Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Summer driving tips
If you’re hitting the road this summer with your family, friends, or boyfriend, find out how to save money and be safe on the road with these tips from TireRack.com, America’s largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, performance parts and accessories. “Most drivers are extremely careful during the winter on snow and ice, but the same care and caution should be applied by all drivers in summer as well,’” says Matt Edmonds, vice president, Tire Rack. “Preparing for summer travel and following a simple maintenance routine can save consumers hundreds of dollars and keep them safe on the road.”
Don’t Mix and Match
All tires are not created equal. Mixing tires of different brands, tread depths and performance categories can cause a serious loss in vehicle stability.
Consider Summer Tires
Unlike all-season tires, summer tires are designed specifically for warm and wet weather. For a list of summer tires that deliver driving excellence in both dry and wet weather, visit TireRack.com.
Pressure
Tires don’t carry the weight of your vehicle, the air pressure inside them does. Underinflated tires offer less traction, reduce fuel mileage, wear out prematurely and can suffer unnoticeable damage that compromises their performance and safety. One out of four vehicles on the road is running on underinflated tires. Check tire pressure often, don’t just “set it and forget it.” For a list of high-quality tire gauges, visit the accessories page on TireRack.com.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Navigate the road with these mobile apps
With the long 4th of July holiday weekend coming up, maybe you’re looking to venture out and discover Americana on your own. If so then check out these great apps from GetJar.com that can help you navigate the road.
Locago
A map/local search app with directions and GPS support. Browse business listings and traffic information, Wikipedia articles, geotagged images, weather forecasts, or touristic webcams on a map on your phone. And you can create new layers with your content, just like making map mashups on the web but for mobile phones.
WHERE
Use this app to discover great nearby places, get personalized recommendations on where to go next, save and share your favorite places, and find exclusive deals from local businesses!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Gas saving tips
This Memorial Day weekend, you’re likely to be on the road and maybe even stuck in traffic. If that’s the case, you definitely want to make sure you get the most mileage for your money. Here are some tips from Chris Faulkner, CEO of Breitling Oil & Gas, that will help you enjoy the long weekend without worrying about shelling out too much money at the pump.
1. Fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 am. Gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel. 10 am is when most station owners make their price change for the day. Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
2. Don’t let your car idle, either when you warm it up or when you are at a standstill. If you’re going to be standing for more than a minute, running your engine wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
3. Buy gas when it’s cooler during the day (like the early morning or at night) to reduce gas evaporation.
4. Remove unnecessary items in your car. Every 250 extra pounds eats up an extra mile per gallon of gas.
5. Avoid the convenient gas station on the side of the highway as you drive home from work which can be up to $.15 more per gallon.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Be part of the Bushmen Initiation Ritual Safari tour
Between April and September 2011, travelers will have the opportunity to participate in a one-of-a-kind Bushmen Initiation Safari through Uncharted Africa Safari Co. Co-founder and safari guide, Ralph Bousfield, will accompany guests on an adventure for eight nights with the Bushmen. Guests can participate in a rapidly disappearing Bushmen ritual that has been carried out for nearly 30,000 years. This journey takes place in a ruggedly wild area where there are no roads, just elephant paths and game trails to follow. Guests will travel with the Ju/hoasi people as the young men from this tribe attempt to make the transition to manhood by demonstrating their survival skills and animal tracking abilities.
Bousfield says the experience is “a huge amount of camaraderie, lots of laughs, but most of all, no one knows what will happen.” His passion for the safari started at an early age, having learned from his legendary father, Jack Bousfield. The older Bousfield was every bit the original African pioneer, growing up on safari, having worked with some of the best hunters and trackers, and even surviving an astounding six airplane crashes.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Circulate on the plane and circulate your veins
If you don’t already hate flying, you may even like it less now. According to Dr. Luis Navarro, Director of the Vein Treatment Center, sitting for long periods causes poor circulation and can lead to unsightly veins. Next time you get on that plane, here’s what you can do to keep your legs aging well:
Avoid prolonged periods of sitting and standing
Walk up and down the plane/train every 1-2 hours, when possible, for 5-10 minutes.
Get exercise
Make sure to do some ankle and lower leg exercises, such as ankle rotations.
Wear graduated compression stockings
Wear stockings, preferably knee highs with open toe, 15-25mm/hg or 20-30mm/hg.
Stay hydrated
Always double your water intake when traveling.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol is very dehydrating so avoid drinking alcohol a few days before taking a long trip.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Use a travel agent for the holidays
Whether you’re going home or to an exotic destination, travel expert, Mark Murphy, tells us the advantages of using a travel agent this holiday season.
Hidden Costs
You may think you’re getting a bargain online, but that’s not actually the case. A good agent will tell you about the “hidden” costs such as resort fees, fitness center charges, and other miscellaneous charges that add up beyond the “low price guarantee” you see with the online discount brokers.
Alternate Routes
Thousands of travelers were stranded during the volcanic ash eruption this last Spring, and those who booked their flights online did not have an 800 number to call to plan an alternate itinerary. A good agent knows the various options for connections to neighboring cities/airports and can quickly book an alternate route to get you home immediately!
Better Deals
Since agents deal with large volumes, suppliers make sure the agent’s customers get the best value and experience for their money. This means more opportunities for upgrades, better amenities, food and beverage credits, and more. Agents can potentially set you up with hotels that pick up bag fees and may even suggest carriers that count two ski equipment bags as one — saving you upwards of $60 one way.