This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. All opinions are 100% mine.
It can be quite beautiful in the winter. So, after ensuring that the roads are safe, why not take a winter road trip? My family and I often head to Myrtle Beach or Pigeon Forge during the winter because they aren't very far away {just in case the weather does get bad} and they are vacations areas that we have been to several times, so we know the areas well.
First of all, you need to make sure that you are traveling as safely as possible. The person with the most winter driving experience should be the one driving. You can find out more about how to travel safely in the winter under the Safety Tab, at the top of the blog.
Winter Road Trip Ideas
Take A Trip Somewhere You Are Familiar With – Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach are places that we are really familiar with. Because of this, we don't have to pay so much attention to maps, road signs that we might be unfamiliar with or unusual traffic patterns. This leaves the driver more ability to concentrate on road conditions and safety.
Travel Somewhere Close – If you choose a close destination, you don't necessarily have to plan for your trip weeks in advance, especially if you take your winter road trip to an off-season destination. Hotels are less likely to be booked up in the off-season. You may also get a steep discount due to last minute cancellations. Just call before you leave to be sure.
Travel To A Family Member's Home – If you have some family that you haven't seen in a while, why not take this opportunity to go visit. If your family is willing to lodge and feed you, this could also make for a very frugal winter road trip idea.
See The Sights – A winter road trip doesn't have to last a significant amount of time. Why not load up the car with some snacks and the kids and drive around looking at all of the pretty, and perhaps snow-covered, scenery? If you live near one of the National Parks, they can be especially beautiful this time of year.
A Winter Road Trip Can Be Hard On Your Car
Winter roads are dirty. With all the salt and melted snow, your car will be a mess if your drive it around all winter. Also, driving in the winter demands a car in tip top condition. One way to get a reliable car and not have to worry about the mess is to rent a car from Enterprise.
Enterprise Plus Your Points Promotion
Right now through March 31st your points earned will double on qualifying rentals! So, that means that the more points you earn between now and the end of March equals more opportunities for free rental days. And free is always good. 🙂
All point activity is tracked through the “Plus Your Points” website. A participant must register for the “Plus Your Points” promotion in order to receive points. To enroll in the Enterprise “Plus Your Points” promotion, click here. You’ll be asked to enter your Enterprise Plus Member # upon enrollment (if you don’t yet have an Enterprise Plus Member #, you can sign-up for Enterprise Plus here: http://bit.ly/1gqnh5c
Don't worry about losing your points or not being able to use them either. With Enterprise, there are no blackout dates and, as long as you have one qualifying Enterprise rental in every two-year period, your points do not expire. Plus, there are really cool ways to earn extra points for your winter road trip. If you add a GPS unit as part of your qualifying rental you can earn 50 bonus points! Do you use Twitter? If you share the qualifying “Plus Your Points” message, then you could earn 20 bonus points and if you refer a friend into the “Plus Your Points” promotion, who subsequently rents with Enterprise at least once during the promotion earning period, you will earn 300 bonus points. All of this is conveniently tracked for you on the Enterprise Plus Your Points promotion website.
Good idea about traveling somewhere close. Winter can get to you and you want to get away. Going somewhere you kno the people or location is smart. Plan ahead and make sure you have an emergency bg packed.
Renting is a good idea. I don’t own a car – too expensive to pay for a garage in NYC. And I would love to get away, I have cabin fever already with all this snow! (And I like Enterprise’s bonus points system!)
Renting definitely sounds like a great alternative for you. 🙂
Traveling by car during the winter is one of those ideas that I get a bit nervous about because of the hazards of the weather, but I suppose if it were driving in a warmer climate it wouldn’t be such an ordeal! I definitely agree that traveling to see family would be a nice incentive during the winter months! If I were to drive for sights, I would want to rent a well-equipped winter-friendly vehicle!
We just went on a road trip up to New Hampshire. We have a condo up there, so it’s nice to get away sometimes.
Great tips! Thankfully we don’t live anywhere near snow, so we are good! 🙂
I love road trips! Going to visit friends/relatives is a great way to save money but still see someplace new.
In the winter, its difficult to travel because our road weather can change at the drop of a dime. I do have road travel experience, though, because I do short distance driving during the winter months, to surrounding cities and states. Renting is a great option sometimes. I also drive my daughter back and forth to school about an hour and a half away from home. Sometimes, staying overnight close to her school is a good winter getaway. It’s so very beautiful there.
road trips can be very fun, but it is always good to be prepared in winter!! you can’t be TOO careful!!
I love a road trip. It’s definitely a good idea to be prepared for anything in the winter and have a reliable car.
Great tips! We’ve been thinking about taking a road trip up north to see family!
I always use enterprise. Luckily I don’t live up north so I don’t have to experience harsh winters but I love renting cars because they are very reliable.
That is so funny, Hubby and I just got back from a weekend away and all we did was drive fifteen minutes downtown… we stayed in a nice hotel and just enjoyed the sites together… Great tips
The best trips don’t have to be too far away. 🙂
I enjoy taking road trips anytime of year unless it is snowing! Then I want to stay at home.
There are instances that traveling during the winter can be very difficult. So I would say that we need to make sure that the road condition is good enough for safe travel. However, I really love to the idea of winter road travel! 🙂
beautiful pictures! We will be traveling quite a distance in SEptember, wonder if they rent vans?
We always make sure we have supplies in the car in case we break down (that goes for winter and summer).
Renting a car is a great idea for road trips! I had no idea about Enterprises’s Plu s Your Points promotion. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for our next road trip!
Come to beautiful Colorado. The snow is wonderful here.
Oh I bet! I would love to visit. I have always heard that it’s a beautiful state. 🙂
My family needs a winter road trip. We have not traveled anywhere outside of GA a little bit. It would be a great idea to put the miles on a rental instead of the family car.
Great tips! I have to say, though, that I’m happy to be spending this winter at home. For the past 6 years, I commuted 130 miles a day, and those were some hairy drives in the winter! I don’t miss it!
Oh wow! That is a long way to commute! I am glad that you do not have to do that any longer.
We absolutely adore seeing winter’s sights while out for a drive. Hesitant though, to go too far on our icy highways at this time of year – yikes!
I almost rented a car for my road trip up north to Michigan for the holidays. I wanted to save wear and tear on my car, but in the end I took mine. Myrtle Beach is pretty near me too!
It is nice to be able to use a rental car for a long trip and avoid the wear and tear on your personal vehicle that is needed on a regular basis.
I just love seeing snow like this. Getting away for a few days to see it is quite nice. Luckily though we live in Southern Calif. If I was going on a road trip to the Winterlands, I would definitely rent a car and we do always try Enterprise.
I always rent a car for long trips…makes the vacation a little more exciting having a different vehicle. The kids love it!
I didn’t even think about that aspect. The new-to-you car is always great fun, too!
A winter trip sounds nice… Great advice.
Great tips for road trips. This weather is certainly making me have cabin fever and want to get on the road and go south. Of course, the south is having snow too!
North Carolina here – and we are getting ready to get pummeled according to the weather, lol.
I’ve never actually rented a car before. These are some great ideas, thanks for sharing!
I love road trips. I definitely would take one if the weather was bad! I love the idea of going somewhere close for a mini vacation! Thanks for sharing!
I rented a car once and we went to an indoor water park. A perfect winter trip.
I am not much of a road trip person. I keep my eyed on the road. My husband talks and points things out.
Checking out this post again with thoughts of spring. Spring can also have wild weather…more toward floods, thunderstorms, and tornadoes, These are things to think about for the Midwest. I was thinking it would be fun to take trips to the same places we did in winter. Check out the differences in scenery.
That’s a great idea. I have been to Myrtle Beach many times of the year and love it. I should try that with more destinations.