For holiday trip, be prepared before driving off

"There are going to be more people traveling this year by car than last year. We haven't had a three-day weekend in some time, so a lot of folks may not consider the traffic factor or the congestion factor," said Michelle Donati of AAA Arizona.

Overall, road travel is expected to be up during the holiday weekend this year.

"If you look at travel for Arizona this year compared to last year, it's up 1.6 percent," Donati said of the Memorial Day weekend. "AAA is projecting just over 700,000 Arizonans will be traveling and of those, 626,000 will be auto travelers."

However, more travelers does not mean more money will be spent on summer getaways.

"Consumers are still traveling, but changing the way they travel to get the most out of their travel dollars," Donati said. "We're also projecting folks will travel only half as far as last year and spend half as much as last year. They are still traveling and enjoying that weekend trip, but also staying within their means."

Safety tips

Arizona Driving 101

The Grand Canyon State offers unique opportunities for sightseeing, but summer weather conditions, especially during monsoon season, can pose driving challenges.

Dust storms, caused by high winds, sweep across dry desert terrain, sometimes across roadways. Though usually brief, they can quickly decrease visibility. The downpours that mark monsoon season can create equally hazardous driving conditions.

If driving during a dust storm or monsoon:

• Turn on your headlights and slow down.

• Do not enter the dust storm if it can be avoided.

• Slowly pull off to the side of the road as far to the right as possible if visibility is impaired by heavy rain or dust. Turn off the car and the headlights, set the parking brake and take your foot off the brake pedal.

• Pay attention to hazard signs and roadblocks, especially those that warn: "Do Not Cross When Flooded." Don't cross rain-swollen washes whether they have warning signs or not.

• Dial 511 for the latest information on weather, road conditions, state and national parks, public transit services and major airports.

SOURCE: Arizona Office of Tourism

Save money

Money is tight and gas prices are high. An in-state weekend road trip may be the only summer vacation a family can afford. Here are some tips to stretch travel dollars:

• Map it - Use a free online road-trip planner - such as AAA TripTik, Yahoo Trip Planner or Rand McNally TripMaker - to build a custom map and itinerary.

• Avoid ATM fees - Ask the bank for a map of its ATM locations along your route.

• Prep the car - Before hitting the road, have a mechanic check fluid levels, belts and hoses, the battery, tires (including the spare) and the air-conditioning system.

• Conserve gas - Drive at a moderate speed, avoid hard acceleration and braking, keep tires properly inflated and skip premium fuel unless the car requires it.

• Look for lodging deals - Take advantage of membership discounts offered by hotel loyalty programs or groups like AARP or AAA. Compare rates on travel websites such as Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Orbitz.com and Travelocity.com Call the hotel directly rather than the national reservation line to negotiate a price. Or skip reservations and show up unannounced late in the day to see if a room is available at a lower rate.

SOURCE: www.consumerreports.org

Car emergency kit

Swimsuits, sunscreen and flip-flops aren't all travelers need to pack for their summer road trips. In addition to ample water and nonperishable food, plus extra supplies if traveling with children - including diapers and formula - the American Red Cross recommends carrying an emergency kit that includes:

• First aid kit and manual

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• Tire puncture repair kit

• Gas funnel

• Matches

• Bungee cords

• Gloves

• 45-minute emergency wax flare

• Glow stick

• Electrical tape

• Emergency survival blanket

• Rain poncho

• Orange safety vest

Extras to consider packing include:

• Two quarts of motor oil

• Gallon of antifreeze

• Spare fuses

• Flat-head and Phillips-head screwdrivers

• Pliers

• Vise grips

• Adjustable wrench

• Tire pressure gauge

• Rags

• Paper towels

• Duct tape

• Spray bottle of washer fluid

• Pocket knife

• Pen and paper

• SOS sign for the windshield

* The American Red Cross sells auto emergency kids on its website (www.redcross.org). A comprehensive 70-piece kit sells for less than $50. Other online stores - such as www.batterysavers.com and www.lifesecure.com - also sell road emergency kits.

SOURCE: www.education.com

Travel apps

Sure, you can road trip old-school style with a paper map that, when unfolded, is big enough to double as a windshield sun shade. And you can find a restaurant by craning your neck to look out the window as you drive by. But for tech-savvy road warriors, travel apps for mobile phones abound:

• AAA TripTik Mobile (Free) - Provides gas prices, maps, directions and AAA-approved hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, attractions and auto repair shops.

• Camp & RV ($5.99) - Locates campgrounds, state and national parks, overnight parking spots and related services.

• GasBuddy (Free) - Displays best prices for gas stations along the vacation route.

• Goby (Free) - Finds free events and activities along the vacation route and other "cool things to do."

• Google Earth (Free) - Uses global satellite and aerial imagery to provide a new vantage point of vacation destinations. Plus, it finds hiking trails, city tours and more.

• Rest Area Finder (Free) - Locates rest areas as well as scenic views and welcome centers.

• Road-Trip Bingo (99 cents) - Techno twist on classic family travel game keeps kids (and adults) busy for hours.

• Roadside America ($2.99) - Directions to one-of-a-kind attractions and unique regional monuments and museums.

• TripAdvisor (Free) - Reviews hotels, restaurants and attractions.

• Trip Journal ($2.99) - Allows vacationers to record notes, routes, videos and photos of travels to share on Facebook.

• TV Diner ($3.99) - Lists restaurants featured on popular TV food shows, maps and a route based on eateries.

• Where To? ($2.99) - Directions to basic services, including banks, drug stores, restaurants and laundromats.

• Wi-Fi Finder (Free) - Finds free wireless Internet service in places such as coffee shops, cafes and public libraries.

• Yelp (Free) - Finds restaurants, shops, attractions and more, plus provides ratings, reviews and prices.

* App prices based on iTune store rates.

Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.