{"id":15353,"date":"2016-05-23T07:57:35","date_gmt":"2016-05-23T11:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=15353"},"modified":"2017-11-19T10:01:10","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T15:01:10","slug":"7-mistakes-to-avoid-on-your-getaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/7-mistakes-to-avoid-on-your-getaway\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Mistakes to avoid on your getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer can’t come fast enough for the millions of Americans eager to celebrate Memorial Day with a getaway. While some people will take to the friendly skies, many more\u00a0 will hit the road this year. In fact, AAA projects that\u00a0<\/span>more than 38 million consumers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0will drive 50 miles or more from home this upcoming holiday weekend, the\u00a0 second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record and the most since 2005. Fueled by a growing economy and low gasoline prices, the Great American Road Trip is making\u00a0 a comeback!<\/span><\/p>\n

While choosing to drive over flying is already putting you ahead in terms of savings, there are plenty of other travel costs to consider. In fact, here is a rundown of\u00a0 the biggest road trip budget busters and how to avoid them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gas\"<\/p>\n

1.Gas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though gas prices are at record lows, demand during popular travel days, like Fridays and holiday weekends, cause prices at the pump to go up. To avoid spending more\u00a0 over Memorial Day, fuel up ahead of the weekend\u00a0on Wednesday\u00a0when you can expect lower prices before the travel rush. Since you will need to refill your tank throughout\u00a0 the trip, use the\u00a0<\/span>GasBuddy App<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to quickly find the cheapest gas prices along your route.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Rest stop snacks and drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making pit stops to use the restroom inevitably turns into a shopping spree at the rest area’s mini mart. While picking up a snack here and there seems harmless, these\u00a0 little charges will add up quickly. According to\u00a0<\/span>USAToday<\/span><\/a>, road trippers can expect to spend around $20 for breakfast, $5 for a gas station snack and drink, and between\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Under-inflated tires.<\/span><\/p>\n

40 percent of passenger cars have at least one under-inflated tire and this commonly overlooked auto maintenance issue is not just dangerous, it can be costly too. Proper\u00a0 inflation not only extends the life of your tires, but it also ensures fuel efficiency. This means, you’ll use less gas and avoid potentially pricey roadside assistance.\u00a0 Take the extra step to have a mechanic run a routine maintenance check of your entire car to ensure it’s running properly. After all, you don’t want to get stuck on the\u00a0 side of the road in the middle of nowhere!<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Data-overage penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n

A smartphone is a tool many travelers rely on for accessing driving directions, capturing memories, sharing updates with friends and family, and finding things to do and\u00a0 see along the way. \u00a0All of these activities, however, will eat up your data and may cause you to pay pricey overage fees. Reduce data use by turning off app push\u00a0 notifications and stay connected on-the-go using the Free Wi-Fi Finder app. Monitor data usage with\u00a0<\/span>3GWatchdog App<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>DataMan App<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to avoid overage penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"hotel\"<\/p>\n

5. Lodging fees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Driving to your destination is one of the cheapest ways to travel, but your hotel and their pesky fees like parking and WiFi could blow your entire budget. A much more\u00a0 affordable option is to go camping. You can find free and inexpensive camping areas in lots of popular destinations. Review options and call ahead to make a reservation\u00a0 through sites like\u00a0<\/span>ReserveAmerica.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>CampingRoadTrip.com<\/span><\/a>. Make sure to pack a tent\u00a0 and a few sleeping bags!<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Last-minute Hotel Costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you delayed planning the trip or find yourself stuck in a town without a hotel reservation, you can find last-minute deals using the HotelTonight app. Otherwise,\u00a0 check\u00a0<\/span>Hotels.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for nearby available rooms and search for coupon codes before you book. For example, you can use a\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Hotels.com promo code<\/span><\/a>\u00a0from Coupon Sherpa to save\u00a0 30% plus an extra $45 off your $300 purchase through Memorial Day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Spontaneity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Road tripping without a plan seems like an exciting way to approach your Memorial Day adventure. However, driving around aimlessly can get tiresome and put added strain\u00a0 on your budget. Create the best of both worlds with apps like\u00a0<\/span>Roadtrippers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>Field Trip<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0 both of which highlight landmarks and attractions along your route. These tools enable you to set off on your road trip without a destination in mind while ensuring you\u00a0 make the most of your experience (and your budget). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guest post by Andrea Woroch.Andrea Woroch is a money-saving expert who transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers by sharing smart spending tips and personal finance advice.\u00a0 As a sought-after media source, she has been featured among such top news outlets as <\/span>Good Morning America, Today, CNN, Dr. OZ, New York Times, MONEY Magazine,\u00a0 Consumer Reports, Forbes<\/em> and many more. In addition, Andrea’s stories have been published among leading publications and sites such as Yahoo!, AOL Daily Finance,\u00a0 CNN Money, Huffington Post, LearnVest and <\/span>New York Daily News<\/em>. Check out Andrea’s <\/span>demo reel<\/a> or visit her\u00a0 website at <\/span>AndreaWoroch.com<\/a> for more information about booking an interview or requesting an original written article. You\u00a0 can also follow her on <\/span>Twitter<\/span> or<\/span>Facebook<\/a> for daily money\u00a0 tips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"andrea<\/p>\n

\"Roping\"<\/p>\n

Did you see these other recent posts?<\/strong><\/h3>\n