Cheap Vacations are within your reachUse these tips to make your road trip affordableA roadtrip is a fun alternative to a vacation. Although traveling by car can seem like a cheaper way to travel than by plane, road trips can become very expensive. With these five tips, road trips can be as inexpensive as they are fun.1. Travel with friendsCarpooling will ease individual gas expenses. Use the car with the best gas mileage, and most room to fit all the travelers. Traveling with friends will add excitement throughout the long car ride. “Road trips become 100 times better with friends,” Makayla Maggert, a sophomore majoring in psychology from Georgia, said. “There is never a dull moment, and you’ll always have someone to share those memories with.”`2. Pack your foodConvenience store food can get expensive, and the stops will add up and prolong the road trip. Go to the grocery store before you leave and buy snacks and drinks. Buy supplies to make sandwiches. Everyone will have something that they like, and you will be able to eat healthier as you avoid stopping at fast food restaurants and convenience stores. “Bring lots of water, but don’t drink too much at one time,” Kelsie Gordan, a freshman majoring in biology from Oregon, said. “You don’t want to stop to go to the bathroom too much.” Put all your food in a cooler so it lasts throughout your trip.3. Consider other transportation optionsGoing on a road trip doesn’t always require a car. As you roadtrip around the Hawaiian islands, consider taking the bus. You will be able to stop when needed, and travel for only $2.50. On the mainland, consider taking a train or a Greyhound bus. Visit https://www.greyhound.com/ for routes and tickets. Split the cost of renting a car with friends, or “sharing a ride”. Go to erideshare.com or craigslist.com to find a ride to or from wherever you are going. All you have to do is help with the cost of gas.4. Do not stay in a hotelHotels are usually the biggest expense of any vacation. If weather permits, go camping. Go to airbnb.com to rent a cheap room or apartment for a few nights. Try couchsurfing.com to find someone who will let you sleep on their couch for the night. Road trip to places where friends or family live, and ask to stay at their home. A hotel should be the last resort when it pertains to housing.5. Have free funWhen planning a road trip, find activities and points of interest that are free. Spend your time hiking, going to the beach, visiting national parks, etc. Stop when you reach a point of interest. Spend a day wandering around the city or a small town. Download smartphone applications before you leave so you can make the most of your time. Roadtrippers, free on IOS and Android, helps the user plan a route with the most interesting pit stops. Download Yelp to find reviews on almost every point of interest. “Don’t be afraid to go off the designated route and take the scenic way,” Alyssa Troyanek, a junior majoring in international cultural studies from Arizona, said. “And make sure to have lots of good music.” The majority of a road trip is the journey, so why not make it as fun as possible?
Writer: Emily Halls ~ Multimedia Journalist
