Today's economy demands that you might need to cut back on this summer's vacation. With the economy so low, even the vacation package deals may be too steep for a lot of us. So what's out there for alternative? Actually, we can find many alternatives if we just know how to find them.
During the fifties and the Sixties, the family car was used to be king, the main mode of transportation to see different around the country. Everybody would load into the wagon with the road maps and snacks for the long journey to grandmas house.
With gas prices finally back to levels that don't make your heart sweat every time you have to fill the tank, the idea of that dream road trip is sneaking back into the mind. Even though the cost of gasoline is going down, you can find less expensive gas along the way through websites. It's cost effective, fun for whole family (at least the first 12 hours) and was a great way to see America like you'll never see from the air.
While flying will save you time and an opportunity to earn airline miles, a general rule of thumb is if you are traveling 600 miles or less, it is probably better to drive. Despite the drop in fuel costs, airline ticket prices are still high. There are fewer flights, longer layovers, fuller flights, security lines, and baggage surcharges. Add to this cost is the transportation to and from the airport and parking!
What families value most is convenience and control. Going by car offers a number of advantages over flying. You can leave on your schedule. Pack as much as you want. Today’s vehicles have innovative storage areas that can carry your extra luggage and gear. You can stop and stretch anytime. Many families use a GPS navigation unit to chart the itinerary and find places of interest, instead of rest stops. Visit a local park or other sightseeing spots. Geography and history become real for kids when they can experience it. You certainly have more and better meal options on the road.
Stopping by the Mobil gas station for a complementary map and then maybe the library for some travel books was the way trip planning was done back then. Along came the triple A (AAA) TripTrick travel planning service and things got easier. Today's options for finding directions, landmarks, hotels, and the best way to get there advices is a mouse click away.
Planning that cheap road trip is easy. You'll get the best to get there, lists of hotels with pricing, places, to eat and almost everything you need to see America from the car. Do a search on your favorite search engine for terms like “road trip planning, cheap road trips and car trips”. You'll come up with thousands of sites where you can plan your next road trip.
So pack the snacks, the pajamas and some print outs. You're headed for a great vacation on the cheap.
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