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Snacks & Drinks for a Fabulous Summer on the Road

Summer is the time for adventures, so many of you might decide to engage in a fun road trip. Whether it’s a cross country trip or a short one, you will need something to keep you fresh and energized. That is why you should always be prepared and pack some snacks and drinks.

Nuts for Snacks

The most popular snacks are crisps, but they are packed with sugar,they help when you have cravings as any other safest appetite suppressant. For hot days on the road, you will need something that has more nutrients. Thus, nuts make a perfect snack for the road. They are travel-friendly, salty and can satisfy your daily cravings. Grab a few plastic containers or bags and make your favourite nutty mix with walnuts, peanuts, almonds and so on. You can even throw a few dried pumpkin seeds and raisins into the mix and have a healthy snack filled with the good stuff only. In case you need some inspiration, here are several great mixes.

Plenty of Water

Let’s face it – you will be stuck in a metal box for a good part of your trip. It is hot outside, but the AC might only cause more damage than good. You will be sweating a lot, therefore losing a lot of water and energy. That is why you really need to hydrate your body.

The best solution is water, of course. However, bottled water is quite expensive and it’s not really eco-friendly. That is why you should prepare your own water. You could use, for instance one of those reverse osmosis water filters with cartridges to remove the bad stuff and keep the water in a thermos or recycled bottles. This way you can save some money, since you will need plenty of water for the trip, and manage to stay hydrated and happy.

Trip-Friendly Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and vegetables offer a perfect light snack that hydrates your body. Berries, apricots, grapes, apples, peppers and tomatoes are perfect refreshments, but you can also eat most of them dried. You can easily store fruits in smaller lidded containers and keep them in a travel cooler, so your healthy snack will always be at hand. However, you might want to stay away from fruits that could cause a mess in your car, such as cherries and watermelon, since you wouldn’t know what to do with the pits.

Cooling Cocktails

If you are looking for some additional fun on the road, you can always rely on alcohol. However, never drink and drive; this type of refreshment is only suitable if you are going to park you campervan and stay somewhere overnight or if you are travelling by bus or a train. Mix a few of your favourite cocktails and put them in a thermos bottle or a flask to keep them cool. Whether you like them fruity and sweet or not, they will certainly cheer you up, hydrate you and make the heat and travelling more bearable.

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Energy Bars

Most of us turn to candy bars for energy while on the road. However, those delicious treats are packed with sugar and bad calories. So, whenever you are craving sweets on the road, you should turn to energy bars that have less sugar and more nutrients. You can pack a few granola bars to boost the protein and fibre intake or you can make your own energy bars. With these you will surely get the energy you lack during a hot summer day, but avoid the sugar trap.

Cheese and Crackers

For some extra boost during your trip you can turn to this classic combination. Cheese and crackers are filled with protein with whole-grain carbohydrates that will keep your hunger at bay. Prepare slices of your favourite cheese and some crackers and store them in a cooler. As soon as you start craving some food, take a few of those and you will be good for the rest of the trip. However, if you wish to combine them with something sweet, you can always throw a little peanut butter or apple slices on top.

Yogurt the Almighty

This dairy product can serve both as a light snack and a refreshing drink. Whether it is in a travel-friendly tube, mixed into a smoothie or combined with fruits and granola, it will be perfect for you and your family. It keeps you fresh, adds calcium and vitamin D to your daily nutrition and contains plenty of probiotics to keep your stomach healthy and prevent diarrhea. Just make sure to keep it in a cooler and you are good to go.

sandwich

Healthy Sandwiches

Sandwiches are one of the most perfect and favourite snacks, and they can provide you with enough protein and grains to keep you well-fed. Not to mention how delicious and satisfying they are. Depending on the ingredients you choose, you might have to store them in a cooler. However, you can opt for some peanut butter jelly combinations that will satisfy both your hunger and a sweet tooth, but you don’t have to keep them cooled.

Nearly everyone loves road trips, but making frequent stops to get some food and drinks can be expensive and tiring. In order to solve both of these problems, make sure you have some of these snacks and drinks packed before you start the engine of your free campervan.

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4 Maintenance Tips for Rideshare Drivers to Keep Costs Low and Lifespan Long

Ridesharing has become an increasingly popular option for earning a living. Whether you’re looking to generate full-time income or just a little extra on the side, you can do so through companies like Uber and Lyft. For a predetermined hourly rate, drivers can pick up riders in the area and take them to their destinations. While one could stand to make a reasonable amount of cash, many have found that the cost of car ownership can really put a hamper on their ability to earn a decent living.

Unfortunately, when you sign up to work for a ridesharing program, the cost of owning a car, including fuel and maintenance of parts, is not covered by that company. This means that all the extra wear and tear and mileage you’re putting on the car will ultimately end up coming out of your pocket. Sure, there are unavoidable costs associated with owning a vehicle and operating it frequently, but are there ways to cut those costs down? You bet! Here are a few tips to ensure the most important auto parts are being maintained and you get the most mileage out of your investment (efficiently!).

Change the Oil

Most car owners are aware of the importance of changing the oil in their vehicle periodically. However, what many are unaware of is the importance of having the right type of oil and filters in your vehicle. The type of motor oil you use will greatly impact your engine’s performance not to mention its overall lifespan. Although conventional oil is cheaper than synthetic, it has to be changed more frequently: conventional oil change is recommended every 3k-5k miles, whereas many professionals say with synthetic you can wait 7,500 or even upwards of 15k depending on the type. Generally, experts say synthetic oil does indeed have specific advantages over conventional oil, most notably related to the health and longetivity of all the car’s engine parts.

Change Air Filters

Air filters are an intricate part of your vehicle’s intake system. As the engine on your car requires fuel and air to run, the air filter is necessary to prevent dirt and other junk from getting into all the parts of the engine leading to serious damage. If you have an older vehicle that runs on a carbureted engine, you can improve your fuel economy by as much as 14 percent if the filters were really clogged. If you have a newer vehicle, however, you will not necessarily improve fuel economy, but can improve the longevity of the engine, which obviously is also a way to save money on car ownership.

Clean Fuel Injection Systems

Simply put, a fuel injector valve is the engine part that opens and closes allowing fuel to enter. The amount of fuel that enters the engine is solely dependent upon how long the fuel injector stays open. The more efficient the fuel injection system is, the better fuel economy you should experience, thus leaving you with more money in your wallet. You can purchase fuel injector parts cleaner at an automotive parts store for just a few bucks. You add it to the gas tank so that the cleaner can move through the system and restore/clean the valves. You can also opt to have a technician clean the fuel injection system for you for around $100 to $200.

Achieving the Most Savings

You want to get the most out of the extra income you’re bringing in, and the best way to do that is to reduce your overhead costs. As discussed above, changing the oil, filters, and fuel injectors will improve the overall health of your vehicle’s engine parts as well as its fuel-efficiency.

Another way to reduce overhead costs would be to consider learning how to complete many of the maintenance tasks yourself and purchase the parts on your own from a trusted auto parts vendor. Simply learning how to complete a tune-up can increase your car’s efficiency and save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Every make and model will have different requirements–

If you have an American-made car, it might actually be worth your time to have a mechanic replace some of the harder DIY items, like replacing new brakes.
But if you own a European-made car, not only will the repairs on the car cost more but so do the replacement parts themselves. If this is you, it may be worth your time to learn how to repair as much of the car on your own as you can. At the very least, with how many retailers there are online, you could buy higher-quality OEM parts for the same price or less than the ‘cheaper’ aftermarket version from the mechanic.
- For example, let’s say you owned a Volkswagen Passat and needed to replace all or even just some of the above VW parts. An online vendor like eEuroparts will actually help ensure you’re getting quality VW OEM parts and fluids that’re the best suited for your exact model-year.

Although there’s always a learning curve when it comes to figuring out something new, learning to repair what auto parts you can on your car will greatly reduce the cost of car ownership over the time you own it. There’s a lot of other benefits from repairing the parts on your car yourself such as scheduling convenience and quality assurance.

Exploring the Natural Wonders of NZ’s South Island

New Zealand’s South Island is undoubtedly one of the Earth’s gems when it comes to natural beauty. Being rich in flora and fauna alike and home to some of the most remarkable scenery spots in the world, narrowing the list and pinpointing only a several places worth visiting is an extremely hard task. With a lot of consideration and with absolute uniqueness as the primary criteria for securing a place on this list, here are the places that should not be missed while exploring the natural wonders of the South Island. Of course the list could be different tomorrow!

Kahurangi National Park

Karamea, a small town located at the peak of the South Island’s west coast, is a perfect example of a tucked away place that offers the original spirit and the atmosphere of the area. The town itself is a great place for both relaxation and numerous exploration possibilities of the surrounding area. The two places that absolutely must not be missed are the Oparara Basin and the Heaphy Track. The former hosts some of the most marvelous looking rock arches, the Oparara Arch being the most impressive one with the length of 200metres, which makes it the largest natural rock arch in the southern hemisphere, while the latter is in our opinion New Zealand’s greatest walking track that will keep you occupied for days.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound was rightfully deemed as the world’s eighth wonder by the famous Rudyard Kipling. The beauty of the nature leaves everyone who has ever visited it breathless. Carved by glaciers, the dark fiord waters are filled by numerous waterfalls cascading from the surrounding mountains and ancient rainforest, some of which have never been touched by humans. This natural gem can be explored on foot, biking, cruising or taking scenic flights. Any of those will provide a lifelong memory of this beautiful place.

Penguins of Oamaru

You do not have to go all the way to Antarctica to observe the penguins in their natural environment. Oamaru hosts two species of penguins, the yellow eyed penguin and the world smallest little blue penguin. The time of the year when they can be seen onshore is between May and June, when they are preparing nests. They are rather noisy at the time and you will not have any problem locating them. Do not be surprised if you bump against them far away from the water, they make nests as far as 300 metres from the sea. Be careful while driving since they tend to cross the roads often.

Whale watching at Kaikoura

Kaikoura is situated less than three hours north of Christchurch. The unique underwater geography makes a great environment for vivid marine life rich in nutrients and in quantities that meet the regular requirements of the giant sperm whales. This makes the waters surrounding the town of Kaikoura a perfect place for whale watching. Other beautiful animals are present as well, such as dusky dolphins, seals and a great number of birds, including the albatross. The lucky ones may even spot different types of whales, too.

Mount Cook

Also known as Mount Cook, Aoraki is the highest mountain in the Southern Alps and another wonder of nature the South Island abounds in. With the height of nearly 4000 meters, Aoraki stand proud and welcomes the visitors all year long. Although its beauty can be seen from scenic flights, the real experience is visiting the mountain in person. Mount Cook village is a perfect place to settle and venture into exploring the surroundings, featuring New Zealand’s longest glacier and numerous iceberg lakes.

The diversity of the South Island relief, flora and fauna and climate areas guarantees one of a kind experience and presents an exploration opportunity for all kinds of visitors, from adventurous types to those who prefer organized tours and guided sightseeing. One thing is for sure, it will take time just to scratch the rich nature surface of this beautiful place, let alone encompass all of it. With this in mind, how about getting a free car and taking your time to fully enjoy the natural wonders South Island has to offer?

Article by Lillian Connors.

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How to Survive a Transfercar Road Trip as a Parent

For most people who have reached a certain age, the idea of a road trip is an image of a perfectly happy family having the time of their life traversing the country, discovering new places and experiences, learning about each other and forgetting about their worries.

Thanks to Transfercar, it is now possible for families who may not be “vehicularly well-equipped” to also enjoy road trips in cars and campervans that they would otherwise be unable to afford. This free rental car setup also enhances the road trip with an added layer of adventure, making it a truly unique family experience. Another great option is to contact camper trailer Sydney to get a hybrid caravan to travel with your family.

In reality, however, road trips are a much more erratic affair which can take its toll on everyone, parents in particular. I have had a ton of experience as a road trip participant, first as one of the children, but in the last few years also in the capacity of The Dad….Here are my tips:

Research Beforehand

The idea of a road trip that you undertake out of the blue may seem like an adventurous and exciting one, but in reality you are only inviting misery. If you just take off, it is far more likely than not that you are going to encounter nothing but boredom, sprinkled by occasional moments of panic.

You probably already have a route in mind and you should research it in depth before heading out. This will include finding the sights to see and experiences to be had. When doing this, you should keep in mind who you are traveling with. If your children are your average 10 or 15-year olds, a visit to a furniture manufacturer or a typewriter museum might not be the best idea. Stick with stuff that you know children love.

You might also want to make your road trip a teaching experience, both when it comes to the area you will be traveling through and when it comes to cars and driving. Children can learn plenty about cars and proper ways of taking long journeys on a road trip. Of course, if your own expertise is somewhat limited, there are always places where you can learn. This blog, for instance, is great for learning about repairs, this one is a fantastic one if you have daughters who might want to learn about cars from women’s perspective and this blog will teach you all there is about tyres. There is really no shortage of info out there.

Do not Overdo It

It is very easy to overdo it once you start planning your road trip. Many of us have those “tendencies”, so to say, to turn into scheduling monsters that cannot be contained and that are able to ruin even the most pleasurable of trips with their itineraries, their programme and immovability. It is absolutely essential that you do not turn into one of those monsters.

One of the best ways to avoid this is to be attentive of clues that will be all around you. If you keep hearing the sighs of your children in the back seat because the next bathroom break is not due for another 60 minutes, you are becoming the monster!

A road trip should be a pleasurable experience and you need to remember to be Zen from time to time. The planet will not fall off its axis if you miss a spot along your route or if the night catches you 13 kilometres sooner than you expected.

Relax. Enjoy time with your family.

Enjoying your Free Rental Car

If you decide to take advantage of Transfercar to find a vehicle for your family road trip, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind. For example, it is going to be a one-way trip, so it might be a good idea to try and coordinate the free cars in a way that your family does not have to wait for days at your end destination before you can all drive back. The good news is that many people do these back-to-back bookings with Transfercar and it should not be a problem.

Another good idea would be to apply for a few vehicles in both your starting and your return destination so that you maximize the chances of landing the best possible vehicle at the best possible time. Also, depending on the size of your family, you will want to ensure that the car is going to be suitable for your road trip.

Finally, keep one thing in mind, road trips are fun adventures and with Transfercar they just might become even more fun.

AUTHOR: James D. Burbank is the editor-in-chief of a business-oriented blog BizzMarkBlog and a father of two. He has also been a huge road trip enthusiast his entire life. Oh yeah, he is also a huge Utah Jazz fan.

5 top reasons why you may need a car repair before going on a fun road trip

Just like your body need extra care and regular medical check-up, the body of your car also needs frequent service treatment and maintenance sessions. Your car needs extra care and excellent car repair & service especially when you have planned to relish the pleasure of a Road trip with your friends. You don’t want to end up being a hitchhiker or pulling it over to the roadside service station in the middle of your fun trip. Why ruin it when you want to get the most out of your time under the sun? In order to make your journey fun, there are a few things you need to ponder to make your car ready for it. So if you want to avoid annoying pauses and expensive emergency repairs on the trip, you must show your car to an experienced mechanic who can perform car repair methods and improve its performance and efficiency.

Here are top 5 reasons why you may need a car service and repair before heading out on a fun Road trip.

Tires exploded or started wobbling

Upon having faulted tires, your car may wobble from side to side on highway speed and your steering wheel may shift off the center. Tires are considered to be most critical safety measure when it comes to going out on a pleasure road trip and mostly become unwanted nemesis to boring trip. Long trip does need to stop and come to a halt to resort to roadside service because of bad tires. Though it is simple to fix small checkpoints of tires, it is advisable to see a car repair mechanic who knows all the tests to look into its technical parameters like air pressure, alignment, load rating, speed endurance, tread, etc.

Brake gone wild

Losing control over your car break is the last thing you can expect while swimming along the highway. To avoid any horrible predicament due to brake failure, make sure your brakes are healthy before you head out. If you listen to excessive noises of grinding, creaking, squeaking frequently, it is the indication that your car needs replacement of brake pads and rotors. If you find brake fluid level fluctuating abnormally, you can call for a car repair moment. Have a skilled car service expert take a look before you indulge in the fun trip with your friends.

Ineffective cooling system

Imagine you are driving your elegant car on a calm road with exciting loud noise of your friends, and there it is! Your car blows and comes to a halt all of a sudden, right there! You can see it emitting steams off its front. This is the failure of cooling system, which is the second most common cause of road trip debacle. Before you drive your car out for the trip, it is necessary to go for coolant exchange and flush cleaning. This is meant to replace the old fluid with fresh, clean and more effective fluid that restores the health of cooling system.

Clogged Air filter

Dirty air filter is something that can irritate you on your journey by constantly showing ‘check engine’ light glowing on car’s meter frequently. Over a course of time, car’s air filter gets clogged or dirty. This phenomenon disturbs the healthy functioning of air flow. While driving various junks and molecules infiltrates in the engine part, potentially hurting its road performance. Ask the car repair station mechanic to replace the air filter if you are sure it has not been checked and changed in a while.

Low fluid level and quality

Fluids regulate the lubrication level in the engine required to optimize its temperature and improved visibility and are critical to overall car health. Because of long time of use, oil catches corrosion effect, deteriorates and gathers sludge and gets severely old. All of these will contain the free performance of your car, which is something your car doesn’t want to suffer while on trip

If you think it is too long before you have visited a car repair shop for changing the oil, rush to it before the trip begins. You don’t want to restrict the mileage capacity of your car during the trip. Meet your regular car service provider since they have managed records of previous maintenance and resolve a potential issue pertaining to oil before it gets serious.

Article provided by Mary Mathis with a photo she bought from Shutterstock.