Tag Archives: driving

Gas Saving Roundup

Will you curb your vacation plans this summer because of gas prices? I’ve already cut back on driving here and there now that gas prices have reached the mid $3 range, but analysts say that things will only get worse. Gas prices predicted to rise to $4 a gallon this summer, just in time for the vacation season. Here is a round up on ways that you can save gas, starting today! Avoid buying overpriced gas Okay, so it all seems overpriced, right? But as you probably know, some gas stations charge more than others. How can you find out … Continue reading →

Travel Tales to Learn From

The next time you are pulled over for speeding here’s an excuse you might not want to use: “I’m sorry officer. I was too busy eating my Oreo to notice I was going so fast.” Just ask a 28-year-old driver from New York who tried to convince state troopers that his use of excessive speed was a simple mistake. According to police reports, the man was driving his 1993 BMW last fall in a small Connecticut town when officers pulled him over. That’s when the motorist told troopers the reason he was driving so fast was because the Oreo he … Continue reading →

The Nation’s Highest Gas Prices and Where You Can Get a Break the Next Time You Fill Up

It is the one place you don’t want to be if your wallet is an empty as your gas tank. I’m talking about Gorda, California. Yesterday it was named as home to the most expensive gasoline in the United States. The lone gas station in the tiny Big Sur town is currently charging $5.20 for a gallon of self-serve unleaded gas. The price jumps to $5.40 if you want a gallon of premium. So why is the price of fuel so high there? The gas station owner says it boils down to location, location, location. The Amerigo Gas Station is … Continue reading →

Does “E” Really Mean Your Car is Empty?

With the price of gas hovering dangerously close to $4 a gallon around here I am tempted to see how just how much farther my car could go once the needle on the fuel gauge hits “E.” Of course, any car expert would give you a laundry list of reasons why this is not a good idea. Still, I must admit there were a number of times in college when I pushed my poor car to its limit and rolled into gas stations on fumes. Which begs the question: Just how far can you drive once you hit “E?” I … Continue reading →

Avoiding Speed Traps on the Way to Grandma’s House—Part 2

In my previous blog I mentioned that the AAA estimates that more than 35 million people will hit the road during the last week in December. And as a holiday gift (of sorts) to drivers who tend to gun it behind the wheel in an effort to make up for lost time the National Motorists Association (NMA) has prepared a list of the worst “speed trap cities” across the country. The NMA describes itself as an advocacy group for the “interests and rights of North American motorists.” As such, they felt it would be helpful for motorists planning to drive … Continue reading →

Avoiding Speed Traps on the Way to Grandma’s House

Tis the season to load up the family minivan and speed off to grandma’s house for another round of turkey and togetherness. The operative word here being “speed.” I’m pretty sure my family is not the only one that finds themselves scrambling around like decapitated chickens in the process of getting out the door and to family functions on time during the holiday season. The AAA is estimating that more than 35 million people will hit the road during the last week in December. And to help lead foots who will be driving to areas they are not familiar with … Continue reading →

An Unbelievable Deal for Holiday Travelers

Now here’s something you don’t hear everyday… a popular company giving you an early holiday gift. If you don’t love Maxwell House coffee now you just might after hearing what they are doing to help holiday travelers save a couple bucks on the way to grandma’s house this Thanksgiving. As part of a nationwide campaign aimed as “brewing some good” the coffee company is picking up the tab for all motorists at toll plazas in eight U.S. cities-—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Pittsburgh—-between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, traditionally known as the busiest … Continue reading →

It’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Studies show 60% of adult drivers – about 168 million people – say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third (or 103 million people) has actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Are you one of them? Regular readers of this blog have read my past drowsy driving experiences (none of them were pretty). And now there’s an entire week dedicated to educating travelers about the dangers of getting behind the wheel without proper sleep. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: “Dear Me” and Deer Me

“DEAR ME” That’s a phrase hotel staff at The Palmer House in Chicago are bound to hear a few more times in the coming months. The legendary property is offering a jaw dropping deal to some of its oldest guests. The promotion really is astounding—–it is applicable to any guest who visited the property more than 50 years ago. Under the program, any guest who can provide an original receipt from his or her stay will be given the same room at the price they paid more than a half-century ago. And if you think that the hotel hasn’t had … Continue reading →

Out of Town Trips with Teen Drivers

My eldest daughter (who will be 18 in just a few short months) went on her first day trip out of town with a friend driving a week or so ago. I know it sounds as though I am a nervous Nellie of a mom—but I wasn’t really ready to let that happen! There are so many horror stories, and so many teenage driving accidents! The protective mother in me really doesn’t want to believe that my baby and all her baby friends are actually old enough and responsible enough to drive 65 miles away to spend a day at … Continue reading →