The Top U.S. Cities for Your Summer Road Trip According to Tripadvisor

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Summer is coming and traveling is on many people’s minds. There are a few factors that go into deciding where you’ll go, like fuel costs or plane ticket prices. But, some vacationers plan their road trips based on what’s popular with other people, so they’ll almost guarantee a good time for their trip. 

Tripadvisor has figured out, based on a survey of its members, which attractions people are booking the most this year. The data comes from its 2,500 consumers, in partnership with Qualtrics, from an online survey conducted in early April of this year. Which cities are considered to be the top five?

With 67 percent of people planning to travel this year, it seems that almost everyone is ready to get out and about and get back to their normal lives after the pandemic hit last year. Tripadvisor conducted a survey among its members and determined, based on those results, which places are the top five most popular cities people plan to travel to this year. 

The top location for 2021 is Cancún, Mexico. According to Tripadvisor, the best activity to book there is the ATV tour, which includes ziplining, swimming in Cenote park, with lunch included in the deal. The tour company also offers to transport you and your friends to the area and back to your hotel. 

Another popular destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where many plan to go to the Polynesian Fire Luau. The remaining three cities on the list of the most sought-after locations in the U.S. are all in Florida. 

Where are people expected to road trip to in Florida?

Florida is a pretty scenic state all year long, but summertime offers the most for your vacation. The first Florida city that many people want to visit this summer is Miami Beach, FL. While spending the day at the beach seems like the most logical activity to do there, it isn’t what people want to book in this city. The most popular experience is actually a half-day tour of Miami, which includes a sightseeing cruise. 

Another Florida hotspot appears to be Key West. There, it seems, vacationers want to book a sunset sail that includes a full bar and live music as well as some snacks to munch on. The highest-rated hotel there is the Havana Cabana and the best restaurant to eat at is the Seaside Cafe at the Mansion in Key West. If you want an extra special attraction to look at, a road trip to the Florida Keys and the Seven-Mile bridge could be right up your alley. 

The most popular city, however, is Orlando. While you would think that everyone books a vacation at Disney World, it isn’t even mentioned on Tripadvisor’s list. Instead, it appears that the Sea Life Aquarium is the most sought-after activity for those visiting Orlando. Also, it’s interesting to note that the most popular restaurant is La Luce, instead of one of Disney’s famed eateries, although it’s not far from the Disney resort. 

There could be a few different reasons for this. The most obvious would be that not everyone books their Disney World vacations through Tripadvisor. Another reason might be because the park of children’s fantasies isn’t actually located in Orlando’s city limits.

Other possible explanations would include the rise in ticket prices. According to Insider.com, it now costs over $100 for both adults and children to get inside. The price is even higher if you choose to travel there during a peak season. 

Also, due to COVID-19, not many people are excited about enjoying the park while dealing with masks and other rules to ensure your safety during these trying times. So, it’s likely a combination of all these reasons why people are turning to other attractions instead of Disney when traveling to Orlando. 

Florida appears to be one of the best places to go since three of its cities are in the top five destinations to take a road trip to. If you plan on traveling by vehicle to get there, be sure to use your car’s GPS device or consider getting one to help make the road trip easier.

RELATED: 5 Uncrowded National Parks for a Peaceful Road Trip

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Advanced Safety Systems: What Are They All About?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Trying to navigate car safety systems can feel like learning a new language. What are they all about? What do you vitally need, and what is a nice extra? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, and Consumer Reports evaluate safety features. Let’s take a look at advanced safety systems so you can decide what’s important for you. 

Both the insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test cars and their safety systems. Consumer reports ties all of these readings together nicely in an easy to find chart. These are the advanced safety systems Consumer Reports says are important:

2021 Ford Expedition | Ford

Technology which keeps you from hitting things in front of you

RELATED: Are Bigger Cars Safer? The IIHS Weighs In

Forward collision warning (FCW): Forward collision warning can detect a potential collision and alert the driver. Vehicles can use cameras, lidar and also radar to do this. Different FCW systems alert the driver at different increments before collision, so it’s worth being aware of the system you’re looking at.

Forward collision warning is becoming more common, and by 2022 twenty car manufacturers have vowed to make it a standard in all of their vehicles. 

In conjunction with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking can pre-charge the brakes once it detects a potential collision. Some AEB systems even apply the brakes for you if you don’t respond to the warning in time. The IIHS found that AEB and FCW reduced rear-end collisions by half. 

City automatic emergency braking (CAEB): This means that the vehicle will apply brakes automatically to avoid a collision at a city speed. 

High-speed automatic emergency braking (HAEB): Same as city automatic emergency braking, but at highway speeds. 

Pedestrian detection (PD): Pedestrian detection can detect pedestrians, and some can detect cyclists. PD uses sensors, cameras, and algorithms to determine whether there is a pedestrian in (or about to be in) the path of the vehicle. 

Adaptive cruise control (ACC): Cruise control got an overhaul with ACC, which can keep a vehicle a safe distance from vehicles in front of it. 

Safety systems that keep you in your lane

Lane departure warning (LDW): Lane departure warning uses cameras to monitor the vehicles position between road lines. If the cameras determine that the vehicle is straying across the lines and doesn’t have its turn signal on, it will alert the driver. 

Lane keeping assistance (LKA): Some LDW systems will slightly adjust the car to keep it from crossing into other lanes. 

Lane centering assistance (LCA): Similar to LDW and LKA, lane centering assistance keeps you in your lane. 

There are even advanced safety systems to keep you from hitting things behind you

Blind spot warning (BSW): Blind spot systems monitor blind spots. They alert the driver if a car is moving into their blind spot. Usually the driver is signaled via a signal on or near the side mirrors. If the driver puts on the car’s directional when there is a car in their blind spot, the vehicle may send the driver an alert.

Rear cross traffic warning (RCTW): Additionally, when a car is in reverse, rear cross traffic warning will alert the driver of cars approaching the side and rear of the vehicle. 

Rear automatic emergency braking (RAEB): When rear cross traffic warning detects a potential collision while a vehicle is in reverse, rear automatic emergency braking will put on brakes automatically.  

New cars are coming with more advanced safety systems

Car manufacturers have recognized the consumer demand for advanced safety systems. They’re responding by improving safety features. Also, they’re making advanced safety systems standard in more models and trims of cars.

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A Used Chevy Bolt for Under $20,000 Will Help You Avoid Chip Shortage Stress, Consumer Reports Suggests

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Along with lots of problems and heartbreaks caused by the pandemic, a global shortage of chips is creating a shortage of new vehicles available for sale. Buying a used vehicle instead of a new one is one way around this problem. A used Chevy Bolt is one option for buyers looking for a small car.

The pandemic caused a chip shortage

There is a semiconductor chip shortage, which is slowing the production of anything with this component, from portable electronics to cars, explains Consumer Reports. Auto manufacturers canceled orders for chips in 2020 when factories closed during the early days of the pandemic.

Demand simultaneously increased for computers and electronic devices that people were buying while quarantined at home. The microchip manufacturers weren’t able to produce enough chips once auto manufacturing resumed and demand for vehicles increased. While the situation could improve in a few months, it might last for a year.

Today’s standard vehicles have 24 to 36 microchips, but luxury ones can have more than 100 to operate their high-tech features. The industry uses hundreds of billions of microchips each year. Auto manufacturers are handling the chip shortage with temporary pauses in manufacturing and by producing fewer vehicles with certain features.

The 2017 and 2018 Chevy Bolt made the list of “Best Used Cars and SUVs for $15,000 to $20,000”

The Chevy Bolt EV | David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Buyers who haven’t been able to find a new car to purchase might want to consider a used car instead right now. Consumer Reports recommends a variety of great used vehicles, and all are less than $20,000. The 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Bolt is recommended as one of the best small cars.

There are a number of small cars that Consumer Reports suggests. The others in addition to the Chevy Bolt are the 2017 and 2018 Honda Fit, 2017 and 2018 Mazda3, 2017 and 2018 Toyota Corolla, 2016 and 2017 Toyota Prius, 2018 Toyota Prius C, 2017 Toyota Prius Prime, 2016 and 2017 Toyota Prius V, and the 2017 and 2018 Volkswagen Beetle.

Check out the 2017 and 2018 Chevy Bolt

The 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Bolt both have the Consumer Reports recommendation and the Green Choice designation as well. These are the first two model years of this electric vehicle, which is currently in its first generation, and there aren’t major design differences between the two years.

The 2017 Bolt has a four out of five for owner satisfaction from Consumer Reports, while the 2018 model has a five out of five for owner satisfaction. Both model years have five out of five for reliability.

The Bolt for these two model years has a 238-mile driving range and was one of the first EVs to reduce range anxiety. Recharging the battery with a 240-volt connector takes about nine hours. Consumer Reports found that the large battery helps give the Bolt a “planted feel.”

Its electric motor generates 200 hp. The ride is a little “choppy,” but it is quiet and accelerates quickly, going from 0 to 60 MPH in about 6.5 seconds.

The interior isn’t upscale, but there’s plenty of space in both rows of this small car, says U.S. News & World Report. Power-adjustable seats are not available, but leather upholstery is an option. A 10.2-inch touchscreen is standard, and the system is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Bolt also comes with a six-speaker audio system, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, voice recognition, two USB ports, and parental monitor settings. Available tech features include a seven-speaker Bose stereo, wireless device charging, two additional USB ports for the rear seats, and a 360-degree camera.

Advanced safety features are optional rather than standard. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning were available, but not all used Chevy Bolt models will include these features. The 2017 Bolt is currently priced between $17,725 and $19,550. The 2018 Bolt is priced between $19,775 and $21,650.

If you’ve been feeling stressed trying to find the perfect car during this chip shortage, consider buying a used car instead. Getting a 2017 or 2018 Chevy Bolt might be just what you need.

RELATED: How to Use EV Charging Stations

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Consumer Guide Gives 5 Important Tips for New Car Shopping

by Gabrielle DeSantis

MotorBiscuit brings its own first-hand experience to the new car shopping process. However, we aren’t the only ones out there that have something to say on the matter. In fact, Consumer Guide gives five important tips for new car shopping as well. 

Kia Telluride | Sean Proctor/Bloomberg

1. Don’t rush the process when you’re buying a new car

When it comes to buying a new car, you don’t want to rush it. There are many steps to go through and it doesn’t typically pay to skip any. You’ll want to research many different makes and models. 

You’ll also want to go and test the ones that land as top favorites on your list. Buying a new car is fun, but it’s wise to take it slow. Make sure that you don’t get pushed into anything you aren’t completely comfortable with. 

When it comes to signing on the dotted line, it’s a good idea to move slowly through negotiating the price and financing terms. Consumer Guide recommends that new car buyers take their time finding the right car for them. Also, it recommends allowing at least three days to go the dealerships to check out the models you like in person.  

Find the time: “If the lease on your current vehicle is up next week, you’ve already skipped this step.”

Consumer Guide

2. Shop for what you want to pay for 

A parked 2021 Toyota Camry, one of the best affordable new cars under $30,000
2021 Toyota Camry | Toyota

New car pricing keeps getting higher. That’s typically just the way it goes. So if you have in mind to pay about the same amount as your last car payment, you may end up in a vehicle that’s not quite as well-equipped as your current vehicle. 

Consumer Guide says to consider your current payment. It’s important to decide if you want to back off that price a little or are comfortable with hiking it up a bit. Overall, new car shopping requires buyers to assess their financial situation. It’s important to know exactly what kind of monthly payment you feel comfortable with before committing. 

3. Consider what you like

A blue 2021 Honda CR-V Touring driving
2021 Honda CR-V Touring | Honda

Consumer Guide suggests that when someone thinks about buying a new car it’s important to consider the present model they are driving. Drivers can take note of what they like or even love about the car they currently drive. 

It helps inform their new car shopping experience. Knowing what you’ve already liked about your current or past cars makes it easier to make a checklist of things you want in your new car. Knowing what you like makes a big difference. 

4. Consider what you don’t like

The interior of the 2021 Mazda CX-5.
2021 Mazda CX-5 interior | Mazda

In addition to figuring out what’s not to like about a current or past model, drivers should also decide what they don’t like. This way, it’s easy to rule out certain makes and models. Basing decisions off of what you like is important. 

However, it’s equally important to know exactly what you don’t want in your new car. If you can’t stand the fact that your car doesn’t have leather trim, for example, you’ll be sure to shop for models that do. 

5. Exploring the options

the interior showroom at a mercedes-benz car dealership while patrons are new car shopping
Car dealership | Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images

The last of the five tips that Consumer Guide gives us for new car shopping, is to explore the available options and keep an open mind. Drivers who are in a compact car may find that they are ready to move up to a crossover. On the other hand, some drivers may want to downsize for better fuel economy. 

It’s good to keep in mind the purpose the new vehicle will serve. In order to ensure that it fulfills this purpose, it must first be properly defined. While sometimes what we need in a car doesn’t align perfectly with what we want in a car, it’s best to be practical. 

Consumer Guide’s helpful tips

When engaging in the new car shopping process, buyers want to be informed. Everyone wants to walk away with the knowledge that they made the right choice. In addition, it feels good when a particularly good deal is made. These helpful hints from Consumer Guide could improve the future satisfaction rating of that new car purchase.

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