The recession and the bad economy have generated a new word – staycation – and if you’re like most Americans, you’ve spent the last few summers staying home using up your vacation time and keeping costs under control.
This summer, as the price for a gallon of gas continues to be high (hovering around $4 in most parts of the country), Americans are finally deciding to take a summer vacation. After all, a ‘staycation’ isn’t really a vacation after all. That being said, most families are still facing restricted budgets and a new appreciation for getting and remaining debt-free, so everyone is hunting for bargains.
The all-time favorite – the summer roadtrip
Some Americans are turning again to that all-American of summertime trips – the family road trip. In The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Best Family Destinations (available in paperback), the author, Kyle McCarthy of the FamilyTravelForum.com outlines the top 200 destinations for family travelers in five U.S. regions, Canada, and Mexico – all driving destinations. You can read a full review here.
Budget Travel recently published the Secret Beaches of North America – nine spots from coast to coast where couples and families can have the sand and the sea nearly to themselves.
How travel insurance helps in a crisis
Of course, when you’re considering a trip like a road trip, remember that travel insurance isn’t just for long, expensive trips abroad or cruises. Travel insurance plans provide protection for all kinds of trips – even road trips- and the cancellation, delay, medical and evacuation protections still apply.
Plus, if you choose to rent a car for your summer road trip, consider insuring that car with car rental collision coverage so that your own automobile coverage isn’t affected. Travel insurance can also include benefits such as roadside assistance services that you may not need on a regular basis, but will find super-handy if you’re stuck outside Yellowstone National Park with a flat tire and van full of hungry kids.
