Latest news with #roadTrip
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
4 Best Cars To Rent in 2025
Renting a car is sometimes a necessity. Other times, it's for convenience or fun. Whether you're planning a cross-country road trip, flying in for business or just need a dependable ride for the weekend that won't break the budget, the right rental makes all the difference. Read Next: Find Out: These car rental picks for 2025 offer comfort, value and performance. Weekend price: $200-$300 before taxes Whether it's a weekend road trip or an overnight camping trip with a pet, the Subaru Crosstrek is a great choice. The higher 9.3-inch ground clearance for the Crosstrek makes it perfect for driving in wooded areas. The Crosstrek also has a hatchback that allows for easy access to luggage, including a large pet carrier. Find Out: Weekend price: $400-$600 before taxes Splurge a little for that weekend class reunion by renting a BMW 5-Series, and impress classmates with the deluxe interior of the Luxury Seating package with heated and ventilated front seats that also have a massage feature. This BMW offers fuel economy of 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Weekend price: $175-$250 before taxes Plan a romantic weekend getaway and rent a Toyota Corolla that has plenty of legroom and storage space for a couple. The Corolla is one of the most popular cars in the country, with excellent fuel economy up to 41 mpg on the highway. Weekend price: $250-$400 before taxes Rent a Jeep Compass and have an enjoyable time driving cross-country to visit family. The advanced, fuel-efficient powertrain options and 4×4 capability will make this a ride to remember. The Compass is rated at 32 mpg on the highway. Editor's note: Rental pricing was sourced from Turo and reflects estimated ranges for a Friday pick-up through Monday drop-off rental. Pricing and availability may vary depending on location. More From GOBankingRates Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement This article originally appeared on 4 Best Cars To Rent in 2025
Travel Daily News
26-05-2025
- Travel Daily News
Three things to consider when renting a car on vacation
When going on vacation, you don't want to have trouble renting a vehicle. Such a scenario would leave a sour taste in your mouth. Planning ahead will ensure you book the vehicle you need, enjoy your trip, and leave with good memories rather than nightmares about the car rental. Did you know that around nine in 10 Americans – 92% – intend to travel this year? Meanwhile, 55% want to travel more this year than last year. If you're one of the majority planning to enjoy some rest and relaxation this spring, summer, fall, or winter, the sky's the limit. The world offers plenty to experience. So, if you have places to go, people to see, and things to experience, traveling is the perfect way to do just that. Whether you get in your car and go on an epic road trip, go aboard a cruise ship to explore a specific part of the world, or get on a plane to fly somewhere, you can enjoy some fun alone, with family, or with friends. You'll want to plan a great itinerary to enjoy the sights and sounds. But unless you take a bunch of taxis or charter a vehicle to get around, you will want to consider renting a car. You can't assume, however, that renting a car in a foreign nation is the same as doing so in the U.S. It's essential to research ahead of time so you know your options. For one thing, you'll want to rent from a company that takes good care of its fleet. Check out online reviews to find out. A reputable car rental company in any country you visit will use a robust fleet maintenance system to stay on top of routine maintenance and repairs so its vehicles remain safe. Here are three things to consider when renting a vehicle in a foreign country so you can get around. 1. Driver's License Requirements and International Permits Before renting a vehicle in another country, check to ensure your driver's license is valid in that foreign nation. There's a good chance it will be, but there's a possibility your driver's license won't be a valid legal document. In such cases, you will need an international driving permit. You must apply for this document in your home nation before your trip. Before you even think about booking a car rental, look into the licensing requirements to avoid problems. 2. Local Traffic Laws and Road Conditions It's also essential to familiarize yourself with local traffic regulations and road conditions. You shouldn't throw caution to the wind since you won't get a pass should you violate the rules of the road in your vacation destination. In some countries, for instance, you may have to drive on the left side of the road rather than the right side of the road. If you fail to notice this and drive on the side of the road you would at home, accidents could result. So, learn about local speed limits, right-of-way rules, road sign meanings, and more. Just as important as knowing local traffic laws is learning about road conditions. Depending on where you go, the roads and highways may not be maintained the way they are in the U.S. It's best to know all of this beforehand. 3. Insurance Coverage You also need to look carefully at insurance. Don't assume your car insurance policy in the U.S. will travel with you abroad. If it doesn't, you can get coverage from your insurer specifically for your trip. Your insurance company can discuss things like collision damage waiver, third-party liability, and theft protection. The coverage you need may also be available from your credit card provider under certain conditions. When going on vacation, you don't want to have trouble renting a vehicle. Such a scenario would leave a sour taste in your mouth. Planning ahead will ensure you book the vehicle you need, enjoy your trip, and leave with good memories rather than nightmares about the car rental. Photo by Simon Tartarotti on Unsplash
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Kmart find transforms caravan's family's kitchen for $10: 'We don't have drawers'
When Kat and her hubby, Stuart Sobczyk, took to the road in their campervan two and a half years ago, one thing quickly became very obvious. With three little kids, organisation was key. 'You're in a small space which has to work efficiently,' Sobczyk, 41, told Yahoo Lifestyle. 'You need order, and everything has to be stable and stay in place for off-road travel.' It's something she discovered other families were interested in learning about, and, alongside their journey around Australia, she started sharing her tricks and tips on Instagram. Perhaps one of the most "controversial" decisions they have made for their home on wheels is not to have drawers. Yep, you read that correctly. The Sobczyks have learnt that drawers add weight to their van and, instead of eight drawers, the kitchen space can be better utilised with shelves and cupboards. 'We chose not to have instead have opted for a few random storage solutions,' Sobczyk told her followers in a recent post in a popular caravanning group. One of the best things about Kat's storage solutions is that while they are perfect for fellow caravan owners, many of them can also be used in brick and mortar homes or by anyone who is craving a little more organisation and less clutter in their lives. Kat tells us that many of the products she uses to streamline her space come from Kmart and Bunnings, with a few other, more obscure brands also thrown into the mix. RELATED: Kmart shoppers praise 'brilliant' kitchen storage idea using unlikely $9 item Caravan owners' $5 Kmart hack for storage problem on the road: 'Never had any issues' $5.50 Kmart item professional organiser swears by for caravans: 'These are ideal' Take, for example, one of her favourite items: Kmart's $10 turntable, which allows her to have all the pantry bits they use regularly easily accessible and not stuffed at the back of a cupboard. She also uses Kmart's clear storage boxes, which make it easy to pull out items on a top shelf and see, at a glance, what she has. Another Kmart favourite is the $14 collapsible laundry basket - perfect for slotting in somewhere instead of needing an entire shelf for it. Herbs and spices take up a lot of space in a van (and can also take up their fair share of space in regular homes, too), but it's something Sobczyk can't live without, so she's had to find somewhere to store them that works. 'We love to cook and we take our spices everywhere,' Sobczyk tells us. Her spice storage always provokes lots of questions from her followers because instead of chucking them in a cupboard, they are mounted on the door of one. 'The spice racks are from eBay, about $12 for a set. They come with stickers but with the heat they un-peal which would be a spicy fail so we use tiny screws to mount them,' she says, adding that she also uses labels from Pretty Little Designs - making the area look straight out of a catalogue rather than a caravan. 'I love, love, love how you style and create these great storage spaces! Thanks for sharing,' read one comment on Sobczyk's recent pantry post alongside many followers asking for details of where to buy. Jokingly describing 'Kmart as life', Sobczyk's biggest tip for organising a caravan is to go to Kmart and buy up big. 'Buy all the things and then return what you don't need,' she said. 'It's too hard to go with 30,000 measurements for all the different spaces. Get what you think will fit, and if it doesn't, take it back,' she said. Some of her biggest Kmart storage hits have been shelves and shelving units, which she's added her own touch to with a different colour paint or by trimming them to size. 'We want things off the benches as space there is a premium,' she said, explaining why the extra shelves are useful. 'We hook things up for a week to see if they work and then mount them [properly]. Sobczyk has the $13 Kmart shelf in her lounge area and various other rattan shelves from Kmart, which she has customised. 'It's our home, our space,' she added. It has to look good as well as being practical. Since they started their adventures, the family have had three different vans and each time she's learnt something that she's changed in the next one. 'In our first van we had a cupboard we fitted out with [$14] metal baskets from Bunnings for the kids clothes,' Sobczyk said, 'The kids were three and four then and they couldn't read so I got pictures to go on the baskets so they could put things away themselves. It's important they can be independent.' That's changed now, and she has replaced the wire baskets in their new van with shelves and a lighter wicker basket from Adairs as a space saver. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stu ☀️ Kat ☀️ + 3 (@retreating_into_the_sunshine) There are certain things Sobczyk couldn't find in Kmart, but another, less well-known brand has come up with the goods. Drop Bear Storage is Sobczyk's go-to for storage pockets, which she has attached around the kids' beds and on the back of cupboards, customising them with hooks to hang handy items like hats and sand brushes from. SHOP: 🦥 Boody's new range in sizes S to XL are 'the softest sets you'll ever wear': 'Comfy and chic' ✈️ New Qantas points hack hailed 'smart way to shop': 'Up to 30 per cent off' 🤫 Secret feature of Aussie brand's new undies labelled a 'total game changer' for women 'The kids put their school work, readers and sight words in there,' she said. Of course, Sobczyk confesses that sometimes things don't work and her van doesn't always look as neat and beautiful as in the photos. 'If it doesn't work, I'll post about that too,' she said. 'We live and learn and have a laugh. It's all part of the journey.'
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
Vijay Khurana's novel asks what we can learn from young men who murder
In Vijay Khurana's novel The Passenger Seat, he tells a story about high school friends Teddy and Adam. Not yet men, but no longer boys, they set off on a road trip in search of freedom and self-discovery. But the further they go, the more lost they become, until they head down a road from which there's no coming back. The Passenger Seat draws on aspects from the 2019 real-life manhunt for two men from Vancouver Island who murdered three people in northern B.C. — with no traceable motive. "I don't think that I have specific answers about how young men behave in these ways," said Khurana on Bookends with Mattea Roach. "That's one of the reasons why I know that fiction is my home rather than something else. Because I'm less interested in answering questions than asking them, and I'm more interested in exploring something without necessarily having to come to a black and white conclusion." He joined Roach to delve into what questions he raises in The Passenger Seat and the threads of reality that shape his fiction. Mattea Roach: Your novel partly draws on these real events that happened in 2019 in British Columbia, where there were these two young men that committed this series of violent crimes that sparked a nationwide manhunt across essentially the northern reaches of this country. It was a huge story for us here and made headlines around the world. When did you first hear about it? Vijay Khurana: I think that I actually first heard about it, or at least it probably sort of entered my consciousness a little while after those events had sort of taken place. A few months later. I had the similar reactions to probably what a lot of people had — just sort of a sense of shock, but also a sense of sort of unsurprise as well, because it was sort of the latest in what is a long series of especially young men committing acts of violence. But for me, it also really kind of touched me in a very specific way because I had been writing a lot of short stories about male friendship and the way that young men kind of move through the world and perform their masculinity and things like that. So it really struck a note with me for those reasons as well. What was your engagement with writing about male friendship and masculinity? What was it about that kind of bond that you felt was rich territory for fiction? As a fiction writer, a lot of what I'm interested in is just something that I don't understand, sort of trying to use fiction to explore things that don't quite seem to make sense to me in the world. I would definitely not call myself a political writer or a writer who's interested in engaging in political issues. Of course, male violence is is a political issue. But for me, I was trying to get to the bottom of some aspects of masculinity that I saw around me and even that I saw in myself and that I remembered from being a young man, years earlier. What similarities might there be between those sorts of "terrible men" and the rest of us, essentially normal, if flawed men? - Vijay Khurana Especially these ideas of the performance of masculinity, the way men see themselves reflected in other men and the ways in which game playing can come into the way men treat other people. In terms of psychological games and power dynamics. I had this fundamental question, which was, I wonder if there's a way to use fiction to — not answer the question — but just to explore this question of what kinds of people would be capable of doing something like those two teenagers did. But then also a much more troubling and difficult question: what similarities might there be between those sorts of "terrible men" and the rest of us, essentially normal, if flawed men? I want to talk about the two characters specifically, these two teenagers, Adam and Teddy. It's the summer before their final year of high school. They're taking off on this unplanned road trip. They are similar and yet different in so many ways. How did you develop these two guys in parallel? I started out with the desire to portray a friendship first and foremost, more than two individuals, and I thought a lot about my own friendships at that age. I thought about the ways in which sometimes, especially as a younger person, you can be thrown together with someone who isn't at all like you, but there can still often be quite an intensity to your relationship. I started out with the desire to portray a friendship first and foremost, more than two individuals, and I thought a lot about my own friendships at that age. I wanted to, from the very beginning, I really wanted to play around with the idea of the passenger seat versus the driver's seat. So asking myself always, who's in control and who's along for the ride, who's being passive and who's being dominant. I think that Adam is, certainly on the face of it, the more dominant one. He has a clearer sense of his own masculinity, even though it's quite a dark sense because he reads these books that are aimed at influencing young men and he spends time in various corners of the Internet. And then Teddy is much more passive. He is unclear about what he wants from his own manhood or adulthood, and on the face of it at least, he seems to be the one who's more along for the ride. What is the draw for Teddy as this guy who, in many ways, seems like he's more set up for success. What is the appeal of Adam for Teddy? Why do they end up drawn together in this way? Yeah, Teddy is a handsome kid whose parents are well off enough. He's by all indications a fine student, but I think that one thing he gets from Adam is almost a reason or an excuse not to sort of firmly cross the line into manhood or adulthood. Because I think he's quite afraid of that. He's afraid of what his relationship with his girlfriend might mean if he began to take it seriously. It gives him an excuse to reject the kind of manhood that he feels is maybe being offered to him. - Vijay Khurana And he's afraid of where he might be in five or ten years. I think that, for him, being friends with Adam, who quite firmly rejects a lot of what you might call traditional ideas about what a young man might do after high school, it gives him an excuse to reject the kind of manhood that he feels is maybe being offered to him.
CNET
22-05-2025
- CNET
Traveling for Memorial Day? You Should Download Google Maps Offline Now. Here's Why
Memorial Day is almost here, announcing the start of summer and putting millions of people on the road for a quick vacation. If you're opting for a road trip, you've probably already got your playlist ready, snacks in the car and your phone charged so Google Maps can get you there faster. Turn-by-turn directions make it easy to avoid traffic jams and road closures during your road trip. But if you're driving through areas with poor signal, things can get dicey in the blink of an eye. Without an internet connection, Google Maps can't help you reroute, search for gas stations or recover from a wrong turn. You're stuck with whatever directions you started with -- unless you planned ahead and downloaded your map for offline use. Luckily, there's a smart workaround. With offline maps, you can still access turn-by-turn navigation even when you're completely disconnected. Here's how to make sure you're never lost, even without service. Want to learn about other Google Maps tips and tricks? Check out how to blur your house on Google Maps and three Google Maps features you'll definitely want to know. Now Playing: How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro 09:29 How to download Google Maps offline First off, you won't download all of Google Maps in its entirety. Instead, before your trip, you'll want to download a specific area, which could be a city, county or region where you'll be spending time and might not have service on your phone. To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps app on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map. You can download multiple Google Maps areas offline. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Use your fingers to place the map you want to download within the confines of the rectangle border. Use one finger to move across the map, and a two-finger pinch to zoom in and out. As you move around the map, you'll see how much storage space the download will take up on your phone. Once you're happy with the area, tap Download. Note: Alternatively, you can type a city or other area into Google Maps and then hit the Download button that appears in the pull-up window to download the map offline but this only works on the iPhone. Read more: Google Maps Cheat Sheet: Most Useful Tricks You must be connected to Wi-Fi to download the map. If you want to download over cellular, go to the Offline maps page, tap the gear icon on the top right, tap When to download offline maps and select Over Wi-Fi or mobile network. Once your map is downloaded, you'll be sent back to the Offline maps page, where you can see all your offline maps. You can only download a map that's a maximum 250MB (what will appear in the selected map is roughly the size of Maine). Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET Now you'll be able to use Google Maps even when you're offline in the area you downloaded -- and in that area only. You won't get extremely accurate travel times or alternate route options because traffic and other road issues are not accounted for but you will get a general ballpark idea of how long your trip should take. Transit, bicycling and walking directions also are not available offline -- only driving directions. You'll know you're using your offline map when you see a little cloud icon with a line through it in Google Maps. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET If you want more tips on Google, make sure to read which Google Home settings you need to change ASAP and our picks for the best Pixel phones.
