On the Road Again

I am planning another of my lengthy trips for this summer. One of the benefits of retirement is that I have no obligation to be at any place at a given time, and I love to travel, especially out in the American West and Southwest.

Due to the price of gasoline a lot of people are canceling or at least postponing plans for summer vacations.  That is sad because there are several ways to offset the rising prices of fuel.  I hope to show you how that can be done.

I first have to set the conditions, so let’s assume a trip of 100 miles in a vehicle that averages 25 miles-per-gallon (mpg).  If the cost of gasoline is $4-per-gallon, here is how much you would spend on fuel for the trip. 100(miles) divided by 25(mpg) = 4 gallons. 4(gallons) times $4 = $16.   Follow me so far?

Now let’s see what happens if gas goes up to $5.  Now we divide 25 into 100 and arrive at the same 4 gallons of gas.  However, multiplying 4 gallons times $5 = $20.

Wow, it costs $4 more due to that huge increase!  I don’t know about you, but that wouldn’t keep me at home. As long as you drive that vehicle, every dollar increase in the price of a gallon of gas will equate to $4 per 100 miles. Every 100 miles more that you travel will add $4 (less than the cost of one gallon of gas) to your expenses.

Okay, suppose you did decide that the increase was too much.  There are other ways you can save money so that the trip is still feasible. 

If you stay at motels, join one of the motel chain’s preferred guest programs (or join two like I did if you want more choices). You can earn points to use for reward nights and save $100 or more per night. Hotel chains are getting so desperate for guests that they are offering one free night for every two paid nights. That’s a very good deal.

Managers at some of the hotels I use tell me that booking online isn’t always the best way to reserve.  If you call the hotel direct they can sometimes offer better rates, and you don’t lose any points for booking that way.

Another way to save is to book at hotels that provide free breakfasts. Some even have free cocktails and light dinners as well.  Those savings can pay for a lot of gasoline and even some of the hotel cost.

One more possible way for you to save is to purchase discount tickets or passes to any attractions you plan to visit.  I have a Golden Age pass issued by the National Park Service to seniors that entitles me to free admission to any national park or monument plus some discounted fees for tours or rides. I’ve had that pass for over ten years and I figure I’ve saved hundreds of dollars with it.

I am a member of AAA, so I go to the local office when I plan a trip to find out about any AAA discounts on my planned attractions.  You can save on tickets to Disneyland, Busch Gardens and many other theme parks, plus attractions like Biltmore Estate. You also get discounts at hotels with AAA membership.

On our trip this summer I have estimated pretty closely that we will travel 5,700 miles. I also priced in $4/gallon for gas, though the price might be higher by then.  If gas were to jump to $5 it will cost me $228 more for fuel.  However, using my rewards points we will stay four nights for free, saving me $282.  The complimentary breakfasts will save $150. The Golden Age pass will save another $100, so I don’t think the added fuel cost will keep me at home.

I’ve also been actively searching online for gas-saving tips, and there are lots of sites with some fairly easy ways to save. Here are a few:

• Keep tires inflated to manufacturer’s specifications.
• Use the Internet to find the cheapest gas with a site like Gasbuddy.com.
• Always fill up before your gas gauge gets below the ¼ level.
• Make sure routine maintenance is always up-to-date.
• Use cruise control whenever possible, but never on wet or icy roads.

I’ll be testing a theory on my trips this summer that might prove to be even more helpful in saving on fuel costs, but I won’t tell you about it until I’ve got the evidence to back it up. In the meantime, if you’re planning a trip of your own this summer, don’t let the cost of fuel, whatever it is at that time, put a crimp in your plans. Get out there and see the world!