the time, a guide to parking is essential. The options for short-term parking in downtown Philadelphia mainly come down to metred street parking or off-street lots and garages. There are a large number of metered spaces available, priced at $1.50 per hour with a limit of four hours.

Alternatively, if you prefer the security of off-street covered parking, there are several lots and garages operated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which are, in general, cheaper than private lots. These are all in or near Center City, City Hall, the Convention Center, the Fashion District, Independence Mall, Old City, and the Parkway museums. Our number one pick is the Parkade at 8th near City Hall, where you’ll pay $14 up to one hour, with a daily maximum charge of $29. Another garage we’d recommend is the Autopark at Independence Mall, which is slightly cheaper at $12 per hour and $27 per day.

You can book both garages on Spothero.com, as well as at several other parking lots in downtown Philadelphia.

Free parking in downtown Philadelphia

In many downtown neighbourhoods, you can park in a streetside metred spaces for free overnight after either 8pm or 10pm. Just be sure not to forget to move your car the next morning. Additionally, there is limited free parking on certain streets, including near Rittenhouse Square on Locust Street and Spruce Street, as well as near Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Chestnut Street. Once again, it’s always advisable to peep an eye on the parking signboards to ensure you don’t violate time limits and regulations.

Long-stay parking in downtown Philadelphia

If you’re staying in Philadelphia for more than a few days, but don’t have any private parking at your choice of accommodation, you may want to consider finding a long-term parking spot, rather than going on the hunt for metred street parking each day or paying through the nose for garage day rates. So, for example, at McKinney Place Garage on Main Street, day rates are $14, but monthly rates start at just $130 – representing a saving of over $10 per day compared with paying for individual days for an entire month.

For the best parking rates in downtown Philadelphia, go to Spothero.com.

The post Where to Find Parking in Downtown Philadelphia appeared first on TravelMag.

A car park at Orlando Airport (Photo: Josh Hallett via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Situated 6 miles southeast of downtown, Orlando International Airport is the state of Florida’s busiest airport hub. The daily rates for parking at the airport start at $10 per day, and long term parking rates start at $133 per week, with a maximum stay of 45 days. However, by using an off-airport parking lot, you can often save an impressive 40-60% on official parking rates at MOC. We’ve picked out three such parking options, all of which we recommend booking via Spothero.com, where you’ll always find the cheapest deals.

Marriott Lakeside

Located on the site of a hotel, this is one of the cheapest parking lots near Orlando Airport, It offers uncovered short or long term parking near the airport for rates starting at just $5.47 per day. Open 24/7, there’s a free shuttle service that runs throughout the day and night to take customers and their luggage directly to the airport just over a mile away. On-site staff are also on hand at all times to help with any enquiries. At this facility, you have up until the minute your reservation begins to cancel your parking for a full refund.

Book at Spothero

Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel

Another car park positioned on hotel grounds, this facility is ideal for those who want the convenience of having their car parked for them, with uncovered valet parking available for rates of $6.74 per day and upwards. Open 24/7, a complimentary shuttle bus transports car owners on the 1.5-mile journey to the airport, which usually takes around 5 minutes depending on traffic, with departures every 30 minutes. You can get all your money back if you cancel your booking prior to the reservation time commencing.

Book at Spothero

Park Bark and Fly

Our final recommendation is this facility, which can be found 2.5 miles from the airport and offers uncovered self-parking for daily rates starting at $8.58. A free shuttle service is available on demand, 24/7, and takes customers to the airport terminals in around 4 minutes. On-site staff are available to help customers at all times. As with our previous suggestions, you have up until the minute your reservation starts to cancel your parking for 100% of your money back.

Book at Spothero

The post Short or Long Term Parking at Orlando Airport: Best 3 spots appeared first on TravelMag.

A busy day on the tarmac at San Diego Airport (Photo: Steve Knight via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Located three miles northwest of the city’s downtown district, San Diego International Airport is the world’s busiest single-runway airport. The cheapest parking rates can be found at Terminal 2, with the daily rates for parking at the terminal’s Parking Plaza starting at $32 per day, while long term parking rates start at $140 per week. However, by using an off-airport parking lot, you can often save up to 60% on official airport rates. We’ve selected three of these parking options, all of which we recommend booking via Spothero.com, where you’ll always find the cheapest deals.

Fox Auto Parks

Situated just over half-a-mile from the airport, this is the closest car park to the airport on our list. It offers short of long term parking near San Diego Airport for rates starting at $14.28 per day. There’s also a free shuttle on demand that runs between 5am and 12am every day of the week, while the facility itself is open from 4am to 12.30am daily. On-site staff are available during opening hours and you have up until the minute your reservation begins to cancel and still get a full refund.

Book at Spothero

Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina

On the grounds of an upscale Sheraton hotel just over a mile from the airport, this car park offers uncovered self-parking for rates of $14.75 and upwards. Open 24/7, there are on-site staff available at all times and a free shuttle service that transports customers to and from the airport from 5am to 12am daily, with a journey time of around three minutes. As with our previous recommendations, at this facility, you can cancel your booking up to the minute the reservation starts and still get all your money back.

Book at Spothero

Laurel Airport Parking

If you’re willing to stump up for the convenience of having someone park your car for you, together with the security of leaving your vehicle undercover, this facility could be for you. Positioned just under a mile from the airport, it offers covered valet parking for rates starting at $24 per day. So to say it is one of the cheapest parking lots near the airport would be untrue, but the advantages are clear. The parking lot also offers a complimentary shuttle service that runs all day, every day, and the facility is open all hours, too. For a full refund, simply cancel your booking before your reservation time begins.

Book at Spothero

The post Short or Long Term Parking at San Diego Airport: Top 3 spots appeared first on TravelMag.

Liberia Airport (Photo_: flip.and.serena via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

For those people looking to rent a vehicle, the car rental desks are handily situated within the terminal building. After clearing immigrations, it’s just a short walk to the counters that are next to the baggage claim area. From here, each car rental company offers a shuttle services to their respective pick-up locations.

To determine which rental car companies offer the best vehicles across our three categories (Most Affordable, Best for Luxury, Best for Minivans), TravelMag.com carefully researched prices, availability, policies and customer reviews of the 12 car rental companies operating out of LIR. Here are our findings:

The Most Affordable: Easy Car

Whether it’s a big family school holiday or a romantic getaway, Easy Car will probably have a vehicle to suit your needs and budget. At Liberia Airport, they not only had compact cars like the Nissan Tilda and the Toyota Yaris but also SUVs like the Toyota Prado on our selected dates. Their cheapest options start off at $60 per day with unlimited mileage and, if booked through rentalcars.com, a free cancellation policy up to 48hrs before pick up. But what really impressed us most about Easy Car, and the reason it was selected as the best in this category, was the sheer quantity of positive reviews it received from the start of their operations to present day.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Luxury: Sixt

Sixt took the prize for the best car rental company for luxury travellers at LIR. Its luxury fleet consists of the latest models from BMW, Geely, Mitsubishi and the icing on the cake, a Maserati Levante, – all things considered, lovers of premium cars have plenty of choice. Sixt also had the best customer rating on both rentalcars.com and Google with a score of 9.1/10 on the former and 4.9/5 on the latter. To pick up the car rental, Sixt provides a free shuttle that takes passengers to their branch located 500 metres from the terminal entrance.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best of Minivans: amiGO Rental Car

Visitors looking to take the family on a road trip should look no further than amiGo Rental Car (take note, it’s purposefully spelt amiGO). Amongst its rental fleet, amiGO has several types of SUVs, 5 and 7-seater vans and a couple of 12-seaters like the Toyota Hiace and the impressive Hyundai H1. Apart from their office at LIR airport, AmiGO has branches in San Jose and Tamarindo on the Pacific Coast, so if you’re planning a long road trip there are several locations where you can drop the vehicle off. As is common practice in this part of the world, renters who have pre-booked will be met outside Customs by a rep holding a sign with the company and renters name on it.

Book at RentalCars.com

The post Car Rental at Liberia International Airport: The Best Companies appeared first on TravelMag.

(Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines)

Direct flights depart daily from Honolulu bound for the United States’ best-known cities, including Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. There’s only one airport on the island, the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), which is also the largest airport in the entire State of Hawaii. There’s a wide range of options for travellers to choose from, but prices vary considerably depending on the airline carrier, the time of year and the destination. We’ve analysed the best direct flight options between Honolulu and the United States, taking into consideration prices, departure times, onboard facilities and amenities, and customer reviews. There are hundreds of indirect flights to choose from too, but given the environmental implications – not to mention the inconvenience – we’ve omitted these from our list. 

Hawaiian Airlines 

Hawaiian Airlines offers direct flights to 15 major US cities, including Chicago, San Jose, Austin, San Francisco and Oakland. This makes it the best option for travellers hoping to fly directly to destinations beyond NYC and LA. Tickets tend to be a little more expensive than competitors, though prices currently include a no-fee change. There are four tickets to choose from Main Basic, Main Cabin, Main Refundable and First Class. Passengers in all classes are entitled to an island-inspired cooked meal, in-flight entertainment with the latest blockbusters and Pau Hana cart snacks for an additional fee. The airline is renowned for its Hawaiian hospitality and ranks highly with customers too. 

Book at HawaiianAirlines.com 

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines frequently ranks as one of the best airlines in the country, making it a top choice for travellers who prioritize comfort and reliability. The airline offers direct flights to a handful of major cities on the West Coast, including Ancorage, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Flight times depend on the destination, but rarely exceed six hours. There are three classes of tickets to choose from: economy, premium and first-class. In economy, passengers receive complimentary non-alcoholic drinks but will need to pay for meals and snacks, while in first-class passengers can enjoy complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and food. The airline doesn’t offer seatback entertainment, though you can stream movies from your own device. Unlike most U.S.-based airlines, Alaska doesn’t offer any lie-flat seating even in first class. 

Book at AlaskaAir.com

(Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines)

American Airlines 

American Airlines offers direct flights from Honolulu to Los Angeles, Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth. Flights tend to depart late in the evening and arrive early in the morning: a good option for those looking to maximise their holiday days. Depending on the time of year, passengers can choose from three types of ticket: economy, premium economy and business class. First class is not available on any non-stop route. Tickets are reasonably priced, but passengers will need to pay extra for checked bags. The most basic ticket still gives passengers the opportunity to choose their own seat – a rarity on most airlines. All flights offer complimentary seatback entertainment, as well as onboard WiFi for an extra fee. 

Book at AmericanAirlines.com

Delta Airlines 

Delta Airlines currently operates direct flights from Honolulu to eight cities across the United States: Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Detroit, Atlanta, New York and Boston. Prices tend to linger around the same as those offered by American Airlines, though they do vary depending on the time of year you’re travelling. Passengers travelling in the main cabin can expect free snacks and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks All flights include in-flight entertainment and hourly and daily WiFi plans. T-mobile customers can enjoy one-hour free WiFi too. For the first time, Delta passengers flying from Hawaii to New York can enjoy Delta Premium Select services too, which include noise-cancelling headphones, a memory foam pillow and a deeper recline seat. 

Book at Delta.com

(Photo: American Airlines)

United Airlines 

United Airlines offers direct flights from Honolulu to 16 US cities, making it the best option for travellers who are flexible on US destinations. Prices are some of the cheapest we’ve found online too, with some routes available for little more than $100. There are five types of tickets available: Basic Economy, Economy, Economy Plus and Business. Unsurprisingly, Business is best for those who are happy to pay a premium for added comfort. You’ll need to pay for checked bags but you can bring a carry-on bag for free. Seats are assigned and changes are not permitted. Economy Plus offers most of the same amenities as Economy, with extra legroom. 

Book at United.com

The post Where to Book Direct Flights to Honolulu appeared first on TravelMag.

Sunrise at Buffalo Airport (Josh Hallett via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Located about 11 miles east of Downtown Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the third-busiest airport in New York state. The daily rates for parking at Buffalo Airport can be anything up to $28 per day, and long-term parking rates start at around $100 per week. However, by parking near Buffalo airport at an off-airport facility you’re likely to save an impressive 40-60% on airport rates. We’ve picked out 3 of the best options for short or long-term parking near Buffalo Airport. Where possible, we recommend booking these via Spothero.com, where you’ll always find the cheapest rates.

Sleep Inn & Suites

Situated just over half-a-mile from the airport, this facility  offers  uncovered self-parking for rates starting at just $4 per day – and is one of the cheapest parking lots near Buffalo airport on this list. Customers can also make use of a free shuttle service that runs to and from the airport from 6am to 12am daily, departing every 25-30 minutes and with a journey time of just a couple of minutes. The facility is open 24/7 and you have up until the minute your reservation begins to cancel your parking for a full refund.

Book at Spothero

Buffalo Airport Hotel

Just slightly further away at 0.7 miles is another hotel parking facility, where you’ll pay rates starting at $6 per day for uncovered self-parking. The shuttle service is pretty much the same as our first suggestion, too, running every 25-30 minutes between 6am and 12am every day of the week. The journey time is just a couple of minutes, too, thanks to the car park’s close proximity to the airport. You can cancel your reservation up to the moment your booking begins and still get all your money back.

Book at Spothero

Quality Inn

Under half-a-mile away, this parking lot is the most conveniently located of our three picks for cheap parking at Buffalo airport. Uncovered self parking starts at rates of $8.50 per day and, once again, the complimentary shuttle service here runs every 25-30 minutes from 5am to 12am midweek, with a journey time of just minutes. The parking facility is open all day, every day. Bookings are 100% cancellable up to the moment your reservation starts.

Book at Spothero

The post Short or Long Term Parking at Buffalo Airport – Top 3 spots appeared first on TravelMag.

Nicaragua (Photo: Cordelia Persen via Flickr / CC B 2.0)

Picking up a car rental at MGA couldn’t be easier with a total of 14 car rental companies on site and only a short walk from the arrivals area. It’s worth noting that while some car rental agencies offer 24h services, most of them are open from 5am to 9pm.

To determine which rental car companies offer the best vehicles across our three categories (Most Affordable, Best for Luxury, Best for Minivans), TravelMag.com carefully researched prices, availability, policies and customer reviews of the car rental companies operating out of MGA. Here are our findings:

Most Affordable: Sixt

Not normally known as the most economical option, Sixt managed to fill our the top five cheapest rates at MGA on our chosen dates. Amongst its most economical options, it has the Hyundai Eon and Chevrolet Aveo, as well as a Suzuki Jimny – a versatile 4×4 that’s well suited to Nicaragua’s bumpier roads. Some reviewers complained about rather long queues when picking up their vehicles at the airport. However, in general, users were complimentary about their experience with many customers highlighting the cleanliness and the condition of its vehicles.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Luxury: Sixt

Considering the country’s stunning coastline, colonial cities and abundant wildlife, you’d think that there would be plenty of suitable vehicles for rent to explore Nicaragua. Unfortunately, Nicaragua is a country that suffers from above average crime rates and, as is the case in many parts of Central America, a certain amount of caution has to be taken when driving luxury vehicles. This may help explain why we found so few premium cars for rent on rentalcars.com. The best of a relatively uninspiring selection was with Sixt who rent out the Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prado and the Haval H2, an SUV that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Audi Q5 and as a result, is commonly referred to as the Chinese Audi.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Minivans: Avis

In a similar way luxury cars can attract unnecessary attention, we can only assume minivans have the same effect. Avis does, however, have a few options for large families or groups of travellers. On the dates we selected, they had the 8-seater Suzuki APV and the 15-seater Toyota Hiace, both of which were being rented out at under $200 per day. Avis also comes with consistently excellent customer reviews and if that’s not reason enough to select them, their rental desk is open 24 hours a day throughout the whole week.

Book at RentalCars.com

The post Car Rental at Managua Airport: The Best Companies appeared first on TravelMag.

Photo: Meritt Thomas / Unplash

Being a relatively small airport, BZE is easy to get around. For anyone looking to hire a car, the rental companies can be found just outside the main terminal in the car service building across from the parking lot.

To determine which car rental companies offer the best vehicles across our three categories (Most Affordable, Best for Luxury, Best for Minivans), TravelMag.com carefully researched prices, availability, policies and customer reviews of the 8 car rental companies operating out of BZE. Here are our findings:

Most affordable: Avis

For the ‘Most Affordable’ category, we found Avis to have the best choice of cheap car rentals, although Alamo comes in a close second. Throughout the European summer, Avis rents out the popular Hyundai I10 for under $65 per day and for a mere $10 more, the larger, and more powerful Hyundai Tucson. Avis receives great customer feedback for its speediness in handling drop-offs and pick-ups, the helpfulness of the staff and at this particular branch, the ease in finding its counter. During the high season, we’d recommend you make your reservation a month or so before your arrival. Belize has a limited amount of rental cars available so prices tend to increase across all agencies. Notwithstanding, even in high season, daily rentals of the most economical cars are rarely outside the $65-$80 price range.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Luxury cars: Hertz
Picking the best rental car agency in the luxurious category depends slightly on your car of preference. The Hertz selection at Belize’s airport consists mainly of Japanese and American cars. Amongst its fleet, they have the Toyota Prado and the impressive Ford Everest. Hertz also rents out smaller, cars like the Nissan Kicks, a subcompact SUV that performs as well in the deep countryside as it does in the city. With a good selection of vehicles and its renowned customer service, it’s no surprise to find Hertz topping user feedback ratings across multiple online platforms.

Book at RentalCars.com

Best for Minivans: Hertz

For security reasons, travelling in buses is often discouraged in Belize and even on relatively safe routes, buses follow a predetermined route. Renting a vehicle, therefore, not only allows you added security but also the chance to move freely. In Belize, the most popular tourist attractions are the Mayan ruins and historical landmarks like the Altun Ha. For those people travelling in large groups, the only agency we found renting out minivans was Hertz. On our researched dates, it had the reliable and roomy, 9-seater Volkswagen Multivan available at $160 per day.

Book at RentalCars.com

The post Car Rental at Belize Airport: The Best Companies appeared first on TravelMag.