There’s nothing like a road trip when it comes to adventure! According to AAA, nearly 100 million Americans headed on vacation last summer, and a little more than half of these travelers opted for the great American road trip. Road trips can be short and sweet, or extend a week or longer in order to fully connect with the region and its people. How long is right for you?
The choice really depends on how much time you can take off from work and how much money you have to spend. That’s where GigWorx can help. With GigWorx, you work where and when you want. If you want to take off a week or longer for a vacation, that’s totally your choice. If you’re vacationing and decide to extend your stay (you’re just having too much fun!), you simply stay.
As a gig worker, you’re never tied to a strict schedule. When you return, that’s when you can hit the pavement running, picking up as many shifts and gigs as you want to replenish your savings. But consider this: If you plan on hitting the open road this summer, the time is now to start saving up for gas money, hotel rooms, and exciting excursions. Road trip costs run the gamut, depending on how far you travel, where you sleep and eat, how many miles per gallon your car gets, etc.
Here are some costs to consider when saving for a vacation with gig work:
The cost of a gallon of gasoline hasn’t been this low since 2004, making 2020 a great year to plan a road trip. To calculate how much you’ll spend on gas for your trip, you’ll need the following information: total distance of the trip (D), how many miles per gallon your car gets (MPH) and the current cost of a gallon of gas (C). Then, use this simple formula to get an estimate for the price of gasoline for your trip: D divided by MPH multiplied by C.
Tip: Get a tune-up before your trip to make sure your car is in tip-top shape. You don’t want to ruin the vibe by getting stuck somewhere because your battery dies or you need to change your sparkplugs.
When it’s time to plan where you’re going to spend the night, the choice of accommodations is really up to you and your co-travelers. Depending on how much you want to spend, choices range from hotels/motels, glamping/camping, staying with friends or family, B&Bs, renting rooms through Airbnb, or even car camping. Yup, you read right, car camping. The app, Allstays, hooks you up with campgrounds, RV parks with and without internet, parking lots, and rest areas to spend the night, many for just a few dollars a day.
For some last minute deals on hotels try Hotel Tonight. Whether you choose a basic, hip, or lux room, this app offers travelers deep discounts for unbooked hotel rooms. You can filter your search by city, attraction, map location, and other criteria. Watch out for the Daily Drop for even further savings (you only have 15 minutes to book!).
Tip: Try switching things up. Camping and roughing it can be fun. But after a couple of days of sleeping on the ground, you might want to splurge a bit and spend a night or two at a nice hotel, complete with shower and breakfast.
Food is another area where you can budget accordingly. Of course if you’re a foodie, the trip might be all about exciting your taste buds so this is probably where you’ll want to indulge. For others who think of food simply as fuel, you can save money by packing your own food.
Tip: Agreeing on food can be contentious. It’s a breeding ground for heated arguments. One person wants a delicious, relaxing meal at a nice restaurant (it’s all about the ambiance) while another is happy calling an apple and a bag of trail mix a meal. Make sure to discuss meal options before gassing up and getting on the road. Most likely you’ll need to compromise and grab something “quick and on the go” interspersed with an occasional meal at a nice restaurant. It’s all in the compromise!
A New York Times travel article says that the best road trips are those that “have multiple overnight stops with activities and attractions along the way, where travelers can relax, leave at the last minute, and discover historical sites, local cuisine, museums, shopping, hiking, festivals and theme parks.”
You’re probably used Groupon to score deals on local dining, services, and goods, but it’s also a great way to find fun activities to do while on your trip. Just type in your destination zip code and select the “Things To Do” category. You’ll find all kinds of interesting activities, such as locally themed tours, wine tasting, plays, shows, cooking classes, bar crawls, and a whole lot more—all at discounted rates.
Tip: Airbnb Excursions offers one-of-a-kind activities hosted by locals. You’ll find all types of unique experiences from tracking bumblebees in the redwoods to kayaking with corgis. Make sure to read the reviews before booking! Not all are licensed tour guides so the results will vary.
We hope we got you exciting thinking about your next vacation. Picking up shifts with GigWorx is a perfect solution to begin saving for your next road trip! Start a vacation savings account and watch it grow from zero to enough to spend on a fun-packed, once-in-a-lifetime, never-to-be-forgotten road trip!