Sunday, December 10, 2006

During our weekly online chat (most Mondays at 2 p.m.), you ask and we answer your travel questions -- mostly. Here's one we couldn't answer fully last week.

Do you know of a rental car agency that will rent an SUV for travel from the United States to Mexico?

Most car rental companies do not allow their more expensive models to go south of the U.S. border. California Baja Rent-a-Car is one exception. The rental agency about 20 minutes from the San Diego airport has larger, higher-end cars that can be driven into Mexico. Among the models: an eight-passenger Ford Excursion for $160 a day, including Mexican car insurance and 100 free miles; a five-passenger Isuzu Trooper for $129 to $139 a day; and a Land Rover Discovery that seats five for $139. The rentals can be driven from the Tijuana border to Cabo San Lucas and from mainland Mexico to Mazatlan; for interior road trips, add 30 percent and a $50 documentation fee. Info: 888-470-7368, http://www.cabaja.com/.

-- Andrea Sachs