With gas prices at record highs, you may be re-thinking that summer road trip. Megabus, an express bus company serving cities in the Northeast and Midwest may be able to save your vacation plans with fares as low as $1 each way. The company drives European style double decker buses and offers free Wi-Fi and movies. Reservations must be made in advance online and the earlier they are made, the more likely you’ll get the cheapest tickets.

Megabus also serves Toronto, Canada and over 40 cities and towns in the United Kingdom.

Megabus

As gas prices hit record highs, many people are wondering how they are going to afford their summer road trips. Luckily, there are plenty of websites out there to help road warriors get the most bang for their buck. Here are a few to help you plan that summer vacation:

Gaspricewatch.com – tracks prices at over 128,000 stations to help you find the best rates.

Gasbuddy.com – tracks lowest prices by city and state and provides maps.

Gasprices.mapquest.com – features a gas calculator to help you estimate the cost of a road trip.

AAA.com – gives you a customized fuel savings guide based on your zip code.

Source: The Week

Have you ever been driving and found your gas gauge on empty with no refueling stop in sight? It’s a stressful experience for sure, but are you really in trouble?

At tankonempty.com you can look up your car and determine the average number of miles that can be driven after the gas light goes on.

CAUTION: These numbers are ONLY relevant to cars in North America so if you live elsewhere, this site is not for you. Also, these figures are averages and may not always be accurate. I personally do not recommend driving your vehicle on “empty” but I do see an advantage to knowing this information should you find yourself in the situation accidentally.

As the holiday season approaches, thoughts turn to visiting friends and family and often this involves car travel.

The U.S. Department of Energy has created a fuel economy website packed with information and tips to help you keep your road trip efficient and inexpensive. It will help you find the lowest gas prices and get the most out of your mileage. You can even compare cars side by side if you’re looking to buy a greener automobile.

Fueleconomy.gov

Source: Geico Direct

Next time you travel, consider leaving the driving to someone else, especially in one of the many cities that are stocking their taxi fleets with fuel efficient vehicles. In the past year, 281 taxi medallions were issued to hybrid cabs in New York City and they are hoping to increase the number to 13,000 by 2012. Other cities with a growing number of green cabs are Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston.

If you own a hybrid yourself, many perks are likely to come your way in the near future as the world tries to become environmentally friendly. Already, at Boston’s Logan Airport, 100 preferred parking spaces are reserved for clean fuel cars.

Source: Global Traveler

If you are craving a roadtrip but don’t own a car, you may be interested in Zipcar, a car sharing service currently offered in eight cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. By paying a low monthly or annual fee, you are granted access to cars all over your chosen city at any time for an hourly rate which includes gas, parking and insurance. The rate varies by plan but is around $8-$10/hour during the week and $12-$14/hour on weekends. Car choice runs the gamut from BMW to Hybrid to Pickup truck. It’s perfect for someone living in a city that wants a way out occasionally. Currently, Zipcar is available in Boston, Chicago, London, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington D.C.

Zipcar

AAA is predicting a record number of people travelling by car this holiday weekend. If you are driving, and are concerned about gas prices, Response Insurance has compiled a list of tips to save on gas.

— Smooth out your driving style by avoiding “jack rabbit” starts and sharp braking. Both waste gas and can present a hazard for others on the road.

– It is estimated that every mile per hour driven above 55 MPH costs 1% in fuel economy. So, slowing down can be both safe and fuel-efficient. Maintaining a constant speed also maximizes your car’s performance. If road conditions permit, use the cruise control.

– Air conditioners can account for a 10-15% impact on mileage. If you can’t avoid it, do not turn on the air conditioner as a first response to the heat. Start your drive with the windows open to exhaust the hot air out of the rear windows and then put on the A/C if needed. This will also enable the air conditioning to work faster and more efficiently when turned on.

– Accelerate as you approach a hill, rather than hitting the gas and switching gears once on the incline.

– Lighten the car’s load by removing all unnecessary items from the trunk, such as the bag of sand and shovel from the winter. Every 200 pounds of weight reduces gas efficiency by one mile per gallon.

– If you have to carry a lot of baggage, avoid using a roof-top container, which will increase the air drag. If you drive a pick-up truck, the open bed will have the same impact, so put a cover on it.

– Keep your tires inflated to the level recommended by the manufacturer. Incorrectly inflated tires impact fuel efficiency.

– Plan your trip routes and combine trips to minimize travel.

For more information and additional safety tips, visit Response Insurance.

Drive Responsibly and have a happy and safe holiday!!