The holiday season is right around the corner and visiting family and friends is at the top of many holiday lists. Some people may prefer to hitch a plane or train ride to get to their destinations or just stay home and Skype everyone on the big day. But if you’re determined to be with your loved ones, but funds are tight and you’re travelling with the entire family, a road trip may be your best bet. Depending on the distance that you may have to travel you could actually save money on road trips this holiday season.
Why?
If you compare the cost of gas to what it would cost in airfare, you may be the big winner. I once drove from New Orleans to Atlanta for less than $200. Sure it was a seven hour drive each way, but the alternative was to pay $300 for an airline ticket. Bearing in mind that there were five of us in a minivan, you can immediately see how we saved money on the trip. It would have cost us $1500 in plane tickets alone plus taxi fare to and from the hotel!
If you’re ready to get to know your family a bit better, then you may be interested in finding out how to save money on road trips for this, and upcoming and future holiday seasons. As long as you have a vehicle that’s in good working condition, then a road trip may be the solution that you need:
1. Saving Money on Road Trips
When making the decision to take a road trip, you have to find the right techniques to optimise the cost of the trip, so that it’s really worth your while. My favourite tips are to become friendly with Google Maps and Map Quest and pack lots of snacks!
2. 10 Simple Ways To Spend Less On The Road
People will do what they can to avoid crazy airline fees and actually enjoy travelling for a change. Don’t get me wrong- road trips can be expensive unless you approach them the right way. Here are a few tips for you to consider before you start driving.
3. How to Save Money on Road Trips
If you can master these tips on how to save money on road trips, you are on your way to. Read how this couple planned a road trip around Australia and the steps that they took to keep their travel costs low.
4. Road Trip Tips – How to Save Money on Gas
Depending on how you look at it, your road trip could be the vacation before the vacation. It’s a great way to bond with your family and to enjoy sights and sounds that you would never have seen otherwise. These 12 tips will show you how to save money and still have fun.
5. How to Save Money on Road Trips
To effectively save money on your road trip, you should have the basic categories covered. Gas, food, entertainment and accommodation (where necessary) are the biggest things you should clear on your checklist.
6. 5 Apps That’ll Save You Money on Your Next Road Trip
When planning your next road trip, you should be as prepared as possible. If you use personal finance apps to keep your finances in order, it should be easy for you to utilise road trip apps to help with your planning.
7. Gas-Saving Road Trip Tips
Are you thinking about a road trip, but nervous that you could overspend on gas? These gas-saving road trip tips are most effective if you start planning early. Your driving technique, your GPS device, using your cash back credit card to purchase gas are some of my favourite tips.
8. How to Save Money on a Road Trip
One of my bucket list items is to take a road trip through Canada. This author, who went on a 3.5 hour road trip, details how she saved money on a road trip with her husband. She was able to save on accommodation, fuel costs and food!
9. Stretch Your Dollar on the Road
If you’re travelling with kids on a road trip, you must be prepared to keep them occupied from the time you leave home until you reach your destination. This author explains how families can save money on a road trip and keep the children happy.
10. Expert Tips on How to Save Money on a Road Trip
When a travel expert tells you how to save money on a road, it’s time to take notes. This article explains how you can save on gas, hotels, and keep your working throughout your trip. Nothing is worse than a busted car on a long, lonely highway.
11. Top 5 Money Saving Road Trip Tips
If you have lived the road trip life before, then you know that food, accommodation and gasoline are your biggest expenses. Thankfully, Trip Savvy provides some simple yet helpful tips on how to save money on a road trip and keep your budget intact.
12. How to Save Money on a Road Trip
Sometimes it’s best to ask a road trip expert about how to save money on road trips. Iain and Jack are top experts who’ve put their top tips to the test in South America. Check out their blog The Road Trip Expert to see how you can keep your vacation within budget.
Planning a road trip can be exciting as long as you take the time to plan properly. If you’re still undecided about whether a road trip is right for you, compare the trip with flying or travelling by bus or train. Accommodation, gas and food and snacks are some of the biggest expenses on a road trip, but the experience of spending time with your family without the hustle and bustle of commercial travel is absolutely priceless.
Don’t just save money on road trips. Regular activities like going to the supermarket can drain your pocket. See how you can save money on groceries.