Get the wheel deal in America

Tourists are heading out for the open roads of America in ever-increasing numbers, and brandishing broad smiles on their faces.

There are more than 10.4 million kk of paved roads in the USA to explore and everything from Harley Davidson hogs and Cadillac Coupe de Villes, to RVs the size of small villages and open-top Mustangs  up for grabs.

And the deals on wheels are plentiful, many rides idling at about the cost of a back-to-basics hotel room.

The USA is a veritable smorgasbord for roadies, offering up rental cars of every size, shape and description.

If it's got wheels, you'll find some outfit that's willing to rent it to you. And the prices have never - ever been more seductive.

Bargain hunting can land a person a basic four-door automobile, with unlimited mileage and collision damage waivers these days that idles around as little as $US33 daily. Or a sweet-suite on wheels in a Recreational Vehicle (RV for the uneducated) for about $US100 daily.

What the heck, Hire a HUMMER.

With value-added and seductive offers from rental outfits that oftentimes include unlimited mileage and collision damage,  tourists are honking their horns loudly.

Oh, by the way, "gas" is measured in the US by Imperial gallons, and at last look at the gas pump, the cost was still idling around 50 per cent cheaper than anywhere we can buy the good juice here.

Putting a high-octane-tiger in your tank is still exceptional value in the USA.

Despite the fact that the Yanks drive on the wrong side of the road, it's a lot easier than it used to be to discover the country by two-lane blacktop.

Little niceties like GPS gadgets have reduced domestic squabbles to a mere trickle and freed up thousands of shotgun-seat navigators. The loved one who spent most of their holiday buried deep in the road map has been fully liberated to look at the scenery.

We still adhere to the notion that you need to occasionally hide the GPS in the glove box, and pretend to be hopelessly lost: this way you can enjoy the locals and they'll love trying to set you on the right path, or give you the inside-skinny on what's best up ahead, or just around the fork in the road.

The place was created for cars, or Harley Davidsons or Handsome Recreational Vehicles.  The roads are as smooth as a baby's buttocks, well sign-posted and the locals will absolutely love ya.'

A few dos and don'ts to renting a ride in the great USA:

* Don't hire your wheels, or get behind the wheel on the very first day you land in the USA. Give it a day so you can get used to looking the other way when crossing the road before getting behind the wheel.

* Do make sure you carry comprehensive travel insurance. The medical care you'll enjoy if you need it is the best anywhere but you'll be expected to pay one arm, one leg and other appendages to get it unless you have handsome health coverage.

* Do engage the locals whenever possible. Even if you know exactly where you are, fake it.

* Do make sure you have a valid driver's licence before you light-out, good for at least six months before needing a renewal.

* Do make sure you've got a valid credit card, with sufficient credit limit on board to cover off the excess fee if you have a prang. Expired cards or EFPOS cards don't work.

* Don't drink and drive! This goes without saying but there, we've said it anyway.

* Check with your rental outfit to see if they boast any age restrictions to your renting wheels. Some companies have a 21 and over policy, others are more flexible.

* Don't ever-ever-ever pop across the border into Mexico with a rental car or RV UNLESS you've been given a clear green light to do so by the rental outfit.

* Do stop solid when you see a yellow school bus with its flashers flashing; in any direction you're travelling, put your foot on the break and stop progress in full. In the USA, kids getting off school buses cross the road in front of the bus, and you'll be hung from the highest tree if you violate this legislation.

* Do 'STOP!' at stop signs. By law, the stop sign means just that! "Stop and Break the full forward momentum of the car." If you roll-through the Stop signs, get ready for the Smokeys who'd love to have you add to their policemen's retirement fund with a fat fine for this category.

- AAP