March is a great time to plan a road trip with friends or family. Here are a few tips to make sure your trip doesn’t empty your wallet.

Plan Your Route

Some people think getting lost is exciting and adventurous, but if you’re not one of them, make sure you have a plan. Look at the best ways to get from place to place. Think of sites you would like to see or activities you want to experience. Having a good plan will give you a clear path and help avoid unexpected costs. Knowing where you’re going and the most economic ways to get there will help you save on gas, food, tolls, and, if you’re out of cell service, stress.    

Free Breakfast

When you’re looking for places to stay along your route make sure breakfast is included. This eliminates the cost of an entire meal, and if you’re traveling with a bunch of people, that can be a big expense. There are ways to filter for “free breakfast” or “kitchen access” when searching on travel sites. Plenty of reasonably priced hotels or bed and breakfasts’ will include your morning meal.

Bring a Cooler

Food is one of the most expensive parts of any trip. Having a cooler with you means you can store food and prepare meals for the day. You can stock up at a grocery store or gas station and keep the food in good condition for your whole trip. Sometimes all you need is a few snacks or smaller meals to hold you over, and a cooler is perfect for those treats.

Find Free Activities

There are always things to do that don’t cost a dime, all you have to do is a little research. Look at municipal websites for the areas you’re visiting. They will usually have announcements or a schedule of events. Travel blogs and social media are great places to look as well. You will be able to fill your day with fun and save money at the same time.

Most tourist hotspots will have a wide selection of free or inexpensive activities and sights to see. Once you upgrade your basic checking account to a Benefits Plus® checking with SeaComm, you will gain access to a variety of travel savings, including entertainment offers through TicketXpress, hotel and condo discounts, car rentals, flights, and much more. Click here for more information, or stop by your local SeaComm branch to enroll!

For complete information, terms, conditions and exclusions please visit www.benefits-plus.org or call 866-329-7587.