Travel & Vacations

Being flexible with dates can save lots of money in all aspects of travel, and sometimes just a couple of hours difference in flight times can yield savings of $100 or more. Compare prices a few days...

Being flexible with dates can save lots of money in all aspects of travel, and sometimes just a couple of hours difference in flight times can yield savings of $100 or more. Compare prices a few days before and after your ideal date – many online companies and travel sites let you automatically compare prices within a few days – and you might be surprised at how much you can save on travel. Always start a search by pretending you have the most flexibility, you can always narrow this later on. Try Hotwire's Flexible Date Search to find the lowest fares in a 30-day range.

Oftentimes you get a better rate and more flexible terms (such as for refunds and changes) when you book travel directly with the provider. But other times you can benefit from the price protections...

Oftentimes you get a better rate and more flexible terms (such as for refunds and changes) when you book travel directly with the provider. But other times you can benefit from the price protections offered by online travel agents. For example, Expedia offers a Best Price Guarantee, promising a $50 travel coupon on top of a refund if someone books flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or activities for less than you paid.  Orbitz's Price Assurance offers to automatically send you a check if someone books a flight or prepaid hotel room for less. Travelocity offers similar protection with their PriceGuardian service.

Coupons can be found almost anywhere. Before booking any trip, look online and in newspapers and magazines for coupons and promotional codes. Check your email – especially if you subscribe to any...

Coupons can be found almost anywhere. Before booking any trip, look online and in newspapers and magazines for coupons and promotional codes. Check your email – especially if you subscribe to any travel companies or websites that send out deal specials – and your snail mail, too. Credit card statements often include special discounts on travel, and so do partners of other companies you may already do business with. Even after you reach your destination, pick up “Welcome” magazines & local brochures at your arrival airport, hotel, car rental agency and elsewhere – they are full of useful information and coupons, too. Huge travel & sightseeing discounts exist everywhere, you just have to look for them. Consider buying the Entertainment book at Entertainment.com for even more savings in whatever market you are traveling to.

Discounted travel is often available to students, seniors, AAA members, military, government employees, corporate partners, union members and veterans. If you fit in to any of those categories –...

Discounted travel is often available to students, seniors, AAA members, military, government employees, corporate partners, union members and veterans. If you fit in to any of those categories – and most people do, particularly if you work for a big company – ask the travel supplier if they have a discount for you. Remember to bring proof of your eligibility when you check in. It costs nothing to ask!

Summer is a wonderful time to travel with your family, and AAA has been reporting record numbers of us are taking car trips to get to our destination. Gas prices are not quite as high as they were in...

Summer is a wonderful time to travel with your family, and AAA has been reporting record numbers of us are taking car trips to get to our destination. Gas prices are not quite as high as they were in the spring, but they can still put a dent in any family’s budget with fill-ups costing $50 or more. Here are some tips to save on gas and ways to get your whole family involved, just like we do at LOZO!

Before you dive into these tips, here’s something to keep in mind: every extra MPG you save can add $100 or more to your pocket each year. So, even though some of these changes may seem small, they really do add up!

• Lighten the Load: The heavier a vehicle is, the more gas it consumes. Cleaning out your car and storing items you don't need regularly will make your car lighter to drive. We turned our car cleanout into a family activity and encouraged everyone to reduce the number of items they needed on hand (and to vacuum up all the lost Cheerios). Getting 100 lbs lighter can add 1-2% to your MPG, that’s up to 8 cents per gallon saved every time you fill up!
• Slow Down: Speed limits aren’t just for safety, they also make your car more fuel efficient. Driving 55mph saves 21% in fuel economy over driving at 65mph. In fact, every 5 miles per hour you drive over 50 is like paying an additional $0.26 per gallon. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by up to 33% as well. Not to mention, safer driving teaches habits you’ll want your kids to emulate, and they’ll will be even safer in that back seat. 
• Save up to 25% on Gas by Tuning up Your Car: Basic car repair can be very easy and teaching your child these skills is a great bonding experience (as well as a great money-saving lesson.) A poorly tuned vehicle is less efficient and wastes gas. Similarly, clogged air filters lead to poor air flow & dirty oil decreases performance—both of which worsen gas mileage. If you are unfamiliar with what to do, your local auto parts store can give you free advice or you can borrow a free book from the library. Keeping your car running well and your fluids changed and replenished regularly will save you money on gas and at the repair shop. The small cost of these repairs can save up to $500 per year on fuel. 
• Plan Your Route: It costs around 15-20 cents in gas to drive 1 mile, not to mention other wear and tear on your car. Get the family together to plan destinations for your journey, and then try optimizing your route to minimize the miles you have to drive. Use online tools like Google Maps to plan optimal routes with multiple destinations. 
• Properly Inflate Your Tires: Check your tire pressure regularly. Over- or under-inflated tires make your car run less efficiently, resulting in lower gas mileage. In fact, every pound of under-inflation equals a 6% drop in fuel-efficiency, that’s more than 20 cents per gallon wasted. Find the recommended tire pressure for your car in the owner's manual or printed on the jamb of the driver's side door. Most gas stations have free air and tire pressure gauges to use, and having properly inflated tires is like getting an extra ½ gallon of gas for free. Checking and inflating tires is fun for kids, but always make sure your child is fully supervised. 
• Let Kids do the Math: If your kids have learned math and division, let them put it to practical use by figuring out your MPG rating after each fill-up. Here’s how: after each visit to the gas station reset your trip meter to 0. Next time you go to the pump have your child write down the number of miles you’ve driven and the amount of fuel you put ba

Parents, grandparents, children, grandkids, second cousins once removed…when the whole family gets together for a big holiday shindig, chances are someone’s gotta travel. And, since it's a...

Parents, grandparents, children, grandkids, second cousins once removed…when the whole family gets together for a big holiday shindig, chances are someone’s gotta travel. And, since it's a holiday, chances are that prices will be a heck of a lot higher than the rest of the year.

This guide will give you all the best info to help you save money on holiday air travel so you can get the best and cheapest flight possible!

NY Times blog that explains all of the steps to take to make sure you are getting the cheapest possible flight. Check out this user-submitted article to navigate the array of booking sites and...

NY Times blog that explains all of the steps to take to make sure you are getting the cheapest possible flight. Check out this user-submitted article to navigate the array of booking sites and discount engines, along with airline websites themselves.

LOZO tested and approved! Primospot.com has compiled all of the street parking rules for New York City and Boston, making it easy to scout for the best places to park before you go. Their maps...

LOZO tested and approved! Primospot.com has compiled all of the street parking rules for New York City and Boston, making it easy to scout for the best places to park before you go. Their maps indicate where and when you can park, along with photos of parking signs and more. They also integrate information about bike racks and parking garages, though LOZO recommends BestParking.com for the most comprehensive garage info.

LOZO tested and approved! BestParking.com compilation of parking rates in more than 60 major airports as well as select city centers: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San...

LOZO tested and approved! BestParking.com compilation of parking rates in more than 60 major airports as well as select city centers: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington D.C.. You indicate when you plan to park and retrieve your car, and they calculate the best rates at various garages and show you the locations right on the map. For some garages you can even lock in a rate and reservation online.

From Buxr.com on 05/11/13 Nod exclusive Set of 3 suitcases includes: large (11.75"w x 8"d x 3.5"h), medium (9.75"w x 7"d x 3.25"h) and small (7.75"w x 5.75"d x 3"h) Each set features complementary...

From Buxr.com on 05/11/13

Nod exclusive Set of 3 suitcases includes: large (11.75"w x 8"d x 3.5"h), medium (9.75"w x 7"d x 3.25"h) and small (7.75"w x 5.75"d x 3"h) Each set features complementary interior and exterior colors that alternate from size to size For light storage and decorative display only Not suitable for travel use Not suitable for storing or transporting heavy items

From Buxr.com on 05/11/13 Nod exclusive Set of 3 suitcases includes: large (11.75"w x 8"d x 3.5"h), medium (9.75"w x 7"d x 3.25"h) and small (7.75"w x 5.75"d x 3"h) Each set features complementary...

From Buxr.com on 05/11/13

Nod exclusive Set of 3 suitcases includes: large (11.75"w x 8"d x 3.5"h), medium (9.75"w x 7"d x 3.25"h) and small (7.75"w x 5.75"d x 3"h) Each set features complementary interior and exterior colors that alternate from size to size For light storage and decorative display only Not suitable for travel use Not suitable for storing or transporting heavy items