Vacations: Road Trips

If you dread renting a car because you feel it's impossible to get a good deal, don't fret. There are ways to get better prices on car rentals and ways to save money on the costs associated with renting a car.

A successful road trip is an exercise in good planning and keen observation. By employing certain techniques, you can save quite a bit. More importantly, you can save valuable vacation hours.

More and more people are starting to look closer to home when booking a vacation and it makes perfect sense financially. There are some really fantastic places to visit and the family won’t mind that you haven’t had to take an airplane to reach your destination. In fact, many families will tell you that their road trip vacations are some of the best they have ever had. Here are some tips for having a great vacation, and it won’t have cost you the farm!

Fido or Fluffy may be anxious to go for a ride in the car with you, but traveling with your pet can be a lot more comfortable -- and far safer -- with the proper accessories for pet travel. Check out these tips to make pet travel easy, and consider these auto accessories to make Fido's ride safe and fun.

A road trip often means big bucks will be laid out on travel costs. From pricey snacks to premium fuel to costly car washes, the route between your home and your destination is a virtual minefield of unnecessary purchases that can drain your pocketbook. Here's a list of travel costs you can steer clear of.

You may be wondering whether the old jalopy is in good enough shape for that 1,500-mile holiday jaunt you have planned to Florida or the Rockies. As you consider whether to take your own car or rent one, here are four things to do before deciding.

Family Vacation photo from Shutterstock

With the airlines assessing charges on everything from blankets to baggage, this year may call for a summer road trip to save money. To help you save money, here are some trip tips for packing correctly, preparing your car, planning your route, saving on gas and more.

Sure, everyone knows that having your car serviced before a road trip saves on gas and oil. And, sure, everyone knows that membership with AAA provides not only money-saving vehicle services, but also saves on dining, shopping, hotels and more. But are you aware of some lesser-known ways to save on road trips? Here are some good ways to save substantially on road trips.

Hitting the road in your RV and the RV lifestyle can be one of the most economical ways to travel. If you do a little planning and research ahead of time, it's easy to save even more without ever feeling like you're pinching pennies.

Road trips can be an absolute blast or a total nightmare. The reason the movie "Vacation" was so funny is because it contained a thread of realism. A great road trip is 50% preparation and 50% attitude. Here are a few tips to make your next road trip as easy and fun as possible.

Small Bus With Bags photo from Shutterstock

This is the time of year when you get to find out just how roomy your vehicle is or isn't as the case may be. If you don't have a television for the car or are just plain nervous about traveling 1,000 miles with children, you need these ideas.

• Road Tote for Kids
  Debra Vaughn
• Hassle-Free Road Trips with Kids
  Maxine Sprague
• Should You 'Go Greyhound'?
  Anne Clay Cernyar
• Don't Let A Blown Hose "Blow" Your Trip
  courtesy of The Car Care Council
• Entertainment for Children on a Long Trip
  Sarah Delaporte
• Have Car, Will Travel and Camp
  Anne Clay Cernyar

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