Saving with 6abc: Save on summer road trips

According to a recent study by RetailMeNot.com, the most popular form of summer travel is the road trip. Many believe road trips are the least expensive vacations they can take.

Trae Bodge of RetailMeNot explains, "Road trips have been hot for the last several years, and I think we all think that it's going to be much, much cheaper. And it can be, however, we did find that 95% of people indicated that they tend to over-spend and splurge on their road trip. So it's really important to remain mindful of your budget while you're on the road."

Bodge says the three main areas where people over-spend on road trips are food, gas, and hotels.

She says, "94% of consumers plan to eat out when they're on the road, obviously because of the convenience and circumstance. And also, gas and hotels."

The RetailMeNot coupon app will alert you to coupon deals at nearby restaurants while you're on the road. And you can also save by booking overnight stays at hotels and motels that offer a free breakfast. Look for deals on sites like Hotels.com or TripAdvisor.com.

"For hotels, my advice is always plan ahead and don't plan to book on the go because you're then at the mercy of the clerk behind the desk," Bodge says. "If you are booking a hotel in advance, look for those money-saving amenities, like the free breakfast, free Wifi, free parking. Those three things alone can really save you a bundle when you're traveling."

Finally, keep an eye on the gas gauge. And fill up before you get to an empty stretch of road.

"Gas prices are a little high at the moment, but I like to use the Road Ninja app, which actually uses your location to show you all the gas stations nearby, but also where the best prices are. So you can make the best choice," Bodge explains. "Those remote gas stations tend to be more expensive because they know they have you. If you're going to an area where there are lots of gas stations around, the pricing tends to be more competitive and therefore lower."