Increase In Thanksgiving Travel This Year

With gas prices at a lower price than they were at last year, Thanksgiving travel is expected to be up by about 3% compared to a year ago. This great news makes us want to ask the question. Where are you planning on going for Thanksgiving this year? Will you be staying in town or driving to be with the entire family? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

To learn more about this year's travel statistics, take a look at this article from USA Today. Also, remember to stay safe and have a great time with your loved ones this Thanksgiving! There is always much to be thankful for.

Travel Tips For Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, many have plans to travel to a family get together or to warmer destinations. But how prepared are you really for your upcoming travels? We take a look a strategies and tips that may help ensure that your travels go as smoothly as possible.

Travel Light:
As more airlines start charging for checked bags, it’s a good idea to pack light and carry on your bag. But keep in mind that your fellow travelers will all have the same idea and overhead space may be tight onboard.

Choose the Best Days:
Did you know the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year closely followed by the Sunday after the big day? Avoid these days by flying out on Monday or Tuesday or even Thanksgiving morning to avoid the dreaded Wednesday travel rush. When you’re ready to head home, take flight on Friday when many have moved on from the airports to the shopping centers to score the best holiday deals.

Stay Tech Savvy:
It’s commonsense to arrive at the airport early — you’ll need the time for parking, security whatever else airports have waiting for you. But you can avoid some airport hassles by taking advantage of useful applications that can be used on your smart phone. iPhone users can get updates on the airport, including maps showing the gates and restaurant information, using the GateGuru app. Airlines including Southwest, Delta and United all have mobile websites where passengers can check in, confirm seats and keep track of their flight status. Specifically on an airline like Southwest, it’s very important to check-in to your flight 24 hours prior. By doing this ASAP ensures you a better number in line to claim the seat that you desire.

Holiday Driving:
While you certainly save money and avoid some headaches traveling by land, navigating the highways presents its own set of holiday challenges. Follow the same best practices for road travel, including avoiding the highways on the Wednesday before turkey day and the following Sunday. Plan your route ahead of time and travel with a GPS system, smart phone or old-school maps to offer alternatives if you need a Plan B.

Remember though, your travels could be a stressful situation but remember to appreciate the time you’re spending with your loved ones. Have fun this Thanksgiving, be safe and plan ahead.

Traveling Apps You Should Know About

 

As the Holidays begin to approach, many have plans to travel to different locations whether it's to visit family or just to get away. The big question is, do you have the apps necessary for traveling?

With so many apps out there today, lets take a look at which 11 apps you should have when traveling according to Buzzfeed. These apps are perfect whether you're flying or driving:

1. Translator with Speech
2. Lyft
3. WhatsApp Messenger
4. LoungeBuddy
5. XE Currency
6. Rove
7. GonnaGo
8. Travel List
9. WikiHood
10. RoadNinja
11. City Maps 2Go

Winter Weather: Is Your Car Prepared?

 

 Have you prepared your car for the winter weather that’s fast approaching? Taking care of regular maintenance needs as well as making sure your tires are rotated and inspected are huge for making sure your vehicle is winter weather proof. Here are some tips to make sure you are fully prepared for whatever this year’s winter weather decides to throw at you.

Regular Maintenance:

Now's the time to get your car up to speed on all of its regular maintenance. That means taking care of any fluids that may have been neglected while you were out enjoying the summer sun or going in for that 60,000-mile tune-up if you're due. Check, change and/or top off your oil, coolant, brakes and transmission fluid as needed. In the case of your oil or automatic transmission, make sure you get a high-quality filter, too. 


Check Your Tires:

Go ahead and have your tires rotated and inspected. The last thing you need in cold, wet weather is to be driving on bald or dry rotted tires.

Try looking into snow (or winter) tires, depending on your location or length of time you'll be spending in the snow. Winter tires are made with special low temperature resilient rubber compounds and have deep treads that grip unploughed snow and ice.

Don’t forget to make sure your spare tire has enough air in it. Once you've made sure everything looks good, take a look at your tire pressure.

Maintain the Coolant System:

The most important tip is to take the time to get your car's coolant system checked. If any part of the system comes up with a shaky bill of health, swap the parts for new ones. That means having your car's radiator pressure tested and the hoses examined for cracks or bulges.

If you can't remember the last time your water pump was replaced, or if your pump has more miles on it than what the manufacturer recommends, it's time for a new one. Even if everything comes up good to go under the hood, replacing your engine's coolant is cheap insurance against extreme temperatures. Over time, antifreeze can actually generate a weak electrical current, which can then cause oxidation and eventually failure inside of your coolant system.

Stock Your Car:

Stranded by the side of the road can be dangerous in the best of conditions, but when sub-zero temperatures or bad weather is involved, it could become deadly. Carrying these supplies is essential:

- a blanket
- jumper cables
- a flashlight
- chains
- a first-aid kit
- a small knife
- flares
- water gloves
- small shovel
- waterproof matches
- ice scraper
- a bag of sand or kitty litter to help provide traction if your car is stuck in the snow

What The Halloween Candy You Give Out Says About You

Every Halloween millions of Americans purchase their favorite candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters as they make their way around the neighborhood Halloween night. But, does the type of candy you give out say something specific about you as a person or your personality? Check out the infographic below to see what exactly each candy option says about you. Let us know if you agree in the comments section!

Driving Tips for New College Students

Your teen is getting ready for college - but will they be ready to handle driving on campus? Even if they've had some good driving experience so far, they are heading far from home, and will be driving in an unfamiliar territory - one with more pedestrians, new distractions and new destinations.

Here are some helpful tips to make the adjustment easier for your young college student.

Check your Vehicle
There are a few simple things you can check on your child's car before they leave for college. For example, make sure the headlights are in working order, that the turn signals work, that the oil level is good and that the tires are inflated properly. These little steps will help ensure a safe trip for your new college student. 

Prepare an Accident Kit
As part of the packing for school, make sure to include an auto accident kit in your child's car. The kit should include a first aid kit, blanket, flares, flashlight, batteries, jumper cables, pen, paper, disposable camera, emergency contact numbers and proof of insurance. 

Take a Tour
Once everything is unpacked, go on a little road trip around the college's town. During your journey, make it a point to find out where the local grocery store, gas station, eateries and all-purpose stores, such as Wal-Mart and Target, are located. Get a feel for any one-way streets and the flow of the traffic around campus. This will not only be helpful when you come to visit, but it will also make your child feel more comfortable about navigating around their new home. 

Parking Considerations
Make sure to take a look at your son or daughter's designated parking lot. This will not only help you evaluate the surrounding area, but it will also give you the opportunity to refresh your child on some smart parking tips, such as always park under a light, avoid overgrown areas, park close to the street or bus stop and be aware of your surroundings.

Check Local Conditions
Driving in a new environment can often catch even the best drivers off guard. That is why it is important for college students to drive cautiously and be aware of their surroundings. If applicable, ask what the town is like to drive around during the winter, or during other times of year with extreme weather.

Remember the Pedestrians
The area around a university will always have a larger number of pedestrians than other towns, with even larger numbers as classes end and the students make their way to their next lesson. That is why it's important to remind your teen driver of these important pedestrian tips:

• Stop for pedestrians crossing at all corners or crosswalks
• Don't pass a car that has stopped at a crosswalk
• Always yield to the pedestrian
•  

Car Theft

According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 16,000 cases of auto theft are reported each year on college campuses. Make sure to remind your teen driver to always lock their car doors and never leave valuable items inside their car, such as CDs, iPod or laptops.

Don't drink and drive
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reported that 2.1 million students between the ages of 18 and 24 drove under the influence of alcohol last year. Don't let your child become one of these statistics, talk to them about the risks of drinking and driving.

Good Grades might mean Savings
Many auto insurance companies offer a good grade discount to college students who maintain a "B" average or better. Not only does this provide parents with a 10 to 25 percent discount on their auto insurance, but it also gives college students an extra incentive to keep their grades up while away from home.

Roadside Assistance
While your teen driver is away at school you may want to consider purchasing a roadside assistance membership, such as the American Automobile Association.

Insuring your College Student's Car
If your teen driver is planning on taking your car to college, make sure to notify your auto insurance company that your car will be housed at a different location. Depending on where your child is going to school, your auto insurance rate may go up or down. To find the best rate to fit your budget, visit Insurance.com's auto comparison site. There, you'll be able to compare multiple auto insurance rates from best-in-class companies, helping you save time and money on your auto insurance coverage

Hyundai Is Set to Debut a Rear Wheel Drive Sports Sedan in 2016

Hyundai has been building out its vehicle lineup with new nameplates and eye-catching redesigns of existing products since 2010.
Now that it fields an entry in most major vehicle segments, with the exception of a pickup, Hyundai is turning its attention to keeping its lineup fresh rather than adding nameplates.

Its Accent subcompact and Elantra compact cars will be freshened this year after its $60,000-plus Equus luxury car gets an updated interior and other improvements this summer.

Next year two of Hyundai's most important vehicles get major updates. The second-generation Genesis goes on sale in the second quarter after it makes its debut at the Detroit auto show in January. Hyundai's bread-and-butter Sonata mid-sized sedan gets new sheet metal, a new interior and ride and handling improvements for its 2015-model re-engineering next summer.