If you're one of the thousands of Americans that have planned a road trip this summer, you've probably look at the gas prices and thought twice about not going on that trip. Who would have thought that a year from today that gas prices would be almost more than four dollars a gallon. It seems as if we are just working to fill our stupid gas tanks. Well, let's not let the gas prices get in the way of our family fun time. Instead, let's live life and still go on that vacation and not pay a penny extra.
Plan the trip ahead of time - If you're planning on taking a road trip, make sure that you do all of your booking online because you may find that most of the times, you will be paying full prices for a hotel if you just walk up to a desk during the night hours. Most hotels will know you're desperate for a room and will charge you for that room at full price. Websites like hotels.com and expedia.com will help you save a few extra bucks when you book that hotel. Try and figure out where you'll be stopping so that you won't be stopping at a hotel at three in the afternoon.
Find the free breakfast - When you're booking that hotel online, make sure that you look out for the free breakfast. A lot of hotels will offer complimentary breakfast foods in the morning. If you can book a hotel that offers this, this will save you a few bucks depending on how many people are travelling with you. Most places do offer hot meals and it's usually nothing bad like a bagel and a cup of orange juice. If you find yourself going to a place like this, you may want to consider other places.
Avoid the gas snacks - If you're like me, you probably love to load up on the chips and slim jims in the gas station. This is where the money starts going down the drain. You'll want to buy all of your snacks and sodas before you go on that trip to save extra money. Let's do the math really quick. Let's suppose you want to buy one soda at the gas station. This is going to cost you around $1.50. If you purchase an eight pack at your local market, you're only going to pay about $4 a pack, which comes down to about $.50 a soda. Multiply that number by four family members and you're saving four bucks. Do you see how quick that adds up?
Saving money on the road isn't that hard at all; just make sure you don't let the high gas prices ruin all of your family fun. You have to remember that you live once and if you can afford that trip, then go out and take it. Sooner or later, your kids are going to be grown up and they won't even want to hang out with you anymore.
