Tips To Turn Your Next Family Road Trip Into A Fun-Filled, Stress-Free Ride ae (NAPSA)—If you’re planning a road trip in the next few months, you have plenty of company. The travel industry reports that 40 percent of travelers will take one or more weekend road trips this summer. A recent online survey conducted by Pioneer Electronics reports that more than 80 percent of families will travel at least four hours, with many planning to be in the car for more than 10 hours. Travelers are looking for ways to pass the time while in the car and to keep the kids entertained in the back seat. When asked what they use as “boredom busters” while on road trips, most people surveyed say they will listen to music (88 percent); talk (70 percent); watch the scenery (66 percent); play games (32 percent); and watch movies (20 percent). What do travelers hate most about being on the road? According to the Pioneer survey, the three things motorists dislike the most are: getting stuck in traffic, being bored while on the road, and bad radio or no radio at all while driving betweencities. Here are some ideas to help combat these three road trip hassles: Lost or Stuck in Traffic? No one likes getting stuck in traffic, but it’s even worse when you're traveling in an unfamiliar area. An in-car navigation system provides step-by-step directions to your destination. If you’re hungry, it will help you locate a restaurant; almost out of gas, it will tell you where to find the nearest service station; looking for the closest Steer Yourself In The Right Direction—Make your family road trip more fun, by transforming your car, van or SUV into an entertainment center on wheels. tourist attraction is no problem either with more than 2 million points of interest logged in the memory bank. Pioneer’s navigation system is voice-activated, so once you're on the road, you can eliminate maps and just ask for directions. It can even answer that famous question, “How much longer?” Tired of Watching the Scenery? The scenery at the Grand Canyon is the reason you go on vacation in the first place. Unfortunately, it takes countless hours to get there. In-car audio/video packages can transform anycar, van or SUVinto an entertainment center on wheels. Video screens in the rear seat can be used to watch television, DVDs or play video games. Already, 20 percent of those surveyed are using in-car video screens on their road trips. The experts at Pioneer recommend an educational video, a classic Disney DVD orone of National Lampoon's Vacation movies. No Radio Reception? XM Digital satellite radio offers 100 channels of sports, news and music programming no matter where you are in the country. Having a tuner for satellite radio is like having cable TV—it expands the selection and creates options for everyonein the family. As you’re planning your vacation road trip, don’t forget that the entertainment doesn’t have to wait until you arrive at yourfinal destination, it can begin the minute you sit down, buckle up and hit the road.
