To fuel or not to fuel, that's the rental-car question. Rental agencies give you several choices: You can pre-pay replacement fuel at a discounted rate and hope you return empty, you can fill the tank on your own at the best rate you can find, or you can pay an inflated gas price for returning it less than full. Agencies love you to pre-pay the fuel because there's always gas left in the tank. The cheapest option is to refill the car yourself on the way back to the airport, but what's your time worth? If you let them do it, even at great cost, at least you won't smell like gas on the flight.

"Laura McKenzie's Traveler" airs Sundays at 4:30 p.m. on KCBS-TV (Channel 2). Review more of her travel tips at www.lauramckenzietv.com and www.greatescapes.com.