How To Change a Flat Tire (Without Freaking Out)

February 2, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 3 minute read

When a tire blows, there’s no need to panic. Follow these handy tips to get off the road safely, fix that flat tire, and get on with your journey.

Cars Ground Transit

How To Avoid Drowsy Driving

January 28, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 1 minute read

It’s something every driver dreads: falling asleep at the wheel.

Cars Ground

How To Squeeze Out Some Extra Mileage When You’re Low on Fuel

January 22, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 2 minute read

The fuel gauge is a driver’s best friend as long it receives adequate attention.

Budget Cars Flights Ground Money Transit Trip Planning

Cross That Border To Save Big Bucks on Airfare, Gas and More

January 6, 2016 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Do almost anything to save money on a flight? Here’s a cost-saving factor people rarely think about: crossing a border—whether that be into a different country or just into the next state—can yield serious savings.

Cars Connectivity Ground Technology Tools Transit Trip Planning

How Does Google Maps’ Offline Navigation Hold Up?

January 6, 2016 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Offline navigation plus moving, thousand-ton targets isn’t my idea of a good time.

Cars Connectivity Ground Technology Transit

Follow These Steps If Your Car Runs Out of Gas on a Road Trip

December 23, 2015 Erica Ho 4 minute read

Get to the right lane immediately, put the car into cruise control, turn off the music, burn some sage and hope for the best.

Cars Ground Transit

Conquer Christmas Traffic Using Magic (Okay, Data)

December 19, 2015 Sam Wright Fairbanks Less than a minute to read

Christmas might come late this year ’cause Santa’s stuck on I-95.

Cars Ground Technology Tools Transit Uber

Request Uber Rides Through Facebook Messenger To Get $20 Off

December 17, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

The future is here. Facebook and Uber announced a new partnership yesterday between the two services so Uber users can now hail rides without ever leaving the Messenger app.

Cars Ground Lyft Transit Uber

It Can Make More Sense To Rent a Car than Call an Uber or Lyft (in the City)

December 15, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It’s not that cheap. Especially when it’s completely possible to rent a car for less than $10 per day. (Granted, this car doesn’t have any power windows…)

Cars Ground Reference Charts Transit Trip Planning

The Full Lowdown on Car Rental Grace Periods

December 10, 2015 Sam Wright Fairbanks Less than a minute to read

So you rented a car and everything went without a hitch. You got a great deal, used the checklist before leaving the lot, fueled up and saved the receipts. All that accomplished only to run in to traffic on the way back. Bummer.

Trains Transit

Better Transfer Those Chase Points to Amtrak Right Now

December 7, 2015 Sam Wright Fairbanks Less than a minute to read

Today is the last day Chase cardholders can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Amtrak Guest Rewards. Chug chug.

One Mile At A Time reports that this comes as part of a larger change over at Amtrak, who will be retooling their frequent rider program from a zone-based awards to a revenue-based system in January 24, 2016. So while transfers need to be done by like asap, there is still a decent amount of time to plan a trip.

The blog also provides a run-through of how to do the transfer, though it’s not brain surgery and transfers easily (it’s 1:1). Get on it now if you’re looking to use those Chase rewards for the next train journey! Like today.

Ground Hotels Lodging Loyalty Transit Uber

Don’t Forget To Take Advantage of Uber’s Hotel Partnerships

December 2, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Once upon a ye time, Uber announced it’d be partnering with Starwood. But this is clearly turning into a thing now.

Cars Ground

Renting a Car for the First Time? Know These Things

November 30, 2015 Sam Wright Fairbanks 3 minute read

If you’re anything like me, you awaited your twenty-fifth birthday with bated breath. Finally! And if you’re really really like me, you turned 25 while living in Reykjavík and found out the age requirement to rent a car in Iceland is 20 years old.

Cars Ground

Traffic Hell: Don’t Drive On These Days To Beat the Thanksgiving Rush

November 16, 2015 Sam Wright Fairbanks Less than a minute to read

I’ve considered more than once putting the car in park and starting a new life on the George Washington Bridge onramp.

Airports Cars Ground Taxis

This Is How Much a Taxi Costs from the Airport Into 20 Major Cities

October 29, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

In the case jumping on a chicken bus to get to the airport is starting to make you feel a bit old.

Airports Ground Lyft Technology Uber

If All Else Fails, Hop on An Airport Shuttle To Request Uber and Lyft

October 5, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

In case this trick doesn’t work.

Cars Ground Technology Trip Planning

Is Waze Really Better Than Google Maps?

September 23, 2015 Erica Ho 4 minute read

It’s been a long time since I’ve owned a car so it’s been a long time since I jumped on top of the driving train. But being in L.A. does weird things to you, like forcing you to drive and eat lots of fish tacos.

Cars Ground

The Fines for Speeding Around the World

September 14, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Come on, who doesn’t want to go 130 mph in a Ferrari?

Cars Ground Reference Charts Trip Planning

A Quick Guide to Rental Car Pick-up and Drop-Off Services

August 26, 2015 Catey Condit 1 minute read

Katy Perry blasting from the radio, sunglasses in check. But how to get to the rental car first without, umm, having a car?

Ground Hacks Lyft Technology Trip Planning Uber

The Trick To Requesting Uber and Lyft at Any Airport

August 24, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

This one literally requires a trick of the needle. Ignore the fact there are often legitimate governmental regulations on why sometimes passengers can’t be picked up at the airport.

Countries Europe Features Ground Guides Trains

Price Breakdown: Are Eurail Passes Worth the Cost?

August 19, 2015 Melissa Roskowski 3 minute read

This is part 3 in The Backpacker’s Guide to Eurail Passes series.

How much do you save with the Eurail? That’s the question everyone wants to know.

Cars Ground Hacks Money Transit

The Best Strategies for Getting the Cheapest Car Rental Possible

August 17, 2015 Erica Ho 4 minute read

Occasionally, I manage to impress myself still. I’ve been doing a lot of road trips this summer which means I’ve gotten really snazzy at perfecting a great car deal (no Maserati for free, though).

Bus Ground Technology Trip Planning

Meet the Kayak for Bus Travel, Wanderu

August 4, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Okay, I didn’t plan ahead.

Cars Flights Itinerary Trip Planning

Is It Better To Drive or Fly Short Distances?

July 29, 2015 Erica Ho 2 minute read

To test out this particular scenario, I actually tried to race a plane in my tiny little car. Talk about reenacting the tortoise and the hare.

Cars Ground Tools

Go Over This Rental Car Checklist Before Driving Off the Lot

July 26, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

The first time I ever rented a car, I got a smokey Chrysler the previous driver tried to cover up with perfume. For three days, cigarette smoke seeped into my clothes.

Cars Ground

How To Pay for Gas in the U.S. With a Foreign Credit Card

July 20, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Riddle me this: How do you pay for gas at the pump when it asks you for a five-digit zip and your zip code isn’t five digits?

Cars Ground News

Hertz Now Requires Fuel Receipt for Short Trips

July 15, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

If you drive less than 75 miles with Hertz, keep the fuel receipt. Unless you like getting charged for not having it.

Cars Ground Hacks Money

How To Mastermind Car Rental Corporate Codes Without Getting Caught

July 6, 2015 Erica Ho 3 minute read

This isn’t about debating the ethics of using a discount code. It’s about saving $$$ when things are a bit tight.

Europe Features Ground Guides Trains

The Ins and Outs of Riding the Eurail Like a Pro

June 11, 2015 Melissa Roskowski 6 minute read

This is part 2 in The Backpacker’s Guide to Eurail Passes series.

I would have liked to know what I was getting into beforehand. Before I was standing the entire time for a train ride, without any AC. There are definitely a couple of things to be aware of, well, to make it a pleasant journey.

Adventure Cars Ground Itinerary Leisure Travel

These Are the Most Popular Routes for Road Trips

May 20, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Thinking of hitting the open road this summer?

Europe Features Ground Guides Trains

The Backpacker’s Guide to Eurail Passes

May 12, 2015 Melissa Roskowski 4 minute read

This is part 1 in The Backpacker’s Guide to Eurail Passes series.

Hopping trains through Europe is a backpacker rite of passage and a Eurail pass is the ticket. But it’s way, way more complicated than a couple clicks online and showing up at a train station.

Ground Hacks Lyft Technology

How To Beat Lyft Line’s Surge Pricing

May 5, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

With a little patience, it’s possible to swing the odds to get an even better deal on a Lyft Line — and to lock it in.

Cars Ground Safety

How To Prep for a Road Trip Abroad

April 15, 2015 Karina Martinez-Carter 3 minute read

Who can resist the call of the open road, aka freedom? Just don’t forget about sexy things like international driving laws.

Cars Ground Travel

Know Instantly Which Side Your Car’s Gas Tank Is On

April 8, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

I’m dumb. Every time I rent a car and pull up to the gas station, I just pray the fuel is on the driver’s side because who in their right mind checks beforehand.

Ground Trains Travel

Things That Will Get You Kicked Off Amtrak

March 2, 2015 Nora Crotty 2 minute read

There are lots of things that can get you kicked off an Amtrak train. One of those things is a gerbil.

Hotels Loyalty Plastic Travel Uber

SPG Rewards Officially Loves Uber

February 25, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It’s a good thing at least someone loves Uber, because I don’t love Travis Kalanick, who’s possibly the worst human being on earth. But maybe you love Starwood and free hotel stays!

Ground Lyft Money Taxis Technology Travel Uber

RideGuru Compares Prices for Uber, Lyft, Taxi Services

February 11, 2015 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Next: comparing the cost of a space shuttle home. For now, let’s settle for comparing regular taxis, Lyft, Uber, Sidecar, Gett and anyone else who’s on the bandwagon.