Road & Travel Magazine's Blog

New for 9.1.10 - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee plus...

RTM Update!

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Road Test Review by Sue Mead; the Dangers of Texting While Driving; Girlfriend Getaways on the Rise; the Most Scenic Train Trips in the World; Making Pet Travel More Friendly; and Slow Pokes in the Fast Lane. Go to Road & Travel Magazine now. 

Texticle Alert: Your Next Text Could Kill a Kid!

As cell phones become more popular on the road, driving tragedies involving teenagers text messaging while behind the wheel have increased in frequency. Parents need to take steps to prevent dangerous driving distractions.

To help keep your teen safe while they are in the car, Students Against Destructive Decisions recommends parents follow these guidelines for teaching their kids about driving distractions.

• Know and enforce your state’s Graduated Driver License laws and restrictions, including unsupervised driving, time of day and passengers in the car.
• Sign a teen driving contract such as SADD’s Contract for Life

New for 8.15.10 - Top Rated Beach Resorts in Mexico

See what's new in Road & Travel Magazine this week from the best beach resorts in Mexico to all new car reviews on the sexy Mazda RX-8 and Suzuki Kizashi. And for those of us getting up there in age... safe driving tips. Also, are you planning a last summer trip? Check this out!

 

RTM Launches 14th Annual Sexy Car Buyer's Guide

 
Hello faithful RTM Blog readers... we appreciate the support you've sent our way since the RTM blog has been up and running and we look forward to entertaining and educating you even further with the relaunch of the RTM website. It never went away. In fact, RTM has been up and running for 22 years; however due to the recession and subsequent shortage of staff, we were challenged with keeping up two blogs and publishing new articles and covers in the RTM website until now.

That said, effective August 1, 2010, RTM is back on track with the relaunch of its new home page design, which leads with its 14th Annual Sexy Car Buyer's Guide. We'll be publishing all new articles and home pages on the 1st and 15th of every month. A link to each new issue will be posted in this blog for easy access, and as a reminder that all new content has been posted  for your viewing pleasure. Starting in 2011, RTM will return to its weekly format.

Thank you for your support as RTM enters into the this new chapter of its third decade. Courtney Caldwell, RTM Editor-in-Chief.

Mommy's Guide to Cars & Tires E-book

Today’s hectic family schedules often leave little room to take care of the “little things.” However, car maintenance should never be one of those little things that falls through the cracks. By taking just a few minutes to educate yourself, it could help keep your family safe and save both time and money. Simple things like changing your oil, rotating your tires and checking tire pressure are very important and can make all the difference.

 

Automotive safety is about more than just car maintenance. Being prepared for emergencies and incorporating certain safe driving techniques can help protect your family and cut costs.

 

Uniroyal Tire’s free e-book, “Mommy’s Guide to Cars & Tires,” is a great resource for moms and families. Available at www.UniroyalTires.com, you will find helpful information about all of the above topics. No family should get on the road without knowing this basic advice; it can give you peace of mind to know you are doing what you can. Since safety is paramount on the road, reading this free e-book will give you great tips to make your daily trips and long excursions even safer.

Drive a Luxury Car Despite the Cost

Everyone admires the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but living the lap of luxury can seem nearly impossible. However, driving luxury cars doesn't have to burn a hole in your pocket. Leasing a car from an online lease transfer source is a increasingly more popular option to drive a luxury vehicle without the expensive committment of buying it.

The top 10 leased luxury vehicles are:

1. BMW 3 Series
2. Mercedes C Class
3. BMW X Series
4. Land Rover Sport
5. Cadillac Escalade
6. Cadillac CTS
7. BMW 5 Series
8. Mercedes SL Class
9. Mercedes E350
10. Mercedes S550

RTM's Luxury Vehicles Become Top Lease Choices article is a great source for more information on luxury cars and how to lease them.

Stay Safe On Your Road Trip

Heading on a road trip this summer? Proper preparation is key for a smooth, problem-free ride and fun for everyone.

Is Your Car Road Worthy?
As obvious as it sounds, you want to make sure that you're vehicle will be able to make it to your destination and back. Check the oil, coolant, wipers, lights, horn, belts, hoses, battery, and tires before take off on your journey. For information on how to prepare your vehicle for a road trip, check out RTM's article Vacation Car Care Tips.

Take the Train Instead

If you don't want to spend your hard-earned cash on gasoline or your hard-earned vacation time stuck in airports, you may think your vacation options are limited. However, trains are a great way to take a vacation. Luxury train lines are located all over the world, and have all of your favorite top of the line accommodations.

Venice Simplon Orient Express
This luxury liner travels from Paris passing through the Swiss and Austrian Alps. The trains stops in Budapest, Hungary where guests stay at the Mariott Hotel. The next morning, passengers head along to Bucharest Romania, where they engage in a tour of the city, before embarking again, and finishing out the trip  in Istanbul.

Air Conditioning or Open Windows

The dog days of summer are here and the days are only getting hotter. Nothing is worse than driving in a overheated car, the steering wheel is hot, the interior is hot, and all that hot air is difficult to breathe in. Air-conditioning is one of the great features on modern cars, but the fuel-efficiency of it comes under question. For those who are sweltering in their cars trying to save a buck, you will be happy to know that it isn't necessary — just take the freeway.

Air conditioning is actually more fuel efficient when traveling at highway speeds because open windows create a drag on the car. This drag will make it harder for your car to move foward, thus requiring more gas to get it moving. It's the opposite for stop-and-go traffic; the actual air conditioning system will use more gas than just driving with the windows down. If you can, try to bypass as much stop-and-go traffic as possible. The more time you spend at a stopped position, the more gas you waste.

If you want to save fuel regardless of the traffic situation, try these tips...

Wet N' Wild Vacation Ideas

One of most iconic summer fun images is the sunny, sandy beach.  There are many options when selecting a beach to go to, as beaches range from lakeshores to ocean coasts, family-oriented to secluded and completely private.

Family Beach Time
Many stretches of beach today are family-friendly, as beach-combing with the family is a easy and fun family activity. The U.S. boasts all types of family friendly beaches where you participate in water sports and volleyball matches, or just walk along the coast and collect shells. Fore more family friendly beach vacation ideas, check out RTM's Top 10 Family Friendly Beaches.

Go Nude
For those who are more comfortable in their birthday suits, nude beaches and nude recreation is a growing industry. Nude resorts provide everything other resorts do, and you don't have to be clothed! Fore more information on nude resorts, check out RTM's Best Nudist Resorts article.

Water Park Fun
But if beaches aren't your thing, and you're still looking out for water-related fun, water parks are another great option. Water parks provide the cheery environment and excitement of theme parks, but with the added bonus of being able to cool down in summer heat. Check out RTM's Top 5 Water Park Picks for more information.

Indoor Water Park Innovation
However, if the weather doesn't agree with your water park plans, there are now indoor water parks to broaden your options. Avalanche Bay Indoor Water Park in Boyne Falls, Mich., is a place where you can enjoy water park favorites such as lazy rivers and water slides under a solid Swiss-Austrian roof. For more information about Avalanche Bay, see RTM's review of Avalanche Bay Indoor Water Park.

Whitewater Rafting Thrills
White-water rafting is another exciting option for water related travel. Rafting along a river can be a heart-pumping ride. Rapids vary among levels called classes, level one which requires no skill to level six that even some of the most experienced rafter wouldn't touch. Rafting is available all over the United States and internationally. See RTM's review of a California rafting experience for more information.