Do the winter blues have you feeling down? Winter is the best time to dream about vacations and exotic getaways. But if you can’t pull off a long trip, consider adding spice into your life with a weekend getaway.  The weekend is a time to relax and recover, what better way to do this then to escape your normal surroundings. Here are simple ideas to make your weekends more rewarding.

Road Trip

Take a road trip to another city in your state. You can take the trip alone or with the entire family. Spending time with loved ones in a car will help you bond and feel closer to one another. Pick a destination that everyone will enjoy. The best part of a road trip is the journey, even more than the destination. Pick a route that lets you explore many interesting things. Like farms with petting zoos, museums and interesting road side signs.  Some of the United States most popular routes are Highway 101 California’s Pacific Coast Trail and Route 66. For a scenic glorious view of the Pacific Coast and tall evergreens choose 101. If you are looking for a southern America route choose route 66, which takes traveler through the southwest region connecting Santa Monica and Chicago.

Camping

Camping is a great way to bring the family together. Spending time in nature helps us feel more connected with the world and ourselves. Sleeping in the woods has a natural way of relaxing most people. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the burdens of life, consider pitching a tent and taking a hike. Being outdoors helps people enjoy life more. There are many great camping sites all around the country. If you don’t want to play in the woods all weekend you can go for a day hike. Visit a local park or state park and explore the great big wilderness. You will feel more grounded when the next week starts. Plus getting physical activity will help invigorate the mind and body.

Spa Day

If you are feeling stressed out but cannot manage a weekend trip anywhere, treat yourself to a spa day. Going to a local day spa will help you reconnect with yourself and feel more balanced. Plus it is like a mini vacation for your mind. Enjoy being pampered and massaged. Each spa has a different type of theme and service. Make sure you do your research and go to one that fits your needs and personality. Don’t forget to ask questions if you feel uncomfortable, the spa therapists are there to help you and make your time enjoyable. 

About the Author:

Shannon Kaiser is a lifestyle travel writer for many print and online publications.

For information on accessories to add to your getaway visit L&C Trucks, Truck Accessories in Portland, Oregon. 

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Air travel these days is a far cry from the airport experiences of past generations, when you could walk right up to a gate with your luggage in hand and hop right on the plane. The security measures are in place for good reason after terrorist attacks and threats in recent years, but making your way through the airport without hassle is considerably less easy. How can you avoid the chaos and make it to your gate without feeling disheveled and frazzled?

1. Pack light.

Making your way through crowded areas and narrow security lanes is substantially more difficult when you have a bulky piece of luggage to drag along, especially if you already have a purse and a jacket slung over your shoulder. Preventing this difficulty at the airport begins when you are still at home packing — before putting anything in your suitcase, reevaluate if you really need it. How many pairs of shoes are absolutely necessary? Can you skip one pair of jeans or a bulky jacket? Do you really need to pack your favorite bathrobe and stuffed monkey? Only pack the necessities and you’ll save your arm muscles the unneeded extra effort. And of course, DO NOT pack any liquids in a carry-on unless they are in 3-oz. containers or smaller.

2. Check a bag.

If you absolutely must bring half of your closet on your trip, your bag may end up being too big to carry on anyway. But even if you manage to squeak by, do you really want to roll the suitcase around with you the entire time? If you don’t absolutely need it with you on the flight, go ahead and check it. Many airlines offer at least one free checked bag, so take advantage of it! Grab any smaller items you want to hang on to and keep those in your purse or a smaller backpack.  If you are packing valuables such as grandma’s prized gold jewelry or any breakable items, consider keeping those items on hand. Although checking a bag means waiting a few extra minutes to grab your belongings off the luggage carousel, it’s better than risking a concussion while trying to manuever your heavy bag out of the overhead compartment.

3. Prepare ahead for security screening.

First of all, dress for success in this arena. Avoid shoes that are difficult to get on or off, and skip the excessve jewelry and metal detailing on your outfit. While you’re waiting in line to have your boarding pass confirmed, you can prep to get through in a breeze. Get your I.D. and boarding pass out in advance, and pull your laptop or any electronics out of their cases. Put your jacket, cell phone and keys, as well as anything else in your pockets, into your carry-on bag or purse if you have one. After your boarding pass is verified, all you’ll need to do is set your electronics and bags in a bin, followed by your belt and shoes. When you get to the other side, be polite and don’t crowd the conveyer belt while you reassemble yourself — just grab your stuff and walk a few feet to the benches and chairs before putting your shoes back on, re-belting your pants and tucking your electronics back into their cases.

4. Bring a book, an iPod and a sweater.

If you’re going to bring three essentials to make your flight and waiting time more comfortable, these should be the winners. First, bring reading material. Whether it’s a book or a magazine, you’re going to need something to fill the inevitable down-time in case of delays. (Plus, if you’re breezing through security with the previous tips, you’ll get to your gate with plenty of time to spare.) Second, bring an iPod or other small electronic device. Listening to music or watching a movie is the perfect way to relax, pass the time and drown out the bustling crowds or small children around you. Last, bring a sweater. You never know how temperatures will be on the plane, and if your neighbor is blasting his or her AC it’s hard to avoid the draft. And if you’re not cold, a sweater doubles perfectly as a pillow in case you want to catch some Z’s at any point.

Katie Hawkes is a freelance blogger for Valley Goldmine Long Island, your perfect destination if you’re looking for gold buyers in Long Island.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Vacations are incredibly fun.

But they can also be intense.

Keeping track of your flight iternerary, hotel reservations, finding places to eat, and gas stations when you’re on empty cause a lot of unnecessary stress.

Fortunately, there are some free applications on your smartphone that can help you save money, but they will also help you plan ahead. They’ll help you manage your trip for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation.

Here are 3 smartphone travel apps.

Image courtesy of Yutaka Tsutano

1. KAYAK

Everyone’s familier with the Kayak website. It’s one of the best travel websites that helps compare different flights, hotels, and packages to get you the best rate.

The smartphone app does that too… and a lot more.

After you’ve purchased through Kayak, the app will let you manage your itinerary and trip planning. It will also help you monitor the airline and airport, which will automatically alert you if there is any changes to your schedule.

2. Meal Ticket

Eating out is one of the best parts about traveling. But it can really add up.

The Meal Ticket app helps you find local coupons or specials to top restaurants in the area. You can look at previous reviews, and find the perfect spot that everyone will love.

The best part is that you don’t even have to print the ticket. Simply show your phone’s screen to the waiter to redeem.

3. GasBuddy

If you plan on site-seeing or doing a lot of driving, then GasBuddy will be a huge help.

It shows you a list of recent gas prices in the area. The list is updated automatically, and in real-time. So you’ll always know where the best gas stations are, and exactly how much they will be.

This app also helps you plan ahead so you’ll know where to get gas on your drive, and what you can afford before even leaving.

What smartphone app do you use for traveling?

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive.

If you look around, you’ll be able to find some easy ways to save more on travel this year.

Here are 5 simple ways to save big in 2012.

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1. Bid on Hotels with Priceline and Hotwire.

Two of our favorite sites are Priceline and Hotwire. You can score great deals by bidding on “anonymous” hotels in different cities.

But there’s an easy solution. BetterBidding.com.

Just look up your city, and you’ll find that people will share the deals they got on each specific hotel.

It takes out all of the guess work, but you still get the same great rates.

2. Earn Points with a Travel Credit Card

We all have day-to-day bills.

Whether you’re buying gas or just eating out, you’re probably using a debit or credit card.

If you had a travel credit card, then you could earn points while you’re buying groceries and paying your cable bill.

Just make sure you always pay it off at the end of the month, and you’ll never have any problems!

3. Sign up for a Rewards Program

Reward programs are great ways earn points for your favorite companies.

You can also sign up for a hotel rewards program to earn points everytime you stay.

The good thing about finding a program with a large company is that you can usually find a location in the city you’re visiting.

4. Want to Eat Out? Try Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com is a great source for those of you who love eating out.

You can score great deals on over 18,000 restaurants nationwide. You simply buy one gift card, and you can redeem it at any participating restaurant.

Just don’t forget to check a Yelp to make sure you’re really getting a good deal.

5. Book a Bundle on a Daily Deal Site

You know that you can get great deals on local restaurants and other small services with Groupon.

But did you also know that they have nice, cheap vacation packages?

You can save big with travel daily deal packages from a variety of sites.

Have any other tips? Leave them in the comments below!

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Have a flight booked with American Airlines? Or are you worried about your frequent flier miles?

Well there’s no need to worry!

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The parent company of American Airlines (AMR Corporation), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week.

Normally, you should beware of companies in Chapter 11. But this one looks OK so far. The move was voluntary, and Forbes recently noted that American Airlines is:

Using bankruptcy as a way to improve its cost structure and renegotiate contracts with labor unions primarily rather than the inability to make debt payments and shelter from creditors.

So there’s no short-term panic or cause for concern. (They even have $4 billion of cash in the bank!) They’re just trying to become a more competitive company in their industry.

According to Budget Travel:

Throughout the Chapter 11 process, American and American Eagle will continue to fly normal schedules; honor tickets and reservations; make exchanges and refunds as usual; maintain AAdvantage frequent flyer and other customer service programs; and ensure all AAdvantage miles and elites status earned by members remain intact, according to AMR.

There is, however, the possibility of a another large merger with US Airways. Recently, Northwest Airlines and Delta merged to create a larger company with more scale and bargaining power. In that instance, Northwest Worldperks miles were simply merged into Delta Skymiles.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Sometimes, it pays to procrastinate.

You can find some great deals if you wait until the last minute. Here are three tips to help you find great last minute tickets.

Image courtesy of Olastuen

Book at the Right Time

Want to save the most on your next flight? Choose a “red eye” flight overnight or early in the morning. What you miss out on sleep, you’ll make up for in savings.

You should also try to make your reservation on the unpopular days of the week. Typically these are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Try to book before 14 days or within the last 7 days of your departure date. The window from 14 days and right up to the last second sometimes varies. You either find a great deal if they’re not book, or it will be wildly expensive if they’re just trying to fill the last seat.

Website Aggregators

There are plenty of online travel websites you can use to save big time.

These websites scan every deal out there and compile all the information for you. Instead of comparing all of these individual deals yourself, they do the work for you.

If you’re willing to take some chances, then try using BetterBidding and bid on Priceline or Hotwire.

You can get some clues as to what hotel or airline your looking at, and take a chance to save up to 50%!

Discount Airlines

If you’re looking for last minute tickets, then avoid the common airlines and look for discount carriers.

These companies usually have incredibly low base prices, and add on for extras or other amenities. Some of my favorite airlines include Allegiant Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

You can use the new Google Flights Search and quickly see their schedules.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Everyone uses the internet to manage their trips.

Whether you’re looking for cheap hotels or trying to find out when to buy a plan ticket, you can do it all online.

It’s faster, easier and cheaper than using travel agents or calling each company.

And it’s always good to plan ahead to find out the best deals.

You can now also carry your smartphone with you while you explore on vacation.

Here are the 3 travel websites you can’t live without.

Image courtesy of LA Wad

1. Kayak

Kayak is a travel search engine that scans and sorts everything for you. It’s really easy to use and quickly finds the information for you.

This saves you a bunch of time by comparing flights or hotels without having to cross reference a bunch of different websites.

You can also search for deals and entire vacations using Kayak. It really makes your life a lot simpler.

2. BetterBidding

Don’t even think about using Priceline or Hotwire without BetterBidding!

You can really find huge savings using Priceline or Hotwire. But the catch is that you won’t find out what hotel you’ve booked until after you pay.

BetterBidding is a forum where people report what their recent results were and help you discover what hotels you might be looking at.

3. Yelp

Yelp is the most useful travel website when you’re in a new location. You can easily look up reviews for hotels.

But you can also look up restaurant, nightlife and event venues as well. Hundreds of people will rate the most popular destinations and give you some ideas of if a place is worth the money or vastly overrated.

You’ll also be able to see their menu, pictures, and more about each location. It’s really helpful in dense places like Las Vegas or the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego where there are hundreds of restaurants within a mile or two.

What are your favorite travel websites?

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Hotel safes may not be as secure as you think.

A recent Gizmodo article has shown that some hotel safes can open without your password!

Image courtesy of Crazy farmer

Most safes have two codes. One is the password that users create. But the second is an override code for the hotels to access the contents of the safe. When a guest forgets their password, hotels can use the override code to help them open the safe.

The problem is that it can be as simple as 000000 or 123456. So other people might be able to guess the override code and access what’s inside.

Manufacturer Nationwide Safes (who doesn’t manufacture this safe), reported to Gizmodo;

The safe shown in the video is not one of our hotel safes. However, most hotel safes, including the one shown in the video, support two user codes: a guest (user) passcode and an override code for use by hotel security. When a guest forgets her code, the safe may be opened by hotel security using the override code.

It is important to note that only the most negligent of hotel operators would leave the override code set to all 0′s, a default code, some other easy to guess code. The override code can (and must for obvious reasons) be changed to something difficult to guess prior to putting the safe into operation.

What should you do if you plan on using the safe?

Try testing for these easy override codes or other common number combinations. There are also other products that are like external locks for hotel safes.

Either way, it’s better to double check and be prepared just in case!

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Knowing how to find the best hotel deals can save you a ton of money.

Whether you’re traveling to a rural town or busy metropolitan city, these tips still apply. Just a little bit of planning and research can go a long way.

Here are 5 tips to help you find the best hotel deals.

Image courtesy of Love my Tours

Compare Online

Use internet travel sites and search engines to compare the best rates around.

Some of the best are Hotels.com, Expedia, Kayak and Booking Buddy. If you’re looking for the best deals and don’t mind picking an anonymous hotel, then you can also try using Priceline or Hotwire.

Just like when you compare airline tickets, these sites work wonders for hotels too.

Book Early

The best hotel deals can usually be found by booking early.

When it’s the off-season, you may be able to find last minute deals. But in the peak travel times, it’s always best to book in advance.

This is similar to booking airline tickets. There’s usually a window of time when you’ll get the best deals.

Check Extra Fees

Most hotels will have extra fees that you overlook when checking rates.

Some of the most common are:

• Parking
• Resort Fee
• Internet Access
• Pet fees
• Gym Access

Sometimes a room with a higher base price may include these services for free. So you should be aware of what is or is not included when comparing possible hotels.

Extra Amenities

Some hotels will include extra amenities that will let you save on other things.

For example, some will offer a free breakfast. This is a great way to save a little extra and use that money on other things.

Another good example is in-room coffee. Starbucks’ runs can really add up if you’re a caffeine junkie, so look for hotels that provide some for you!

Try to Avoid the Crowds

Your best bet for huge hotel deals is by traveling off-season and mid-week.

These are the least busiest times for hotels, and you’ll be able to negotiate the best rates.

You should also be aware of any special events or conferences in the area. These could cause hotel rates to skyrocket mid-week.

What about you? How do you find the best hotel deals?

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Traveling can be expensive and stressful, or the perfect, relaxing break you need.

With some planning ahead and good choices, you can easily make your next trip within your budget and stress free.

Here are some ways to travel smart.

Image courtesy of martapiqs

Buy Tickets Online

The best way to save and make travel easier is to book online.

There are some great online travel search engines that will do the fare comparing for you!

These travel search engines scour the web for the best deals and aggregate them all in one place for you. It takes care of the time-consuming comparison for you!

You should also remember that there are good and bad times to buy a plane ticket.

Select Seat Online

Airline seats all vary in price. So make sure also understand how airline seats are priced.

When you know what to look for ahead of time, you’re able to make better decisions and and save more money!

Check In and Print Boarding Pass from Home

The best airport time saving tip is actually done at home!

When it’s 24 hours before your flight, make sure to check-in and print your boarding pass from home. This will help you avoid the check-in lines at the airport and allow you to coast straight to the security line.

Eat Before

One of the biggest expenses when traveling is eating out. With a little planning ahead, you can save a bunch of money and eat healthier while you’re at it!

Most airport food is vastly overpriced. And when you’re in a rush or stressed, it’s hard to make healthy conscious choices.

Avoid it all together and treat yourself to a nice meal when you arrive at your destination!

Prepare for Security

Going through the security line is typically the last stopping point. The best way to stroll through stress-free is to plan ahead!

First, make sure that your liquids are the correct size. Try to also have them in an easy-to-grab place. This way you’ll be able to easily take them out and put them back.

Next, you should also double check that your carry on luggage is the correct size.

Last but not least, make sure you remember your ID! While it sounds dumb, it’s really easy to forget your ID when you’re thinking about everything else.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.