It’s impossible to ignore the reports everyday which indicate that travel is getting more expensive. Gas prices are rising, the dollar value is dropping, and airlines are charging extra for just about everything. To help you get to your favorite car shows this season without breaking the bank, we’ve put together some of our favorite websites and information to help save you money when you hit the road!

Trying to find out how to get there and where the closest gas pump is?  One recognized source for maps and directions is MapQuest. This site offers valuable features such as aerial/hybrid imagery, multi-point routing and help finding the lowest gas prices. GasBuddy is another excellent source for finding the cheapest gas prices in your city or others that you will be driving through. Their network is made up of more than 181 gas price information websites.

Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, your hotel experience is an important part of your trip. Hotels.com provides you with great prices for the places you want to stay by offering a wide variety of more than 70,000 properties nationwide. Most importantly, the site provides detailed, unbiased reviews, flexible booking, and price match guarantees.  

If you have flexibility with your travel plans, you can name your own price and save even more by using Priceline.  With their exclusive negotiating power, they consistently deliver more ways to save on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises.

Travel sites such as Booking Buddy, and Travelocity offer one-stop shopping for all of your travel needs.  You’ll find low prices on air, hotel, car rental and even tickets for local attractions through these helpful sites.   

Some of these sites do charge a modest booking fee, but they are useful in locating good travel deals.  It also pays to check your hotel or airline's website for further savings as they occasionally offer discounts for direct booking.

Have a craving for a certain type of cuisine on the way home from a show?  Opentable is a fast, efficient way to find available tables that meet your preferred criteria for cuisine, price and location at a specific time. Their site is trusted by 10,000 restaurants and 90 million diners. Reservations are free and can be made around the clock.

American Collectors does not endorse any of the sites listed above, but mentions them as examples of some of the many online travel resources that are currently available. One site that we happily endorse is our own – click here for more information on our TLC (Towing & Labor for Collectors) Plan.  Available exclusively to American Collectors policyholders, the TLC Plan provides reimbursement up to the policy limit for emergency expenses such as towing, roadside assistance, lockout, travel, car show expenses and more.  Now available in most states, at prices that are truly affordable.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!