Tips for a Budget-Friendly Road Trip

MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - May 23, 2013) - (Family Features) From the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, the country is bursting with fun, family-friendly vacation destinations. National parks are a classic road trip choice. Amusement parks, museum-packed cities and quiet camping spots are other All-American favorites.

Before packing your bags and heading out, it's important to plan ahead, set a budget, build some fun into your travel time and prepare the car. Then you can fire up the GPS, pack a cooler, crank up the radio and head out on the highway.

Pack Savings Into Your Vacation
The whole point of a fun, family road trip is making memories that will last a lifetime. But those memories can be expensive. Decide early in your vacation planning which items are splurge-worthy and where you can save a little money:

Frugal Fun

• Once you plan your itinerary, visit the website of each place you'll be visiting, as well as the location's visitors bureau for information and good deals on top attractions. Amusement parks often offer discounted tickets when you plan to visit more than one day. Likewise, museums and other tourist attractions often bundle their tickets with others in the area. These tourist passes can be a great bargain.
• Look for package deals when booking your hotel. If you compare the rate for a standard room night with those that throw in free museum or amusement park admissions, you might just pocket big savings.
• If you have a membership to the zoo, art museum or science center in your area, it is possible you can get free or discounted entrance fees at similar facilities nationwide.

Ease the Pain at the Pump

• Saving money during summer months when gas prices are normally higher can be as simple as driving smarter. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gas mileage. Also, avoid idling for long periods of time.
• Consider a new combustion enhancing fuel additive technology. Independent lab and road tests show that an additive, such as Synergyn XTrA MPG, can improve fuel economy up to 20 percent or more, in some cases.
• Keep your car well-tuned and fix any problems immediately. It's also important to keep tires at the correct pressure.
• Improve engine performance, lower operating temperature during hot summer road trips, reduce wear and chances of maintenance problems on the road with an anti-friction oil additive technology such as Synergyn Engine Treatment.

Eat Economically

• When you arrive at your destination, ask the locals where to eat. Eating local specialties is a great way to really experience the culture of your destination and save.
• Pack a cooler full of bottled water, fruit, vegetables, cereal and sandwich fixings. It will not only save money, it is a great way to minimize the number of stops along the way.
• Make lunch your main meal. Restaurants usually serve the same entrees at lunch and dinner. The only difference? The price is nearly always significantly smaller at lunch. So, if there is a restaurant you can't wait to try, check it out when prices are cheapest.

Rest for the Weary

• Check online for home rental opportunities instead of just booking a hotel. Websites connecting homeowners with vacationers can offer deep discounts on room nights in popular cities.
• If you pledge your allegiance to a single hotel chain, you can rack up some serious loyalty points. Cash them in for free nights or room upgrades.

For more information on improving fuel economy and reducing engine temperature and reducing wear, visit www.synergynusa.com.

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate
This and other food and lifestyle content can be found at www.editors.familyfeatures.com. Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.