I am a big fan of taking day trips when I travel. Whether it is to visit a vineyard or a unique farm, it gives you perspective beyond the classic city trip. The challenging part is that many of these locations need to be reached by car, especially in the United States. However, a car rental during a city trip can be quite a burden, especially when you factor the exorbitant cost of hotel parking or risks of parking tickets. When Enterprise CarShare approached me to try their program in DC, I was in! I decided to take a day trip to Leesburg, VA to catch up on some shopping and check out some restaurants.
Signing Up: Signing up for Enterprise CarShare is quite easy. It takes a few minutes online and it requires a valid driver’s license and credit card. It takes a few weeks to get approved and get the membership card in the mail so make sure to plan ahead.
The Pick Up: There were plenty of places to pick up my Enterprise CarShare car in DC. I was delighted to find a pick up spot walking distance from my house. This pick up location was also adjacent to the metro station (extra points). I picked a Nissan Versa as it is a small car and easy to navigate. Opening the car with the membership card was easy. One small hiccup was the scent of cigarettes as I entered the car (Enterprise CarShare has a strict no smoking policy). I called the customer service number, which connected me to human quite rapidly to report the issue as you can be charged an extra fee if the smoking in the car is traced back to you. She was very friendly and annotated my complaint on the file.
The Day Trip: I love going to Loudoun County for day trips. It’s part of the Virginia wine region with plenty to see and do. This time I headed to Leesburg, a small town an hour drive from DC. There, you have the best of all worlds with vineyards, shopping, and of course, good food. I started with lunch at Shoes Cup and Cork, a quaint café located in Historic Downtown Leesburg. After lunch, I walked off my cobb salad and pecan pie at the Leesburg Premium Outlets. I always recommend these outlets to my out of town friends given its great selection of shops. One of my faves: Saks Off the Fifth, the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet with some fabulous designer finds at great prices. To end the day, I headed to Lansdowne Resort and Spa where I toured their gorgeous spa (wish I would’ve had time to book an appointment) and dined at their new restaurant Coton & Rye. No better way to start fall season than to have their hearty turkey pot pie. Dining Traveler Tip: another great stop in Leesburg is Stone Tower Winery. This gorgeous winery has two tasting rooms and plenty of great wine!
The Drop Off: If you’re headed to Northern Virginia for a day trip during a weekday, make sure to factor in traffic as it could get pretty bad in the evening rush hour. Given I was running late, I changed my return time on my Enterprise CarShare app so I wouldn’t be charged extra. Returning the car was quite easy: you place the key on a special slot in the glove compartment and there’s no need to refill with gas (unless you go under ¼ tank).
The Verdict: For $44 for a 6-hour rental, I think Enterprise CarShare is a great deal. Pros: there are plenty of choices for pick up, don’t have to deal with gas, and none of the hassle of an airport car rental. I will definitely be booking a car from Enterprise CarShare. If you’re interested in trying it out, click here for special deals in your area and a $20 dollar credit.
