Car rental and Card Perks
As a newly Minted Hertz President’s Circle Member, I received a complimentary upgrade for the week- which was half expected,
but the validation, and relief, that the status lived up to the promise was a great feeling.
Just another amazing perk of the Venture X premium rewards card that also afforded us relaxation at the Priority Pass Partner lounge and complimentary food at the airport.
Not to mention, the ability to pick whichever SUV or Truck they set aside for President Circle renters was a nice touch.
We perused the selection testing 3 vehicles before choosing one we felt confident would be a comfortable, safe,
and enjoyable ride for 4 adults during the almost 7 hours each way (with detours) to Durango, from Denver, and back.
We always check, photograph, and videotape the rental car before departure to prevent any questions when we return the car. This is a best practice if you are relying on the premium Visa Infinite line of cards, and the car rental protection provision they have. Definitely read the fine print! With this mostly effortless experience we picked up my sister and bro-in-law and started making our way west.
Colorado is a beautiful part of this earth!
The best part, a lot of the natural attractions are free or inexpensive with certain memberships (National Parks Pass, Veteran’s Perks List, or Resident). Pretty much the drive was itself an adventure and vacation. We made our way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Forest, and were not expecting what to find- sometimes less info is more, and not knowing can make things have that unpredictable spontaneity that makes life unique and memorable. A great example is The Blue Mesa Reservoir/Gunnison River! Truly incredible site to stumble upon making our choices feel more rewarding! It’s always a choice how we perceive what we are presented or confronted with. Being at peace and accepting whatever may come leads to a more fulfilling and often better outcome.
We found that we had to drive about 30 min further since there was an unexpected road closure. Part of you wants to just go around those safety cones and peak on the other side, “is it really blocked? Are they really doing road work?”, can’t say I’m that adventurous. Colorado seems to be notorious for road closures due to rock slides and other natural hazards; so for those who don’t like surprises download the COtrip app and plan ahead.
Looking out on the cliffs and outcrops, the scenery was so meaningful. Such an ancient feeling the Black Canyon gives you. One thing to note, the roads are changing elevation quite regularly and they wind quite a bit, so if you are motion sick you might want to bring one of these along. Great start to a special week!
