Road trips are the
ultimate adventure. There are no invasive security lines to board the
airplane, no pre-planned itinerary with bossy tour guides, and no forced
outings. Just the open road and pure possibility. Unfortunately, that
possibility can get expensive. Between gas, dining out, and daily
entertainment the costs of a road trip can add up. Before buying gas for
the car, consider these simple changes to cut costs on your next road
trip. Transportation Find a Discounted Car Hire
With gas still hovering near record highs, road trips can be an
expensive choice for touring the country. If you own a SUV or truck, the
cost of gas can be prohibitively expensive.
Consider finding a discounted car hire service to rent a car during your
next road trip to reduce gas costs. Even with the money used to rent,
an affordable, comfortable ride with excellent fuel mileage will avoid
wear and tear on your commuting vehicle and save money on gas.
Avoid the City
Stop and go traffic destroys gas mileage. On your next road trip, try to
avoid traveling in and through major cities to save money on gas. If
you're road trip ends in a city, find parking well outside the city
center for cheaper rates. Most cities offer enough public transportation
options that cars aren't required.
Food
Eat Out for Lunch
Dining out is an intrinsic part of the road trip experience. Finding
local hotspots and trying regional cuisine shouldn't be missed. Consider
eating out for lunch rather than for dinner. Restaurants will serve the
same menu at half the price and serve more reasonable portions. Opt to
eat a smaller snack for dinner or pack sandwiches. This saving will
allow you to eat out more while still maintaining the budget.
Find Free Booze Or Buy In Store
The markup on liquor in restaurants and bars is enormous. One night out
for drinks can eat into even the most generous road trip budget.
Visiting a local brewery is a cost-conscious and fun way to sample local
brews. Most breweries offer a couple free drinks for going on the trip
and it's an educational look at brewing operations as well as a fun
activity. If there are no breweries on your trip, get local brews at a
store rather than expensive restaurants.
Eat Street Food
Street food is making a comeback among the young and trendy but even
outside of hip street food vans, eating local cuisine for cheap can
easily be achieved by searching outside the restaurant. Local sidewalk
vendors and food trucks offer narrow selection but make each dish to
perfection. As a mid-day snack or a cheap dinner option, street food is
the ultimate road trip meal.
Entertainment
Ask About Local Attractions
Every town has a local attraction worth seeing, it's often just a matter
of finding it. Guidebooks can only give so many entertainment options.
Instead of relying on outdated information, ask locals about events
going on in the town. Fairs, festivals, and other seasonal events may
not make it onto websites or get reviews but they're often fun, low cost
ways to enjoy a locale.
Check for Free Days and Discounts
A little known secret of museums and exhibits is they often open their
doors free to the public on predetermined days and times. Check out
museum websites and search local forums for these free windows to save
on costs and experience a little culture.
Even if they don't offer free admission, a quick online search or stop
by the local visitor's center can yield significant savings in discounts
and coupons.
Road trips don't have the break the bank. Not only are they a fun way to
explore the local community but they also provide a unique vacation you
can't find at all-inclusive resorts or in amusement park packages. With
a little forethought and budgeting, road trips can be a fun, thrifty
vacation.
ABOUT AUTHOR:
This blog post comes from Skedaddle Car Hire, check out their blog for plenty of road trips ideas. And if you want to know more about your next destination, they have plenty of location guides.
Ways to Save on Your Next Road Trip
Transportation
Find a Discounted Car Hire
With gas still hovering near record highs, road trips can be an expensive choice for touring the country. If you own a SUV or truck, the cost of gas can be prohibitively expensive.
Consider finding a discounted car hire service to rent a car during your next road trip to reduce gas costs. Even with the money used to rent, an affordable, comfortable ride with excellent fuel mileage will avoid wear and tear on your commuting vehicle and save money on gas.
Avoid the City
Stop and go traffic destroys gas mileage. On your next road trip, try to avoid traveling in and through major cities to save money on gas. If you're road trip ends in a city, find parking well outside the city center for cheaper rates. Most cities offer enough public transportation options that cars aren't required.
Food
Eat Out for Lunch
Dining out is an intrinsic part of the road trip experience. Finding local hotspots and trying regional cuisine shouldn't be missed. Consider eating out for lunch rather than for dinner. Restaurants will serve the same menu at half the price and serve more reasonable portions. Opt to eat a smaller snack for dinner or pack sandwiches. This saving will allow you to eat out more while still maintaining the budget.
Find Free Booze Or Buy In Store
The markup on liquor in restaurants and bars is enormous. One night out for drinks can eat into even the most generous road trip budget. Visiting a local brewery is a cost-conscious and fun way to sample local brews. Most breweries offer a couple free drinks for going on the trip and it's an educational look at brewing operations as well as a fun activity. If there are no breweries on your trip, get local brews at a store rather than expensive restaurants.
Eat Street Food
Street food is making a comeback among the young and trendy but even outside of hip street food vans, eating local cuisine for cheap can easily be achieved by searching outside the restaurant. Local sidewalk vendors and food trucks offer narrow selection but make each dish to perfection. As a mid-day snack or a cheap dinner option, street food is the ultimate road trip meal.
Entertainment
Ask About Local Attractions
Every town has a local attraction worth seeing, it's often just a matter of finding it. Guidebooks can only give so many entertainment options. Instead of relying on outdated information, ask locals about events going on in the town. Fairs, festivals, and other seasonal events may not make it onto websites or get reviews but they're often fun, low cost ways to enjoy a locale.
Check for Free Days and Discounts
A little known secret of museums and exhibits is they often open their doors free to the public on predetermined days and times. Check out museum websites and search local forums for these free windows to save on costs and experience a little culture.
Even if they don't offer free admission, a quick online search or stop by the local visitor's center can yield significant savings in discounts and coupons.
Road trips don't have the break the bank. Not only are they a fun way to explore the local community but they also provide a unique vacation you can't find at all-inclusive resorts or in amusement park packages. With a little forethought and budgeting, road trips can be a fun, thrifty vacation.
ABOUT AUTHOR:
This blog post comes from Skedaddle Car Hire, check out their blog for plenty of road trips ideas. And if you want to know more about your next destination, they have plenty of location guides.