Tempting travelers who might want to fly rather than drive, agencies like Avis, Enterprise and Hertz are offering special deals in which rates are cut by as much as 50 percent.One way rental-car companies make up for the cost difference is by selling you insurance coverage you might not really need.

"Many times, purchasing full rental insurance is unnecessary," said Cathy Lewis, MetLife Auto & Home's National Rental Coordinator in a release from MetLife.

"A rental vehicle used on vacation qualifies as a 'non-owned automobile' under most personal auto policies, meaning that your vehicle's coverage carries over to any vehicle that you rent."

In a recent survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 42 percent of the respondents said they were "either thoroughly confused or had only a rough idea about insurance."

The association of top state insurance officials says 34 percent of consumers surveyed by telephone bought a rental car company's insurance just to make sure they were covered.

If you're renting, Lewis advises you to first check with your own auto insurance company to see if you're covered.

If not, see if your credit card offers coverage. Most do for rental cars if the full amount of the rental is charged to the card. This is generally called "secondary" insurance, because it will only pay when your personal auto policy does not.

We're getting desperate
A national survey taken by Travelzoo .com revealed that 80 percent of Americans believe the era of affordable travel is over, and that 28 percent of them are so eager for reasonably priced travel that they would stand in the airplane for an entire cross-country flight if it meant they could save 50 percent on the ticket price.

Two in five Americans said they would forgo cross-country restroom privileges for the same deal.

Get trip information
Sunrise Tours and Milestone Travel Club will have its semi-annual public Travelogue at three Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers this week. Sunrise/Milestone offers day trips and overnight tours with a specific focus on the retired traveler.

The meetings will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at 10612 E. Washington St., and at 1:30 p.m Tuesday at 1305 Broad Ripple Ave. The final meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at 2950 N. High School Road. The two-hour Travelogues will present upcoming tours.

Suite teen package
The all-suite Landings St. Lucia resort has a "Teen Island Vacation" package that includes zip-lining through the tropical St. Lucian rainforest, snorkeling or sea kayaking around Pigeon Island and unlimited wakeboarding through Rodney Bay's natural harbor.

In addition to those adventure activities, the $310-per-night per-room package includes accommodations in a Harbor Front Villa with plunge pool, daily breakfast and an in-room movie night with pizza, popcorn, movie theater candy and a selection of DVDs.

A seven-night minimum stay is required. For reservations and information, visit www.rockresorts.com or call (877) 657-ROCK.

A Branson holiday
Get in the holiday spirit with a bus trip Nov. 5-8 to Branson, Mo., for the beginning of the tourist town's Christmas shows.

The $496 package includes five shows, six meals, hotel accommodations and bus fare. Call (765) 455-0938 to register by Aug. 23.