Make the Most of Summer Travel


300-travelWhether you want to travel alone, with family, find a place to unwind or the ultimate adventure, having a few insider tips under your belt always comes in handy when planning a summer getaway.

Those looking for expert advice for their next travel adventure will enjoy the information presented in the new and improved Yahoo Travel site. Giving readers a first-class ticket around the world is Editor-in-Chief Paula Froelich, an award-winning journalist, creator of the travel website A Broad Abroad and the New York Times best-selling author of the novel Mercury in Retrograde.

“There are so many things people think about when planning their vacation,” said Froelich. “This site is designed to help every kind of traveler get more from their experience, whether they’re travelling to a neighboring state or abroad.”

To make the most of your summer vacation, Froelich provides these tips for various travel scenarios:

 Save on Summer Road Trips

A new bill was proposed that gives states the freedom to enact tolls to raise revenue for the transportation infrastructure. This means your summer road trip could get more expensive. The experts at Yahoo Travel suggest using technology to save money. Some ideas include checking out GasBuddy.com for the best gas prices along the way, using the Waze app to avoid tolls and driving a hybrid car.

How to Travel Alone

Here are a couple of tips from the Yahoo Travel team for those who wish to vacation solo:

• Own it. Being alone means you are comfortable enough with your own company to enjoy being your own date.
• Eat at the bar. If you feel uncomfortable sitting at a table with empty chairs, choose to dine at the bar.
• Bring something to read in print. Whether sitting by the pool or on the plane, a book or magazine is less distracting than a digital device to those sitting around you.
• Be open to conversation with strangers. While you  should always exercise a degree of caution, you may learn about must-see attractions by chatting with those around you – especially locals.

If out-of-state or out-of-country travel isn’t in your budget or schedule, there are plenty of local and regional options available. Simply visit Yahoo.com/Travel for global city guides with information on where to stay, eat and sightsee.

Get What You Want From Hotels, Airlines and OthersThere are three basic things to think about before you complain about anything – including your travel mishaps:

• Figure out what you want before you start complaining. The more specific, the more likely you will get what you want.
• Figure out who you want to talk to. Too often, travelers vent their frustration on the first person they see, which is typically the person who is the least likely to be able to help.
• Don’t be a jerk. Those in the hospitality industry deal with people all day long. They will be more receptive to your needs if you approach them tactfully with a cool head.