Rent an RV – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

For a longer road trip, renting an RV can be a great way to make your experience memorable. These homes-on-wheels come in a wide range of sizes and prices, so there’s something for just about everyone.

The big advantage of traveling in an RV is the flexibility it offers. With a kitchen, bathroom and beds in the vehicle, you can decide where and when you stop — which means you won’t be tied to an itinerary. And when you’re in an RV, the road can be just as fun as the places it takes you.

Bonus: the money you save on lodging and food should cover most or all of the cost of the rental and fuel.

Roadtrippin’ with a theme – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Road trips are meant to be fun and adventurous. Up the stakes by picking a theme for your trip!

Choose a theme that you and your travel buddies agree might be interesting, and do your best to center your stops and sightseeing around this theme. The possibilities are endless:

  • Food theme: Eat only barbecue across the Southeastern U.S.
  • Sports theme: Pit-stop at small town parks for quick games of touch football
  • Souvenir theme: Collect tacky knick-knacks from truck stops and gas stations
  • Couch theme: Limit your overnight stays to only couch-surfing

Paint on the fun – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Looking for a way to add a little more fun to your next road trip? The answer is simple: paint for your car’s windows!

Buying a few sticks of car paint, which can be found at most large retailers, and filling the windows of the car with scandalous sayings and quotes can attract a lot of attention.

In the past, people’s reactions to things like “Blonde Brigade” and “Whore Wheelin'” have allowed us to make life long memories.

Daily Pampering: The Mercedes-Benz AIRCAP

by Annie Scott on


Having a gorgeous convertible is certainly a blessing, but owners know that it’s sometimes a curse. You can’t ride with the top down all the time — it will mess up your hair on the way to work or a party, and if you’re traveling fast, the rushing air gets so loud it’s hard to have a conversation.

I know, I know, these are problems we’d all be lucky to have, especially with a car like the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (pictured). I had the pleasure of climbing into this car in the tents at Bryant Park yesterday (it’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) to check out the new AIRCAP Technology, which actually solves all the problems I mentioned. You could take a road trip in this car with the top down and your hair would never know it.

Look closely at the top photo — the AIRCAP is raised. Just a couple inches of mesh atop the windshield and a correlated panel at the back actually keep the car quiet and your hair unfettered at up to 125 mph. It’s controlled by a button hidden in the center console; totally unobtrusive.

AIRCAP is the first technology of its kind in the industry, but copycats will surely follow soon. I would say that AIRCAP Technology alone makes this the ultimate road trip car — but it doesn’t hurt that the top only takes 20 seconds to raise and can be activated while the car is moving up to 25 mph, the seats can actually cool as well as heat, and see the vents by the neck? That’s Mercedes AIRSCARF; it actually blows warm air on your neck, with the fan speed controlled by the vehicle speed. Saucy car gets fresh with you. The results: sexy.

AIRCAP comes standard on the entire E-Class Cabriolet line, which is expected to be priced in the mid 50s.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Play the roadside attraction game – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

We live in Alaska, but half our family lives in Montana, so visiting means one long road trip. To keep ourselves entertained, we play a road-side attraction game. Here’s how it works:

  1. plan each day’s drive to allow for at least one long break;
  2. assign each member of the family a day during which they get to pick the roadside attraction we stop at during the break;
  3. at the end of the trip the family member that chose the best attraction, as voted on by everybody, get’s a prize!

This is a fun way to explore your surroundings and play a game at the same time.