Road Trip Guide - Page 19 - On the move, on a budget continued (2)
Road Trip Guide
[06/16/2019] - Page 19
On the move, on a budget continued (2)
travelers for recommendations via blogs and community groups.
4. Bring your own food
Many RVs come equipped with refrigerators and cooktops, making meal
prep possible on the road. Stock up on fresh produce and your favorite
fixings for sandwiches for a cheaper — and healthier — alternative to
eating at diners and fast-food joints.
Grocery stores can provide amenities along the way, too. “Trader Joe’s
has free coffee and samples, and almost all have private, clean
bathrooms,” Quinlan says.
If you want to sprinkle in a few restaurant meals, research your
options. Before the trip, plan where you might eat and see if there are
discounts available, Hall says.
5. Join a club
Memberships and loyalty programs offer a wide variety of perks. A
one-year, $44 membership for the camping club Passport America includes
a 50 percent discount per night on stays throughout its network of RV
campgrounds. There may be exclusions, though, often during popular
travel times such as the Independence Day and Labor Day weekends. Check
availability at each location in advance.
“If a park fills up in the summer, they’re not probably going to want
to offer half price when they can get full price. But in the offseason,
they will gladly take half price,” Woodbury says.
Other memberships can help you save year-round. Find out about
rewards-club benefits at places like gas stations, grocery stores and
sporting goods stores.