5 Reasons Why Gas Prices Shouldn’t Cancel Your Memorial Day Fun

Everyone seems to be complaining about the high cost of fuel causing them to cancel their summer vacation plans. Carol White, co-author of the book “Live Your Road Trip Dream”, says, “I don’t like the higher prices, but if you take a careful look at it, it’s something that most of us can deal with.”

Did you cancel last year’s plans? According to AAA, gas prices have increased an average of $1.00 a gallon since last Memorial Day. Let’s go crazy and say it has been 1.10 a gallon in your area. If your summer trip is 1000 miles long and your car gets an average of 24 MPG, your fuel will cost $45.85 more this year than last. One dinner at home instead of eating out before you go will save that much. Is $45 any reason to cancel your vacation?

What does it really cost? When you add up all the expenses of a vacation, fuel only counts as about the second or third highest expense. Typically food and lodging will cost more than fuel. If you need to cut back, consider RVing or eating more meals in, or renting a slightly less expensive lodging.

How can you afford to RV? According to a study done for the RV Association, RVing is still less expensive than piling a family of four into an airplane and hotels for vacation. Using a similar example to the one above and a typical mid-size RV fuel economy of 12 MPG, the additional fuel cost for RV fuel this year would be $62.50. This is easily off-set by the lower cost of campgrounds vs. motels, resorts or cabins at your favorite destination.

What about family bonding? One of the best parts of taking a road trip or an RV get-away is the extra time you get to spend with your traveling companions. In the close quarters of automobiles, RVs, campgrounds and motels, a family has the opportunity to enjoy old-fashioned fun like cards, board games, campfires and more. It really is fun talking to your kids. Ditch the electronics just for the week and see what might happen.

And the final reason you shouldn’t let fuel get in your way? You and your family deserve the time together and the time away. Have everyone work together to be able to afford the extra cost of gas. Go on a Starbucks-free week, check for the best fuel prices, just say “no” to an evening at the movies, or take a pass on that cute new pair of shoes and you will have the added money to cover fuel. Don’t let the “psychology of price,” rather than real price get the best of you.

Have fun and enjoy your summer vacation.

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Carol White is the co-author of the award-winning book, “Live Your Road Trip Dream” (www.roadtripdream.com) – the ultimate road trip planning guide for extended road trips. Carol and her husband Phil have traveled over 50,000 road miles in the past several years, visiting all fifty states and having visited all of the National Parks in the “lower forty-eight.” As national spokespeople for the RV Industry, they now spend their days speaking, writing, and helping others to live their dreams.

Worldwide RV Travel For Less Cost

RV / Motorhome owners can now enjoy low cost worldwide travel. How? They use the investment they have made in their RV to give them virtually free travel and accommodation in another country. This is now possible through being able to exchange RV’s with like minded RV owners worldwide.

We all know that the airfares are just a small part of the total cost of international travel and the major expenses are for accommodation and transportation at your destination. When you exchange your RV there is no additional accommodation or travel costs to what you would normally incur using your RV at home. We all know that accommodation and travel costs worldwide can be substantial and by enjoying an RV exchange there are huge savings to be made.

As all RV owners know, you also can visit a local supermarket and cook your own meals in your RV saving the expense of restaurant meals and also avoiding the perils of fast foods. Many people enjoying an RV / Motorhome exchange spend several weeks or even months at their chosen destination so any savings made quickly add up.

It works much like a home exchange except it offers much more. It is not just your accommodation but also your transportation plus you get to experience a lot more of the country than you would located in just one place.

You also do not need to swap simultaneously as it’s not your home. Who really wants to vacation in the U.K. in the winter, so with a RV worldwide exchange both parties can travel at the time of year that is best for them. This may actually be six months or more apart.

Have safe and exciting international travel through an RV worldwide exchange.

Written by Stephen Smith, director of http://www.rvworldwide.com

This article may be reproduced or distributed so long as no contact or links are changed without the author’s permission.

Holiday travel heads-up

A recent CNN story began with a great holiday travel headline: “Stuffing planes like Thanksgiving turkeys” by Aaron Smith, Nov. 11, 2009 and discussed travel over the busy holiday weekend.


Expect that planes will be full even though there are fewer people traveling, because the airline industry has cut capacity by 6.9% since last year to improve efficiency, says the Air Transport Association. This year has seen the biggest capacity reduction since 1942, when civilian aircraft were diverted towards the war effort. Planes will be full but there may be fewer delays if weather doesn’t create problems as there are simply fewer planes flying. However, the “once-a-year” passenger headed home for Turkey Day is often less experienced in negotiating airport systems and security so may hold up the lines for frequent travelers.

Solution: Make sure you employ all the savvy traveler and smart packing strategies possible.

1. Print boarding passes and prepay for checked baggage before leaving for the airport. Use curbside check-in if available. Consolidate both checked and carry-on items to as few as possible – it’s only a 4-day weekend!

2. Allow enough time for heavy traffic en route to the airport, full parking lots, and crowded airport transportation systems. Give yourself at least 2 hours at the airport to safely check baggage and pass through security.

3. Wear clothing that is “screening friendly” – minimal metal parts, slip on shoes, jewelry removed and tucked into a zip-top baggie before entering the security line, coat packed into a checked or carry-on bag.

4. Pack plenty of snacks, water, reading materials and patience. You may need all of it.


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Reprinted with permission from Susan Foster and Smart Packing. Sign up for Susan's e-newsletter at www.smartpacking.com - THE place for packing light information,airline baggage rules, airport security updates and packing tips for every kind of trip.

Skateboarding around the US

Hey - what a fun and educational idea. This 11-year old and his dad are traveling to all 50 states instead of going to the 6th grade. It looks like they are having a fabulous time and I know that Logan will definitely learn more by doing this than by going to the 6th grade. Horray for them. We believe that this is a wonderful way to teach kids about our great country - and have some fun at the same time.

Go visit Logan and his Dad here:

http://50skatekid.com/

Want a $1250 fuel card for traveling?

Here is a great offer - to see a list of the applicable motorhomes, go here:


Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) is now giving a $1,250 fuel card with any new purchase of a qualifying motorhome built on a Freightliner chassis from dealers in the United States and Canada. This exclusive, temporary offer is designed to help motorhome and RV enthusiasts pursue a road trip of a lifetime, even in a sluggish economy. Complete details are included below for you to share with your readers if you think it would be of interest to them.

Take your next road trip on Freightliner
Between now and Dec. 31, motor home enthusiasts can kick off their road trip of a lifetime by receiving a $1,250 fuel card with the purchase of any qualifying motor home built on a Freightliner chassis from dealers in the United States and Canada. For more details about this offer, and to learn which RV manufacturers offer vehicles built on Freightliner chassis, visit www.freightlinerchassis.com/fuel or chat with us on our Facebook page at http://bit.ly/1dAcGT.