Road & Travel Magazine's Blog

2010 Kia Soul Exclaim Review – Creating Memories

by Courtney Caldwell

 

Lime Rickey. That’s the first thing that came to mind when this week’s test car arrived; the new 2010 Kia Soul Exclaim. I haven’t thought about a Lime Rickey since I was a kid growing up in total anonymity in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the union. Suddenly, a flood of wonderful childhood memories filled my head. We were off to a good start.

Its shade of lime green, which Kia calls "Alien", and unique styling certainly stood out in the crowd.

 

Everywhere I went from farm roads to freeways people stopped and stared, with the same head-scratching look of amazement on their faces. Perhaps Kia should have named the vehicle the Kia Alien instead of the paint! With thumbs up and smiles of approval it was clear most wondered what the heck it was and who made it, a good thing for Kia indeed.

 

I must say I was impressed with its easy handling and numerous comfort creatures inside. What I liked most about the Soul was its dashboard simplicity. Finding the radio band button was a cinch, as were the A/C and heating controls, leaving my eyes on the road where they belonged instead of constantly searching for the right buttons. In my book, that was a huge plus in the safety department. It seems so many of the high-end vehicles place the controls in the strangest places making them difficult to find while driving. I’m not sure why they do that but what I do know is that the Kia Soul offered one of the easiest and most manageable dashboards I’ve ever seen.

 

With a global warming score of 8 out of 10 and fuel economy estimates of 24MPG city and 30MPG highway, the Kia Soul is more earth friendly than many others in its class. This model came fully loaded with more than you’d expect for its remarkably low price of $18K. Add to that its 10 year/100,000 warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance, and it’s safe to say that this little SUV is more than capable of reaching destinations beyond the tiny borders of Rhode Island and creating a multitude of new memories along the way.   

 

To quench your curiosity about the 2010 Kia Soul Exclaim, click here.

 

For more 2010 New Car Reviews from RTM, click here.

 

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Halloween Weekend Getaways for Grown-Ups

Travel-Ticker.com, an inspirational travel website, just announced its list of the five best Halloween getaway ideas for 2009. Halloween is not a holiday just for trick-or-treaters; it is a much-loved holiday for adults, too (some even fall into both categories!). “Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, it provides consumers with the opportunity to check out the festivities in other cities with a weekend getaway," explains Barbara Messing, Vice President of Travel-Ticker.com.

 

Below are Travel-Ticker.com's top five best places to go for Halloween weekend getaways, which are sure to put a spell on you:

 

1. Universal Studios Los Angeles: Located in the heart of the entertainment district overlooking the Hollywood Hills, the infamous "West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnival," and "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios are must-see “Hollyweird” attractions.  The Six Flags "Fright Fest" at Magic Mountain, Knott's "Scary Farm" Halloween Haunt and "Dare to walk the Plank of the Queen Mary" in Long Beach are also nearby in SoCal.

 

2. Las Vegas: Real spine-tingling savings at the hip and trendy Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Stay for as little as $41 midweek and $71 on weekends, or snag a stay at the just-opened Paradise Tower for as little as $53. Whether you choose from one of the costumed clubs, or Haunted Vegas Tours, Sin City offers up some of the best Halloween celebrations around – whatever tickles your fancy!

 

3. Orlando: Universal Orlando hotel with shuttle service to parks, or the Four Points by Sheraton Orlando are both only $59/night. Enjoy family festivities at "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" at Disneyworld, "Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular" at SeaWorld Orlando, "Zoo Boo Bash" at Central Florida's Zoo or spooktacular fun at "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios. You can't go wrong with the lowest rates of the year!

 

4. Atlanta: The W Atlanta, a charmed, chic TripAdvisor in Atlanta’s trendy and action-packed neighborhood offers access to the "Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade". Also visit the haunted hot spots in the metro-Atlanta area such as the Civil War era Devil's Turnaroun Cemetery.

 

5. Nationwide: Bite into the Big Apple and slither down to the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, or delight in the frightful trip up to Sleepy Hallow, NY. Get your broomstick over to Boston and visit Salem, MA which is home to the witch trials of 1692 and the annual month-long "Haunted Happenings Festival" of ghost tours. Join the San Francisco haunts for Yerba Buena's Halloween Costume Walk or the spooky, kooky club celebrations.

 

(Source: Travel-Ticker.com)

 

For travel tips from RTM, visit our Travel Advice & Tips section.

 

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Trip Cancellations: What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

For really big, expensive trips, travel insurance is a MUST. But, like any other insurance policy, it's gonna cost you to really cover everything. Travel "mishaps" like hurricanes and sickness are often avoided in insurance policies, but right now, both are huge concerns. With swine flu raising hell in the states and strange illnesses to be picked up in other countries, travel's one of the easiest ways to pick up a deadly, or at least vacation-killing, bug. With the effects of climate change, hurricanes are obviously becoming more of a risk. But can you refund a vacation if the area becomes swine-flu infected?

Trip-cancellation and trip-interruption (TCI) insurance refunds any payments you can't first recover from suppliers if you cancel or shorten your vacation for a reason specifically listed in the insurers' contracts. But, it’s hard to find a company that would reimburse you if you cancel because you're worried about contracting flu in an area where flu is prevalent. In fact, many companies specifically exclude covering fear- or worry- based cancellations.

For example, Travel Guard Insurance states that it does not cover cancellation even for trips to places cited in official government warnings.

 

If pre-booking travel plans makes you nervous for any reason, consider a "Cancel for Any Reason" or "Change your Mind" travel insurance plan. If you or a travel companion gets sick, you change your mind, or anything unexpectedly comes up, you can be refunded for the vacation you never got to take. By buying this pricier insurance option, you won't have to worry what is and isn't covered in the normal policy - you are totally above the rules.

 

For more travel advice from RTM, visit our Travel Advice & Tips section.

 

 

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Adventure Travel for Kids: Most Family-Friendly Hotels

Of course kids will absolutely adore these themed hotels, but the biggest value is how they make vacationing a breeze for parents. When the hotel is a destination in itself it provides all the vacation entertainment the kids can handle!

Nickelodeon Family Suites: Florida, United States - This hotel's suites are outrageous and unique, providing excitement from sunrise to sunset. The 2-Bedroom Kidsuites are themed around some of the most popular Nickelodeon Characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and The Fairly OddParents. The integrated waterpark is sure to keep kids active all day.

Fantasyland Hotel: Edmonton, Canada - Each suite is themed after 1 of 11 different fantasies, like Hollywood, Roman, Polynesian, African or even Trucks - most of which have jacuzzis built into the themes. Located in the middle of an enormous mall and entertainment center, the only thing anyone won’t find here is boredom. There’s also the Galaxyland Amusement Park, World Waterpark, Professor Wem’s Miniature Golf, the Sea Life Caverns, the Ice Palace skating rink, movie theatres, arcades, cool stores and a Sony Playstation in every room.

Baumhaus Hotel: Neißeaue, Germany - This treehouse resort/adventure park is one of the craziest of the crazy hotels - but it's actually very kid-friendly. Choose 1 of the 5 rustic and oddly-formed 2-story treehouses, located about 20 to 30 feet up in a tree for a truly unforgettable family experience. How to climb to your bed? It's a secret.

For more family travel adventure ideas, visit RTM's Adventure Travel or Family Travel Sections.

 

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog Bookmark this on Delicious

Love, Tetons, & The 2010 Subaru Outback: Car Review

By Sara Hoffman

Ever ridden a rollercoaster called the Mad Mouse? Its small, wide cars make tight, flat turns on a narrow track, giving riders the exhilarating rush that they may fall off, but with the security of a seatbelt and knowledge that they are safe inside a theme park. I have to say, even behind the driver’s seat in a similar but trackless situation, I felt just as secure in the 2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited, which I test drove with a fellow journalist through the Grand Teton National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Winding up and down the rollercoaster-esque (and pretty treacherous, in my opinion) road, which took us to the top of one of the area's most intense ski mountains should have been a challenge - but the Outback seemed to do all the work. It was soon clear that Subarus are made to get dirty, as a thick film of road dust scattered over the back windshield.

Its incredible maneuverability easily handled 90 degree turns on sharp inclines - even the miniscule distance between its wheels and the edge of the deadly cliff couldn't cause the usual neck-pinching tension I get from a highway commute.

Aggressively priced, the fully loaded 2010 Subaru 3.6R Limited retails for just under $31K but the base price for an Outback 2.5i is less than $23K. Versatile and roomy inside and out, its high ground clearance enhances safety while on rough roads, unpaved trails, and in snow, without sacrificing the comfort of a lower step-in height. The crossover's electronic parking brake with Hill Holder came in handy when we stopped on a steep incline for a photo op. With great fuel mileage for a crossover (29 mpg) and built in a U.S. plant that produces no landfill waste, the Outback is also a responsible buy. 

After a brief lunch stop on the mountain plateau, we returned to our test vehicles to find the word "love" written across the Outback's windshield through the accumulated dirt. The Jackson Hole local residents, who had taken a ski lift to the mountain top to enjoy the view, were huge Outback fans. I guess it pays to leave the dirt on your Subaru window!

For more on the 2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited, click here.

Access other 2010 New Car Reviews from RTM here.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Amusement Parks Across the Nation Get Scary

In search of a mini October getaway? One option for a Halloween-time getaway is to check out one of the 81% of all amusement parks that become haunted during this month. Haunted attractions at amusement parks have become more and more prevalent over the last 15 years, offering events from terrifying to family-friendly.

Some current Halloween events include:

Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., hosts the annual “Hall of Terror” haunted house attraction beginning Friday, Oct. 9. In addition to the haunted house experience, guests float down the “Haunted River Ride” filled with surprises.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pa., unleashes “Terror Behind the Walls” select evenings from Sept 18 – Nov. 7, featuring five haunted attractions housed within the 11-acre abandoned prison. New for 2009, the penitentiary adds the “Infirmary” attraction, inviting visitors into the prison’s long-abandoned operating rooms, recovery wards, sterilization chambers, and morgue.

Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, revisits its “Halloween Haunt 2009” for adult park-goers ready for a scare. Now 16 full nights with more terror, the event features more than 500 creatures and costumed characters, 13 haunted attractions, and hair-raising rides, including the new “Diamondback” coaster. The event runs during select times Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 25 – Oct. 31.

New for 2009, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach Museum of Fun in El Cerrito, Calif., celebrates the Halloween season every weekend in October by turning out the lights and letting guests experience “The Haunted Museum.” Each weekend will be different: Oct. 3 – 4 is “Witches' Weekend”; Oct. 10 – 11 is devoted to “Great Ghosts”; Oct.17 – 18 is “The Dark Mystery”; Oct. 24 – 25 is “Zombies Alive”; and the weekend of Halloween the “Killer Klowns Take Over.”

See the International Association of Amusement Parks' entire list here.

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Adventure Travel section.

>

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Extra Baggage: Airlines Increasing Charges

Pack lightly, because airlines are cracking down on baggage charges for 2009 and 2010. Many airlines offer perks programs which exempt or reduce frequent customers these charges, and discounts for pre-paying charges online. Overweight, oversized, and internationally travelling bags may be charged more or less, and all baggage fees are subject to change. For all the airports listed, a carry-on and personal item are allowed on board. Charges apply both ways for round trip travel. These charges apply to economy or coach-class tickets and usually vary for higher class tickets. This list is in order from best deal on baggage charges to most expensive.

Click here to see the current list.

Some argue that baggage allowances should be universal, but the counterargument is that differing baggage allowances allow airlines to be competitive, and customers can use these differences as a deciding factor when booking flights. Most flyers, however, rely on factors such as cost of flight, whether or not miles will apply to their frequent flyer points, amount of stops, and reputation of airline to make their chose their flying partners. When people have their mind set, extra baggage costs may just be… well, extra baggage.

For more on airlines from RTM, visit our Airline Rules section.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Sit Right to Avoid Neck Pain Caused By Driving

Because driving a motor vehicle is a constant task in a very fixed sitting posture, unlike sitting in an office chair, the extra stress has been proven to cause neck and back problems. The driver’s intense focus on avoiding an accident prohibits his or her natural weight shifting while driving, but correct posture in the driver’s seat can decrease the risk. Here are some tips for adjusting what you do before you start your drive and changing the way you drive:

• Start with good driving posture. The best angle for the back of your seat is at 100 degrees, which is just shy of straight. Place your hands in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the steering wheel and elbows comfortably on the armrests if you have them.

• Support your head. Adjust your headrest so that it touches the middle part of the back of your head.

 

• Support your lower back. If your car seat offers lumbar support, adjust it to fill the space at your lower back; if not, a small pillow placed against the bottom part of your seat back will maintain the right shape from tailbone to neck. Also, make sure your seat is close enough to the steering wheel so that you don't have to lean forward.

 

• Adjust your mirrors. Give yourself the widest field of vision with all your mirrors so you don't have to move your head around to see.

 

• Avoid eyestrain. Driving with poor vision can lead to eyestrain and cause you to crane your neck forward, which puts pressure on your neck muscles. If you're straining to see while driving, you need to get your vision checked. It sounds obvious, but make sure your windshield is clean to help you see clearly. If you're driving in bright sunlight, use sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV protection.

 

• Take a break. If you start to get a stiff neck, are feeling neck pain, or want to prevent it, pull into the next safe rest stop. Do some stretching and walk off the kinks.

 

There are also some safety risks involved with sitting the wrong way while driving. A study using computer modeling to simulate rear-end accidents, concluded that the headrest or backrest should be no more than about 2.5 inches away from the back of your head, to keep soft tissue from being injured in the event of a rear-end collision. The key to the adjustment is to not recline the seat, rather tilt it toward your body, so that it nearly touches the back of your head when you are positioned as you normally drive.

For more safe driving tips, visit RTM's Auto Advice & Tips section.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

New Car Test Drive: 2009 Audi Q5

By Thom Blackett

There’s lots of talk in our society about what qualifies as too big versus too small, with the focus centering on large houses, famished starlets, and everything in between. May we suggest that folks simply shoot for a happy medium – a size that suits you and makes you comfortable. This appropriately-sized mentality is behind the development of a breed of vehicles dubbed crossovers, one of which is the 2009 Audi Q5. It provides a smaller alternative to Audi’s Q7 SUV, offers more utility than the Audi A4 wagon, and strikes a balance between the less spacious Mercedes-Benz GLK350 and the pricier BMW X3.

Shoppers interested in Audi’s newest utility vehicle can plan on laying out at least $37,200, which is about $9,000 cheaper than an Audi Q7. Of course, select a higher trim level, start adding on options like the Luxury Package, booming Bang & Olufsen sound system, or the MMI navigation unit, and that mid-$30,000s price will disappear sooner than a Krispy Kreme in a squad car. Our well-appointed tester rang up at nearly $53,000, but like all Q5s, played host to standard features such as leather upholstery, heated mirrors, stability control, six airbags, and a tire pressure monitor.

 

Buckled in and hoping to avoid the use of those last few safety items, we hit the roads of Southern California in our Audi, ultimately walking away with mixed impressions. To its credit, the Q5’s standard quattro all-wheel-drive system makes for impressive handling on twisty roads while not delivering an overly harsh ride around town, and the six-speed automatic transmission is blissfully smooth. Add to that comfortable seating and more rear leg room than its primary competitors, and all would appear rosy. But on the flip side of the coin are narrow rear seat foot wells, an optional MMI navigation system overwrought with complexity and lacking necessary simplicity, and top-notch materials offset by seemingly cheap bits used for primary dials and controls.

 

With that said, perfection is an elusive goal, and this miniature Q7 commits no major transgressions (aside from the frustrating MMI). As is, the 2009 Audi Q5 deserves the consideration of luxury crossover shoppers, especially those with a taste for driving excitement.

 

Specifications

Test Vehicle: 2009 Audi Q5

Base Price: $37,200

Price as Tested: $52,475

Engine: 3.2-liter V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

EPA Fuel Economy: 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway

NHTSA/IIHS Frontal Crash Ratings: 5 stars / Good

NHTSA/IIHS Side Impact Ratings: 5 stars / Good

Also Consider: BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, Volvo XC60

 

For more information see Road & Travel’s Audi Buyer’s Guide or visit audiusa.com.

 

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Don't Bump your Bumper!

You'd think the purpose of a bumper would explain itsself: bumpers are for bumping. Well, today, they're just part of the design, costing on average $4,500 to fix. Most are smooth, soft-plastic "fascias" that add to the car's demeanor but are easily damaged - the term bumper is practically an oxymoron. But who knows how to pronounce "fascia"?

Your best bet? Drive safe, or find a good deal on repairs.

Tips to protect your bumper:
-Drive as if your car's bumper were made of fine china - or hundred dollar bills.
-Park away from other, less careful, drivers.
-Don't overrun parking curbs, but if you do, don't immediately back up; this could pull the entire fascia off. Examine the problem and consider calling a tow company.
-Try before you buy (or consult the IIHS's crash tests for bumper damage costs).

What models' bumpers are the least-costly to repair?
Ford Focus
Mazda 6
Scion xB
Smart Fortwo

For more car care tips, visit RTM's Car Care & Maintenance section.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan