How to Vacation Cheaply and Comfortably

You've planned a vacation by car, and yet the cost of gas is hurting your budget. How can you save money and still vacation? Here are some travel tips and travel information to make your vacation happen cheaply and comfortably.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Travel Tip # 1: You must learn to eat cheaply. Don't eat at restaurants or buy food at convenience stores. Take 2 coolers: one for water and beverages and one for sandwiches, fruit, cheese, and other foods. If you run out of food or water, stop at a supermarket and buy more. It's still cheaper than trying to eat on the road when a bottle of water can cost $3 and a hamburger is $5.
2. Travel Tip # 2: Travel information researched ahead of time will help you find what states have the cheapest gas. For instance, gas is cheaper in New Jersey than in New York. Gasbuddy.com will give you prices for each state and even cities.
3. Travel Tip # 3: Part of a reasonable vacation trip is finding cheap motels. Stop at the Visitor's Center of the state you plan to stay in for the night. They have coupon books that list hotels and motels that offer specials. Most visitor centers close for the evening, so plan to hit one before night fall. When going through the coupon books, look for motels that offer a free breakfast.
4. Travel Tip # 4: Part of travel planning is always keeping a travel log for your road trip. If you manage to find a great motel at a low price, you want to be able to find it again. Also rate any motel you've stayed in, so you don't make the mistake again if was bad.
5. Travel Tip # 5: Another part of travel planning means less nights in a motel. Try to travel as far as you can each day, therefore, make sure you have at least 2 drivers and you take turns. Always stop every few hours and stretch. Make sure the other driver has a pillow and blanket to rest in-between driving.
6. Travel Tip # 6: Travel planning before you even begin your trip means checking the air pressure in your tires, changing the oil, and removing anything you don't need such as racks on the top of the car. Store the luggage in the car to cut down on wind resistance.
7. Travel Tip # 7: Traveling means coffee. Bring plug in coffee mugs. This sounds trivial, but if you stop for coffee, it probably will be cold before you finish it. There goes a waste of money. If you have a plug in coffee mug, your coffee stays hot until the very last drop!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't like the room at the motel? Ask for another. Managers will accommodate you.
• Have your laptop with you? Go to automotive.com and download their gas widget which gives you live updates on gas prices.
• While traveling, consider listening to books on tape. It's a great time to catch up on those novels you wanted to read.