Hit The Road - Gas & Travel Savings In The USA
Credit: San Antonio CVB/Craig Stafford
San Antonio is a great base for touring Texas. Blessed with historic sites, modern attractions and the winding Riverwalk, it's also a few hours drive from most major Texas cities.
By Sana Keller
Vice-President, Communications
DiscoverAmerica Committee – Canada
The summer will soon be over and fall travel plans will soon kick off for many Canadians looking to head South. With the cost of fuel continuing to climb, more and more vacationers will be looking for close-to-home getaways. This past summer, gas topped US $4 a gallon in some U.S. cities and $1.37/litre in Canada, but many Canadian travellers are still planning their road trips or flights even though airfares are soaring due to the high price of gas.
In a poll conducted in April by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and Ypartnership, 59 per cent of motorists who are planning a trip by car, truck or SUV this summer responded that “they will not change their travel plans, even with additional increases in the price of gas.” But they won’t wind up spending the entire vacation budget on fuel if they follow a few simple tips and are aware about savings for Canadians heading south.
New Hampshire Eases The Pain At The Pump!
New Hampshire continues to be a popular travel destination, despite the tough economic times, with many Canadians planning to visit due to favourable exchange rates and gas-saving offers. To that end, the state visitor’s bureau has a whole page of “gas saving offers” on its website. These include a gas credit of as much as $50 for drivers headed to The Highlands Inn in Bethlehem – 25 cents a mile or 30 cents a mile if your clients are driving a hybrid. Known for its New England thrift, authentic hospitality and pristine natural environment, it makes sense that New Hampshire lodgings, restaurants and attractions should come up with creative ways to stretch your dollars – and gas. Starting with year-round tax-free shopping and a compact geography that brings mountains and seashore within range of one tankful of gas, these added offers make New Hampshire the perfect choice for a classic summer vacation, or a weekend getaway. For gas-saving offers visit www.visitnh.gov/why-new-hampshire/Gas-and-green-offers.
Gas Saving Texas Vacation Ideas
The Lone Star State is offering plenty of options for vacationers looking for savings. In fact, every region of Texas offers attractions and destinations that can be reached with less than a tank of gas.
San Antonio is not only one of Texas’ largest cities, it is also the state’s top tourist destination. Between historic sites, novelty museums, modern attractions, fine restaurants and the winding RiverWalk, there is more than enough to fill out a vacation schedule. Just outside of San Antonio are a number of caverns and caves for those interested in exploring natural wonders. Best of all, San Antonio is within a few hours drive time of most major Texas cities.
Located less than an hour’s drive from Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, Galveston Island offers a full vacation experience reachable for many Texans with less than half a tank of gas. Swimming, sunning, fishing, surfing, golfing and birding are just a few of the outdoor recreational activities available on the island. Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Moody Gardens, the Strand and other attractions help round out the vacation itinerary. Galveston also offers a wide variety of hotels, condos and restaurants.
Canada Week At The Beach
Virginia is only 10 hours from Ontario and 12 hours from Quebec and Virginia Beach is giving Canadians one more reason to “Live the Beach Life” with its exclusive value-added program, Canada Weeks. Canadian visitors who book a six-night stay at one of the participating hotels August 10 to 28 and September 1 to 25 will receive one additional room night free. Then clients can relax and feel the warmth of the sand tickling their toes as they stroll the resort city’s sun-kissed beaches; see dolphins as their kayak slides through the ocean waves; and feast on mouthwatering seafood prepared exquisitely by local chefs. For more information on Canada Weeks savings visit www.vbfun.com.
Plan Ahead
The easiest way to save gas on a fall vacation is to pick a destination closer to home. Forty-one per cent of the respondents in the TIA-Ypartnership survey said they would make changes to their travel plans if gas prices continued to rise; they said they’d drive a shorter distance, spend less on souvenirs, meals and entertainment or shorten the trip altogether.
Other gas-saving strategies require some advance planning and organization, but are just as simple. Using an in-car navigational system or the Internet to map out routes, identifying cost-saving local transportation options and making smart lodging choices closer to attractions can all help keep your clients’ gas consumption from getting out of control. Think smart and save as you head South this Fall!
To find out more about the Discover America – Canada Committee, attend a meeting or receive the bi-monthly newsletter, contact them by fax at (416) 352-5567, by e-mail at admin@seeamerica.ca or visit www.seeamerica.ca.
