Want to save gas? Keep down your speed ... and weight, too

This is the year that the price of gas flirted with  $4 a gallon nationwide.  As many prepare for summer driving vacations, they might heed these tips from the June issue of AARP Bulletin:

 *Lose weight. You can save 1 to 2 percent of your fuel by getting rid of an extra 100 pounds.  (You needn't go on a starvation diet. Just empty unneeded stuff out of the vehicle.)

* Keep your speed down. Every 10 miles an hour above 40 or 50 causes you to  lose about 4 miles a gallon. 

* Do all your errands in one trip.  It takes a lot of gas to start a cold engine and get it running at peak efficiency.

*Avoid idling. Drivers who cut idling to no more than one minute can typically make their gas last 19 percent longer.

*Carpool.  An environmental organization in your area might be willing to pay you to not drive alone. (Not that you plan to take strangers or casual acquaintances on vacation with you.)

*Accessorize carefully. Individually devices don’t use up all that much gas, but they all add up.

* Go easy on the air conditioning. In general the AC compressor is a huge drag on gasoline efficiency, so if you’re driving around at less than top speeds, lower the windows.  (Some might argue, however,  that open windows cause their own drag.)

* Check those gas-saving websites. Before you leave the house, check out websites such as GasBuddy.com and FuelMeUp.com that tell you what stations in your area have the cheapest gas.

 For complete details on these tips, click here.


And speaking of saving on gas 
Through Aug. 31,  guests who stay two or more consecutive nights at a Choice brand hotel in a participating area will receive a $25 gas card that can be redeemed at Shell stations. The markets are: Cleveland; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Milwaukee; Mobile, Ala.; and the state of New Hampshire. All Choice Hotels properties within a 50-mile radius of each participating city are also included.  Reservations must be made, by July 13 through ChoiceHotels.com. Participating hotels include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Ascend Collection, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn.

Trivial question
 Name two countries that border the Khyber Pass. (Answer somewhere below.)

Beijing, Shanghai, air, hotels and tours for $899
China Spree has put together an eight day Winter Special—A Tale of China’s Two Great Cities—that costs  $899 plus tax in November, January and February. The Beijing/Shanghai package includes round-trip non-stop air from San Francisco ($330 more from New York), fuel surcharge, first-class hotel accommodations, daily American breakfast, four lunches, one dinner, guided private tours and entrance fees. Prices quoted are the cash discount rate per person, double occupancy, are subject to availability and do not include departure taxes. Visit www.chinaspree.com and click China Tours, then Winter Specials, or call 866-652-5656.

Fascinating fact
Thomas Cook, the original travel agency guy, led the first around-the-world tour in 1872-73. The trip took 222 days and covered more than 25,000 miles.

Big celebrities (sort of) to entertain in Waikiki

You can't, and shouldn't, spend all your time on the beach when you're in Hawaii. Accordingly, there's a lot of great entertainment on those magical isles, too. For instance, beginning Dec. 8, the noted tribute artist production Legends in Concert will debut an all-new show at  the Royal Hawaiian Center in the heart of Waikīkī,. Six nights a week,  year-round, artist will pay tribute to and portray the likes of   Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, Madonna and Prince, enhanced by a live band and dancers. In all, Legends in Concert features more than 80  superstar personas that are rotated through its many venues. Ticket information will be announced.

Worth quoting

"Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey." — Pat Conroy

Vrooom! Italy package includes racing events

ItalyVacations.com is celebrating the Superstars International Series and the World Superbike Championship with  three- and five-night packages for three race weekends in Italy: Maserati-Ferrari Superstars Mugello Race Weekend (Sept. 23-26), Ducati Superbike Imola Race Weekend (Sept. 23-26) and Ferrari Superstars Vallelunga Race Weekend (Oct. 7-10). Prices start at $2,299 per person, double and include luxury hotel accommodations, a Superstars Pack VIP Pass, private transfers, and other amenities. Click here. 

Trivial answer

Two countries bordering the Khyber Pass are Pakistan and Afghanistan, both of which are much in the news these days.