If your trip to Santa Clara is all booked but your itinerary is looking a little empty, we can give you a helping hand.Your friends will definitely be green with envy when you share with them all the spectacular pictures of you at Santa Clara University and Winchester Mystery House. And after you’ve finished telling them about the amazing experiences you had at California’s Great America and Great Mall of the Bay Area, they’ll be rushing to book their own getaway to Santa Clara!You’ll have to rise with the sun if you’re planning to see all the great attractions that this place has to offer. Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Mall and Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum are non-negotiable. SAP Center at San Jose and San Jose Museum of Art shouldn’t be forgotten either.Near the city center, Santana Row Shopping Center is one spot you might like to consider putting on your to-do list. If you still have some room on that travel itinerary, PayPal Park and Central Park will keep you on the go as well.

Discover the delights of nearby Twin Lakes State Beach. What’s 25 miles when you have your own rental car? The drive there is half the fun! Soak up the sights beginning with Santa Cruz Harbor, DeLaveaga Golf Course and Santa Maria’s Beach. Westside Santa Cruz is another popular destination. It’s 25 miles away and offers tons of awesome things to see and do. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Natural Bridges State Park and Main Beach are just the start.

Constantly on the go for business-related purposes? Convention centers are most likely a second home to you. With easy access to hotels, restaurants and cafés, you can be sure your trip will go off without a hitch if you’re heading to any of these places:

• Parkside Hall (5 miles away).
• San Jose Convention Center (5 miles away).
• Allied Arts Guild (13 miles away).

Nothing says living it up like a road trip, especially when you’re venturing somewhere as incredible as Santa Clara. With famous attractions like California’s Great America and Santa Clara University, there’s so much to see in so little time. That’s where a rental car steps in. You’ll be able to visit many more places — but go for something small for easy city driving, like a mini. If you don’t want to navigate the urban jungle, Santa Clara County abounds with natural marvels. Trade the nifty runabout for something bigger, like a standard vehicle, and discover the most spectacular sandy shores.

You’ll be glad to hear that there’s a broad range of luxurious rental vehicles available in Santa Clara. What you opt for is largely dependent on how much you want to spend and what you’re hoping to do. Specialty vehicles offer the best in comfort and class. If you’re splashing out, why not pick up an SUV with all the bells and whistles, or perhaps an upmarket mid-sized sedan? Otherwise, if you’re just after a car to get you from A to B as economically as possible, you’re better off going with a versatile compact vehicle (or something else that won’t break the bank).

It’s relatively easy to find somewhere to park in Santa Clara, though it can be a challenge to nab a spot in the busier areas. Staying at a hotel that provides guests with parking will make things easier.

Since the population of Santa Clara is roughly 116,500, you shouldn’t encounter too much trouble with traffic congestion. That said, downtown streets can get busy in the rush hours before and after work, so you may want to avoid driving then.

Generally speaking, your car rental company will charge the fined amount to your credit card, including local taxes. Or they may share your contact details with the relevant local law enforcement agency, who’ll then send a fine directly to you.

As long as you have hands-free functions like Bluetooth enabled, it’s fine to use your phone while cruising in your car around Santa Clara. But be sure to keep your eyes on the road.

In Santa Clara, it’s a fineable offence to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content) above 0.08%. If you’re planning to have a couple of drinks with lunch or dinner, it’s a good idea to leave the rental car at your hotel.

Yes. However, before you turn you must stop the car completely and only move on if there’s no traffic approaching.

Seat belts are compulsory in Santa Clara County. However, these rules may not apply for some vehicles, like those operated by public transportation systems.