Since this is the most active thread on car rentals, and it appears to be class-action settlement season: if you rented from Avis/Budget and used a toll pass between 2007-2015 
, and haven’t received a notice on the Avis Mendez Settlement, don’t forget to submit your claim
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Even though it does not take much to file a claim, I know many that have “claim fatigue” from dealing with the mail, emails and nonsense just to get a check for $3.17 down the road. This is aside from having to answer questions and provide documents from 10 years ago that were used then as an extra napkin to wipe my shirt off from spilling my 5th Bloody Mary while slumping in my seat in a 1st Class free upgrade.
For those of us that were 3.0L TDI owners that got super screwed on Dieselgate vs. the ridiculous 2.0L buybacks and payouts, it was hard to even fill out an online claim after that without wanting to puke in your mouth.
My “no doc needed” claim was over $12. Probably more if I dug through receipts, and I have them, but that was worth 2 mins of my time.
If I go 2 degrees, I know at least 10 people who had TDIs, they all got more for their car than they paid for it. Some also got sick deals on eGolfs in addition. Sorry to hear you didn’t.
The Netflix “Dirty Money” on Dieselgate was one of the best things I’ve seen on that, and I read everything I could get my hands on.
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On a 2.0L TDI ride it definitely happened. Some of those 2.0L cars certainly did get more than they paid for it as CARB and the EPA/DOJ basically mandated that 75% or more of those were off the road and that was done by super inflated buybacks.
VAG did not pay out more than a 3.0L Cayenne, Q7, A8, T-Reg, etc. cost new for the settlement and very few of the 3.0L cars actually even received a buyback vs. the emissions fix and a check. That was a huge sticking point at the end and if you have access to PACER you can see by partial VIN what the payout was for each 2.0L and 3.0L TDI rig.
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Good call. While it took me 3 minutes I was able to one-up you by a buck. I’m a Hertz guy so maybe it could have been more if I had used the President’s Club status more and actually kept those receipts vs. the Bloody Mary cleanup duty? 
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Glad to see you got over your Dieselgate PTSD.
I did a quick check of my email, since I happen to have all of it since 1998, and Avis only started emailing Toll Receipts separately in 2014 (the class action only covers through 2015). I think I have paper receipts back to 2012, but not worth digging them out.
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Out of curiosity, are you getting any value of out this?
I’m not. I think you have to stay really on top of it and hadn’t put in any effort.
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How long ago did you go? I’d also recommend just being safe and not traveling at night if you can help it. Tourist areas are probably fine, but it’s not exactly the safest country in general.
South Africa?
I lived in a rough part of Cape Town in 09-10 for about a year. Then went back in 17 for a few weeks to vacation.
And I agree-certain areas are extremely dangerous (like any city).
Recently I’ve noticed outsized coverage of South Africa, particularly the acceleration of the deterioration of the power grid.
I haven’t been following this closely over time, but from my reading I don’t think the Capetown of 2017 is still a realistic expectation of what you’re going to find.
We’ve taken South Africa off our potential destination list.
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I’ve seen some Marriott Homes & Villas in Blue Ridge GA that weren’t total rip offs. Haven’t found any other well priced ones elsewhere.
I will never understand the appeal of staying in someone else’s home for a vacation.
Maybe for broke backpackers, but what adults do this?
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So, no airbnb for you?
If there is no concierge, I am not going.
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Speaking of which, your posts on FT have been very informative on luxury hotels and restaurants in Tokyo. Wrapping up my first visit here and they were a huge boon 
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FT, the original LH!
Please enjoy the best city in the world and report back on what you loved most.
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What’s an FT? 
- L’Effervescence
- The mango from PH Tokyo
Definitely going to do both on every future Tokyo visit
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