We鈥檝e all been there, waiting at the car聽rental counter, exhausted from traveling, when the desk agent reels off a series of optional insurance coverage add-ons.聽

They all seem reasonably important, but they can leave you wondering if you鈥檙e being baited. The answer isn鈥檛 that simple, but these tips from insurance advisor , will help you make a more informed decision.聽

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)聽

Whether the rental company describes this coverage as a collision or loss damage waiver (CDW or LDW), it鈥檚聽essentially the same thing. Its purpose is to protect you from loss or damage to the car you are renting, regardless of whether聽you have your own insurance.

Most personal auto insurance plans cover this sort of damage聽even if you鈥檙e driving a rental vehicle, so people often opt out of the CDW. But McNeal says the policy can be worth the money. 鈥淢ost people understand that their auto insurance already provides the type of coverage that an LDW does, but they don鈥檛 consider the deductible,鈥� she says. If your deductible is higher than the LDW or CDW fee, it鈥檚 worth paying the extra fee for the protection鈥攅specially if you鈥檙e driving or聽parking in dangerous areas, tight streets, or in countires with notoriously poor drivers (Hi, Mexico!).聽

And most personal auto insurance policies specifically state they鈥檒l pay for only聽direct and accidental losses鈥攏ot indirect ones. For example, if you rented a 2014 Toyota Rav4, which costs about $23,500 on the market, and brought it back with, say, $7,000 worth of repair costs, the rental agency may find that it can get more money by auctioning the car as salvage. If it goes that route聽and snags $10,000 for the damaged car, you鈥檇 get a bill for 聽$13,500鈥攖he indirect loss鈥攊f you relied on your own insurance rather than purchase the LDW or CDW. If you had paid fof the LDW or CDW,聽you'd have been fully covered. So the chances are small, but you could get really screwed by opting out.

If you still don鈥檛 want to pay the daily fee for the rental company鈥檚 CDW or LDW, another option is available. Many major credit card companies offer some sort of rental coverage. The card鈥檚 free coverage is typically very similar to a CDW and offers protection to be used in addition to your personal coverage. Check with your credit card company about its specific policy鈥攅very card company will handle this differently. Like your personal auto policy, many credit cards won鈥檛 cover indirect losses. You鈥檒l also have to fully pay for the rental with your card and deny the CDW or LDW at the counter.聽

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)

Personal accident insurance (PAI)聽is offered to customers for accidental death and medical expenses. The coverage protects not only you聽but also your passengers during the duration of the rental period. Double-check if your personal car insurance policy already covers this鈥攕ome do. Also, note that some health insurance policies cover personal accident insurance.

Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) or Personal Effects Protection (PEP)

Personal effects coverage (PEC) offers protection of your personal belongings while using the rented vehicle. Most major rental companies have a maximum coverage amount of $600 per person and a maximum coverage for all covered individuals of $1,800. This changes from state to state, so if you鈥檙e interested in purchasing PEC, it鈥檚 smart to ask the clerk about the maximum coverage in your area.聽

Note that most personal renter鈥檚 or home insurance policies already cover this. Just make sure to file a police report if items are stolen, and take photos of any damage that occurs. Keep in mind that you would still be responsible for paying your deductible, which, like LDW/CDW, may be less expensive through the car rental agency.

Additional Liability Insurance (ALI) or Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS)聽

Additional liability insurance (ALI) provides additional protection for bodily injury, death, or property damage and increases the limit to $1 million. This would be used to cover any injury or damage to another person鈥檚 property.聽

Where PAI is designed to cover your personal injury, ALI would cover the costs of any injury you might cause to another party. It鈥檚 essentially an umbrella policy meant to go over and above your liability coverage toward another person. Many personal insurance programs offer this built聽into their policies, but check beforehand to be sure. And again, watch those deductibles.聽

Off-Roading and Dirt Roads

A rental shop鈥檚 contract is voided the minute you violate any part of it. Most rental company contracts聽include clauses that prohibit the use of rental vehicles on unpaved roads鈥攁nd that means many forest roads in national parks.聽

If you ding up the SUV you rented by driving on an unpaved road, you鈥檒l have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, your personal insurance is not going to provide coverage if you鈥檙e in violation of the rental contract. Plus, if your personal policy is for a small car, it may also exclude large vehicles, like trucks and SUVs. So the bottom line here is that no matter what insurnace you've signed up for, if you break the insurer's policy (be it the rental or your own), you won't find coverage.

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Frequent flyers know how much WiFi can improve their flight experience. So do the airlines, which is why many of them are racing to equip their aircrafts with wireless Internet connections. According to a recent report from聽,聽a website dedicated to monitoring airline amenities, passengers this year have a 66 percent chance of having at least some type of WiFi when they fly鈥攖hat鈥檚 1,600 more planes with Internet than in 2013. So what does that mean for you? More Facebook time, email access, and even the chance to text friends from nearly six miles high. But it comes at a price, and they鈥檙e not all the same. Here鈥檚 how to get the most for your money.

Know What鈥檚 Provided

Not all in-flight WiFi is created equal. 鈥淚t really depends on the technology on the plane,鈥� says Jason Rabinowitz, Data Research Manager at RouteHappy. Services like RouteHappy keep tabs on different airline routes and report amenities while you search for flights. If you鈥檙e seriously concerned about the type of Internet access you鈥檒l have while traveling, search for flights on a service like RouteHappy. They’ll use their ranking system to show you what type of connection you鈥檒l have before you even purchase your ticket. United and JetBlue are the only airlines to have routes worthy of the sites 鈥渂est鈥� rating.

Think Mobile

Data consumption between your electronic devices such as phone, tablets and laptops are going to be different. Therefore, many in-flight Internet providers have tiered pricing. 鈥淲e have pricing products specific for mobile devices that are cheaper than a laptop or tablet鈥� says Steve Nolan, Director of Communications at ,聽a company that provides Internet for 2,000 aircraft and most major U.S carriers. So if you鈥檙e going to connect, consider using your phone. With screens as big as seven inches, smartphones are adequate for media consumption, and can save you a few bucks.

Distance Matters

Keep in mind how far you鈥檒l be traveling before settling on a payment. Typically, the longer the route, the higher the price to connect. Therefore, if your trip is cross-country, it’s wise to pre-pay for service. Why? Because it鈥檚 cheaper to buy before you fly. For example, on Gogo, you can purchase an hour pass while still on the ground for $5, but that same pass jumps to $10 if bought in the air. Buying on the ground is especially smart if you have connecting flights. Most providers shut off your access as soon as you disembark, but if you purchase a day pass, you鈥檒l have access on each flight you board throughout the day.

Turn Off Your Automatic Updates

If you鈥檙e using iCloud syncing or apps that automatically update, you鈥檒l want to turn those features off before connecting to the Internet. Applications like may attempt to download large files as soon as they get the chance, slowing down your Internet speed and affecting your usage altogether.

What Your Looking for May Already be Free

Sometimes an airline or Internet provider may also have a marketing promotion going on while you鈥檙e traveling. Promotions can include anything from 30 minutes of free Internet access to free music streaming. Sometimes the main reason you want to connect is already provided. For example, on Southwest flights that provide Wi-Fi, you can access free television streaming and watch some of your favorite shows live. Make sure to ask about the specific WiFi service available on board.

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Frequent skiers already know the best way to get good deals on a ski vacation is to plan in advance. But there are ways to snag additional perks after you arrive at the hill.

While a room upgrade may be as simple as asking the person at the front desk, cheap lift tickets and ski rentals are a bit trickier to score. Much depends on the ski resort’s specific deals, so always ask customer service employees聽if they have any promotions, but you can also follow these common-sense, money-saving tips before and after booking the trip.

Asking for a Deal? It鈥檚 All About Timing.

Ski lodges tend to be less full early in the week, especially during early and late season. Just as lift tickets are cheaper during the front and tail end of the season (at the price for an adult lift ticket drops by about $25 at the very end of the season), your chances of securing a room upgrade go up at this time, too. 鈥淚 think you鈥檒l find that there is more availability during the weekdays,鈥� says Tauni Powers, reservations manager at Alta鈥檚 . 鈥淪o, discounts and upgrades are more likely available Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.鈥�

Beat the Crowds With Early Slope Access

If fresh snow is what you鈥檙e looking for, look into early morning slope access. At , skiers can request to join the staff for the first run of the day before any of the other guests. It鈥檚 as simple as signing up. No fee, but there is limited space. Check to see if your resort has anything similar and sign up at the beginning of the week to be sure to make it on the list.聽

Take a Lesson, Save Some Dough

It can actually be cheaper to participate in a group lesson with rentals and a lift ticket than to purchase the ticket and rentals by themselves. At the in Girdwood, Alaska, it costs $110 for a lift ticket and rentals on the weekend alone, but only $75 for a beginner lesson and $99 for an intermediate lesson including rentals and a lift ticket. And sign up for a midweek group lesson, which tend to be smaller.

If Renting, Get the Best

Finding a way to waive the rental fee is difficult, but that doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 get more for your money. Strike up a conversation with the rental employee and ask about their newest and best equipment. Once you get the lowdown, it鈥檚 as easy as making a request for the higher-end equipment.

Ski Resorts Do Play Favorites

Many resorts, especially small ones, keep track of returning patrons and tend to be a bit more generous to them. 鈥淎t Alta Lodge, we have limited upgrades on a space available basis,鈥� says Joni Dykstra, marketing director at the in Utah. 鈥淔or the most part we use upgrades for returning guests.鈥� Therefore, it鈥檚 worth mentioning that it鈥檚 your second or third stay when booking. And it doesn鈥檛 hurt to mention how much you enjoyed the lodge in previous years. If you truly loved where you stayed, let them know that they鈥檙e doing their job well.

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