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Europe Tour Options
Travel Tips & Deals

Europe Tour Options

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

From the fragrant lavender fields of Provence to the Gothic spires of Prague’s skyline, Europe is a treasure trove of sensory experiences. A lifetime of travel on the continent would let you see it all, but for those with more limited time, carefully planned Europe tours can do more than just take you to the major sights – it can immerse you in the culture and lifestyle that have made Europe the ultimate destination for generations of travelers.
Europe Tour OptionsRather than rushing through an over-packed itinerary, today’s travelers are seeking a real connection with the little aspects of everyday life in Europe. Luckily for those discerning jetsetters, tour operators are savvy to those desires. Tauck, a tour company with more than 86 years of experience in the field, is a leading force in the ultra-specialized tours that put travelers in contact with locals and orchestrate one-of-a-kind experiences.
One of the most exciting developments in guided tours of Europe is the proliferation of different kinds of tours. Whether you’re traveling as a family, looking for a bit of extra adventure or want to sit back and cruise the waterways of the continent, there’s something to suit your needs.
* Family travel Europe Tour Options
Europe tours can be a great way for parents – and grandparents – to spur a lifelong interest in travel in the youngest generations. Whether you’re going as a multi-generational group or just taking the kids on their first big excursion, having the trip organized by experts cuts back on stress and planning in a major way. All-inclusive tours offered by Tauck Bridges have itineraries that are suited for travelers of all ages and take in a wide variety of European destinations, from Bavaria and the Alps to the castles of France and England.
* Adventurous travel Europe Tour Options
 Travelers yearning see the world in new and different ways shouldn’t ignore guided tours, thinking that they’re only for low-energy tourists. In fact, Europe small group tours make it far easier to delve into the countries you’re visiting in an immersive way. Tauck’s Culturious small group tours give travelers hands-on “sight-doing” experiences, creating opportunities to interact with the places you travel to and become immersed in the fabric and rhythm of daily life. Cook, create, share the interests of local experts – and enjoy active pursuits too, like walking and bicycling – you’ll energize the mind, body and spirit.
* By land or by water
A Europe tour is often the best way to see a varity of countries and to get the most out of your travel dollar. But there are a couple of ways to take in the sights. While both land tours and cruising take you to the most sought-after destinations, each offers a unique vantage point for taking in the scenery of the countries you travel through. In both cases, your accommodation and transportation are covered, so it’s up to you; which view do you want to have?
The incredible variety of Europe – cultural, historical and natural – gives it almost unending allure in the eyes of travelers. With the right tour, you’ll be able to experience Europe in fine detail, giving you an impression of the nuances that make life in the Old World so rich and unique.

Europe Tour Options
Provided by: ARA
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Travel Tips & Deals

Fixing Cars for the Summer

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Have you noticed that your brakes squeal when you push on the pedal to stop? Have you been ignoring that unsightly puddle of liquid that keeps appearing under your car? Small inconveniences can become much larger problems if not taken care of early, and unfortunately, many drivers fail to address vehicle problem signs until it’s too late. Frequent checks and proper maintenance can make all the difference between a safe, attractive vehicle and an unreliable eyesore. Fixing Cars for the Summer
With a few tips, you can get your vehicle into top shape for easy cruising this summer and beyond. Fixing Cars for the Summer

Don’t wait, fix it fast Fixing Cars for the Summer

Fixing Cars for the SummerWith the sun shining a little brighter this time of year, those vehicle nicks, scratches and dents suddenly become much more noticeable. And more importantly, they can begin to rust in as little as 30 days. This visible exterior problem can quickly reduce your vehicle’s resale value, not to mention its cosmetic appeal.
Fortunately, you can avoid these ugly and potentially costly problems by using a touch up paint such as Dupli-Color Scratch Fix touch-up paint. Available in hundreds of exact-match colors, the paint offers a seamless fix to nearly any vehicle damage. With a roller ball tip for precision, taper brush for full coverage and available clear coat to ensure an exact manufacturer-approved match, Scratch Fix is extremely easy for anyone to use and costs only a fraction of a professional repair.

Rolling on out

Tires are one of the most important aspects of vehicle safety, and proper maintenance can prolong tread life and save money on replacements. Rotating tires every 7,000 miles can help keep treads from wearing irregularly. A simple tire rotation not only makes for a dependable vehicle, but also saves money in the long run because your tires will last longer.
Another tire must is to regularly check for uneven wear, bulges or holes. These small issues may not seem like much, but they have a very real possibility of causing larger problems such as a tire blow out or skidding on the road. If a defect is spotted, make sure to have that tire replaced immediately.

Internal workings

Despite the warnings, many people put off changing their vehicle oil far longer than recommended. Whether the excuse is lack of time, money or some other factor, regular oil changes are vital to proper car maintenance. No matter what time of year or how often you drive, you need to check oil every three months or 3,000 miles – whichever occurs first. Changing oil will prevent residue buildup, allowing your vehicle to function more efficiently and safely. Forgoing this routine check could lead to an unexpected engine seize, causing costly and potentially dangerous damage.

Lights out

A burnt-out light bulb in your living room can be a nuisance, but a burnt-out light on your car can be extremely dangerous, and may even earn you a traffic ticket. Perform regular inspections of your car lights by turning all lights on – including turn signals – then walking around the car to determine if any need to be replaced. Car lights are typically inexpensive and are usually easy to install. The risks of ignoring a burnt-out car light far outweigh the cost of the bulb, so perform a quick check before your next night drive.
By taking these car care maintenance steps you will have your vehicle running and looking great this summer and beyond. Keeping Vehicle Safe this Summer
Provided by: ARA

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Travel Tips & Deals

5 Affordable Ways to Visit the Ballpark

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

5 Affordable Ways to Visit the Ballpark

5 Affordable Ways to Visit the BallparkA warm breeze, the roar of the crowd and the smells of corn dogs and funnel cakes wafting from the concessions – nothing speaks to your summertime senses quite like a day at the ballpark. But this beloved American pastime can be hard for many families to afford, especially with high food and drink prices.
5 AFFORDABLE WAYS TO VISIT THE BALLPARK:

All-You-Can-Eat Seats – Some major league parks now offer special “all-you-can-eat” seating areas. If planning on eating to your heart’s content, this may be the best seat for you. Though it includes a ticket price increase of about $20 and up, it is still a great option for those who plan to munch well into the 9th inning.

Season Tickets – If your family really loves the game, consider springing for season tickets. Some stadiums give big discounts on food and beverages up to 30% off. A great deal for big time fans.

Go Minor – Check to see if your city or town has a minor league baseball team. These games can be just as fun as their major league counterparts, plus, it’s a much cheaper family outing for tickets and refreshments.

B.Y.O.F. – Want to know a secret? Some major league ballparks will allow you to bring in your own food. Just make sure you don’t bring anything in hard containers, such as glass or hard plastic. Aluminum cans or glass bottles are generally not allowed inside.

Special Promotions/Fan Nights – Check out the website of your favorite team to see when special Fan Nights are occurring. Some fans walk away with free hats, T-shirts, mugs and really great deals on food (Think $1 Hot Dog Night).

So, do your homework and find out more about your hometown minor and major league teams. Your family will love the chance to soak up the sun and the baseball fun.

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Travel Tips & Deals

Why TSA Pre is Worthwhile for Travelers

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Why TSA Pre is Worthwhile for Travelers

Why TSA Pre is Worthwhile for TravelersWe have been writing about it since I got to TravelPulse. I saw it in action every time I got to the airport and waited in a line that snaked out 100 deep while there were no lines and no waiting in the TSA Pre line.
I should know better, but I was just as lazy as the vast majority of U.S. travelers. Only 2.1 million people have signed up for the program as of early February. After the 16th trip of saying, “I should have signed up,” I finally did.
With all the reasons we have to complain about the Transportation Security Administration, this is not one of them. Every aspect, from sign-up to acceptance, was far easier than I expected.
First step was to go to the TSA Pre online application page. It’s where you go to get pre-qualified and takes about 10 minutes to fill out. Next, I paid the $85 fee for a five-year membership. As part of the process, you are then scheduled for an in-person interview at the closest application center.
At the time I applied in October, my closest center was in Greensboro, about a 40-mile ride. The TSA is opening centers constantly, as happened in my area, with an app center opening at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in December 2015.
When you go to the in-person meeting, you need to bring your birth certificate along with an approved form of identification like a passport or driver’s license. This was yet another area where my anxiety-filled expectations were all for naught.
The interview was a five-minute process where a very pleasant woman named Sherry asked me questions similar to the boilerplate criminal part of a standard job application – no, haven’t been convicted, haven’t spent time in jail and no, I’m not lying about all this.
Once through the Q&A portion, it was on to the fingerprinting. Thankfully, I have never been booked as a perp, so other than doing Touch ID on my iPhone, this was a new process for me. As with all other parts of this process, this was a piece of cake.
Once through the interview, it took about six days total to get my official approval and Known Traveler Number from the TSA. Like most of my friends, I had always wondered what that KTN line on airplane reservation forms was all about. And now, I’m part of the club.
I have entered my KTN on all airline reservations since and the TSA Pre checkmark logo shows up magically on my boarding pass. It’s the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket to get past the bouncer.

I have only gotten to try out this perk once since November – a horrific travel start to 2016 with a slew of medical cancellations, but that’s another story. I used the TSA Pre both at RDU and at Boston Logan Airport.
Both times, I got to the airport inadvertently very late due to traffic. Both times, I breezed through security, able to keep on my shoes, belt, jacket and keep my laptop in my backpack.
TSA Pre is now accepted at 150 airports with a dozen participating airlines, with Spirit and Frontier both saying they are joining the program ASAP.
There are more than 4 million people signed up for other expedited travel programs like Global Entry and NEXUS (as of February 2016). If you have those, you don’t need TSA Pre.
I looked at applications for both of those other options and TSA Pre looked like the easiest process and didn’t disappoint.
I have a feeling this will be the best $85 I have ever spent on travel.
TIM WOOD

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5 Economic Ways to Travel
Travel Tips & Deals

5 Economic Ways to Travel

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

5 Economic Ways to Travel

5 Economic Ways to TravelMost explorers are not slanted to give up their treasured leisure activity in spite of the fact that a trip may seem like an additional cost that ought to be shelved in today’s monetary status. Take a stab at reevaluating your style in the event that you need to adhere to your financial plan and fulfill your hunger for new experiences. Just because one sort of trip is less costly than what you’re used to, it doesn’t mean you’re getting a not very impressive experience, you’re simply getting an alternative. You’ll spare cash by picking a less costly get-away, and the best part is you may significantly find another way to travel. 5 Economic Ways to Travel
1. Travel in the Low Season
While shoulder-season arrangements offer extraordinary costs to destinations just as the climate turns good, those sufficiently daring to take the less voyaged way of low-season trips can hope to endure less desirable climate at delectably low costs. In numerous destinations, few attractions, hotels and restaurants close during the low traveller season yet that doesn’t imply that you can’t arrange an extraordinary low-season get-away.
2. Travel during Daytime
A day trip regardless of the possibility that it’s just a 60 minutes in length car ride injects a component of real trip into the uninteresting vacation. In addition, traveling during day time is perhaps the slightest costly way to go to generally local destinations, even when unstable gas costs are at their top. Choose a spot that is far, however not very far, similar to a national park, well-known tourist spot, fascinating town or memorable site.
3. Schedule your Travel with Numbers of Friends
Vacation rentals may not be your best option in case you’re a solo traveller. But in case you’re going with a family or with friends, a get-away rental could spare your cash over a hotel. Staying in a vacation rental with various individuals is less costly on the grounds that every individual you add to your gathering cuts costs essentially.
4. Organize a Home Exchange
Exchanging your property with another person is an extraordinary way to look for agreeable, and virtually expense free facilities for your travel. Participants for the home exchange normally stay in one another’s home in the meantime or they may even stay as visitors in each other’s residence.
5. Take a Cruise
It might be an ideal opportunity to return to cruising as a way of getting away from all the stress and celebrating life regardless of the fact that you’re not into cruising in light of the inconceivable degrees to which cruise ships have been cutting expenses. Booking a cruise yields considerable savings by allowing you to pay for your food, hotel and memorable experience together in one low cost.

Travelers Today
By Shari Ann Solano

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More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel
Travel Tips & Deals

More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel

by Steve Black
written by Steve Black

More Seniors are using Airbnb for traveling! Have you tried it yet? Let’s say that you’re looking for a place to stay on a trip out of town. The only problem is that a hotel is out of the question because: More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel

  • It doesn’t have the amenities that you’re looking for
  • It’s too far away from the main place you’re going to be doing stuff in
  • It’s out of your price range, either in general or for the amount of time you’ll be staying there
  • It’s already fully booked, and there are no more rooms available

So, what can you do? Try Airbnb.com, that’s what! More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel

What exactly is Airbnb, then?

Airbnb (as in “Air Bed and Breakfast”) is a service that lets property owners rent out their spaces to travelers looking for a place to stay. People can rent a space for multiple people to share, a shared space with private rooms for individual guests, or — sometimes — the entire property for themselves! More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel
Airbnb is similar to services such as FlipKey.com, HomeAway.com, and 9flats.com (in Europe).

How Airbnb works: 16 things that you need to know

Being a guest

  1. It’s free to create an account on Airbnb.
  2. Airbnb has listings from over 190 countries and 34 000 cities, so there’s bound to be a place that you’ll like.
  3. The only search criteria you need are where you want to go, when you want to check in, when you want to check out, and how many guests will be staying.
  4. You can also add extra search criteria, such as neighbourhood location, price, type of property, space availability (i.e. having a private room vs. having the whole place to yourself), and more.
  5. While your billing details are needed in order to hold a booking, you don’t pay until a host accepts your reservation request. Wimdu.com and Roomorama.com have similar systems, where your payment isn’t released to a host until you actually check in.

What hosts do More Seniors using Airbnb for Travel

  1. It’s free to post a property for rent on Airbnb.
  2. Accurately describing a property and listing its amenities helps match it with the right guests.
  3. Professional photography services can help guests know exactly what they’re renting and show off how nice the place is.
  4. Prices and availability can be set according to a host’s schedule, or what they work out with a guest.
  5. The host has the final say on whether or not they want to book someone.
  6. A host can set up their property listing to auto-book anyone who is interested in their property and meets certain specified criteria.
  7. Airbnb covers its hosts against damages to their property by guests. Similar sites, like vrbo.com, also have insurance plans to this effect.

The Airbnb community

  1. Both hosts and guests can set up profiles on Airbnb. Hosts can tell others their preferences and policies for hospitality, and guests can tell others the kinds of things they like to do during their stay. This helps users match themselves with someone they’re likely to get along with.
  2. Both hosts and guests can send each other messages. This lets hosts and guests work out things like check-in details, house rules, and any special requests. Guests can also privately ask other guests whether or not a property is worth renting. Similarly, hosts can privately ask other hosts whether or not they can trust certain guests to behave appropriately.
  3. Both hosts and guests can review and rate each other. Guests can say what they liked or disliked about the property, the neighbourhood, or the host’s style of hospitality. Likewise, hosts can critique their guests’ adherence to commitments and house rules, courtesy to themselves and neighbours, treatment of the property, and so on. Reviews can only be written after a stay is booked and completed, so it is difficult to write dishonest or fake reviews.
  4. Both hosts and guests can receive recommendations from others. If you know someone who is a great host or a guest who is always on their best behaviour, write them a recommendation to let others know that they’re someone who can be trusted!

We’ll teach you everything you need to know about renting a place on Airbnb in the tutorials for the rest of this Airbnb course on Techboomers.com. And in the future, we’ll also be adding articles giving you the ins and outs of renting your own place to make some side income!
Article source: What is Airbnb? And How Does Airbnb Work? by TechBoomers.com

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Travel Tips & Deals

Smart Traveling for Senior Citizens

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Smart Traveling for Senior Citizens
One of the real joys of retirement and enjoying your senior years may come in the form of travel. Travel is broadening and many senior citizens save for a lifetime to enjoy a lifestyle of travel once they have retired. The image of becoming a world traveler in their senior years is one of those dreams that has kept them going when life was tough in their working years. Smart Traveling for Senior Citizens

If traveling is the kind of retirement fun that you have in mind, it pays to plan ahead so you can travel smart. Being prepared for a long trip is a great idea for everyone. This way your dream vacation won’t turn into a travel nightmare.
A big part of smart traveling is to know in advance what you are going to need for the trip. It may be even more important to know what you are NOT going to need. By packing light, you make the chore of pulling large pieces of luggage through the airport less difficult. If you are going to be staying in several places on the trip, packing light means less repacking as well.
It will take experience to know what will work for you in a travel situation when it comes to packing for a trip. You may wish to build a special travel wardrobe of garments that wear well under stress, don’t wrinkle and can be rinsed out and used again on the road thus extending their usefulness and cutting down on excess clothing. Another way you can cut down on the bulk is to not take very much with you that can be bought when you get there. By not taking a lot of toiletries, you cut down on the problems with airport security and the chance of toiletries leaking in your bags.
Smart traveling for senior citizens also means having your prescriptions all up to date and well documented. You should get good copies of all prescription drugs, eyeglass prescriptions and other documents that you may need to get refills on the road should you lose or run through your prescriptions. Alert your local pharmacy about your trip so if they need to consult with another pharmacy while you are away it won’t cause a problem for you to get an emergency refill. Also file copies of all of your travel documents with a loved one so even if you lose everything, you can still get your documents sent to you or by email or fax. These kinds of precautions eliminate panic in the event of a problem while traveling.
Make sure your itinerary and copies of your passport and credit card numbers are kept in secure places and on file with a loved one. Go through your wallet and think about the cards and important documents you have and how you would handle having those cards cancelled and replaced should you lose your wallet or purse. By keeping those important numbers where you can get to them quickly, you can move fast to cancel credit cards and get replacements immediately from your hotel should you get robbed or lose your valuables while traveling.
By thinking ahead about every possible situation and planning how to respond, you can eliminate the chance that your dream vacation could be cancelled or put on hold. This way when things go wrong, you can easily shift to plan A-B-C or D to stay on track with your travel plans.

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Travel Tips & Deals

Hotel Deals for Superior Online Shoppers

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

mac-459196_640Hotel Deals for Superior Online Shoppers
If you aren’t someone who owns a fleet of cars and a few dozen mansions, when you are ready to apply for a vacation, reducing expenses is going to be one of your biggest questions. Finding that safe haven you can call home should neither be a struggle, nor a way to empty your pockets. There are several techniques you can take to find inexpensive lodging without compromising quality in your vacation destination. The most prominent of them entail online shopping. The travel industry today is one that involves a great deal of competition, and there is information available to you in magazines, online, even through text messages, where business will compete for your vacation dollars if they know you have an interest. Follow these few simple suggestions, and you could be counting your sheep on some of the most comfortable beds in the world at a terrific bargain. Hotel Deals for Superior Online Shoppers
The first thing you need to do is judge what kind of accommodation you are looking for. Questions you will be asked at booking include what kind of bed, how many people will be in the room, and do you want a meal package with your reservation. Know all of these things sooner, or you will be upsold before you can say continental breakfast. There are several online shopping web pages that will help you pick out deals based on these parameters.
You also need to know what you are looking for as an overall vacation need. Are the kids with you? Are you going to want a swimming pool? Spa? Gym? The more you want, the more you are going to spend. Become familiar with the rating system. The more stars a hotel has next to its name in the AAA guide, the more money you are going to spend. More stars (or in some cases, diamonds) means the hotel offers more amenities. You will see things like a free continental breakfast, swimming pools either indoor or out, restaurant on site, concierge service, night maids, day maids — there is no limit. In fact, one wonders how it was that in the pre-online shopping days such deals could even be structured.
The more of these services your hotel offers, the more your cost is going to be. These items are known as amenities, and even though they are offered as “free services” the cost of the service will be built into the cost of your room rate. If you don’t need concierge service, but want a swimming pool, look for a mid-level hotel that has just a pool. Again, the number of stars the property is rated does not signify its “niceness”; it represents how many amenities can be availed of by you. You can get a beautiful hotel room with no amenities at good rates if you look in the right places.
Don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade when you check in. If a hotel is not fully booked, they should be more than happy to accommodate you and make it a point to see that you become a repeat customer. In the services industry, word of mouth is of the utmost importance to a hotel’s success. Bad news travels fast in the hotel industry. Your friends will know what complaints you had about your vacation far before they hear about how soft the pillows were. Hotels know this and want to make your stay as comfortable as possible because it will bring you back. Ask for a complimentary upgrade, the worst that can happen is you won’t be able to avail of it. The best thing that can happen is a premium room.
Lastly, if you can, travel in the off season. This will greatly lower your costs. All hotels drop their charges in the off-season to fill up their rooms and get you in the door. Once they do, they treat you well and hope to see you again during peak season. And who knows, if they do their job right, they just might.
Note that online shopping is wonderful but only for the smart online shopper who knows the best places to shop and the best things to buy.
 

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Travel Tips & Deals

Gift Ideas for the Traveler

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

gift-boxWondering what to get the person who seems to live out of a suitcase? Whether you’re shopping for the business traveler or the family nomad, these gift ideas will make their holidays a little merrier.
Travel Journal. For those who like to journal their journeys, take meeting notes or just doodle to relax, a travel journal is a must. You’ll find simple and slim options from Moleskine at moleskineus.com. They also offer City Notebooks, special guidebooks for major cites around the world. City Notebooks combine a notebook with city-specific map features into a helpful travel tool.
Travel Yoga Mat. Lightweight and easily to pack, travel mats let yoga fans take their workout with them. Mats can be folded or rolled small enough to fit into carry-on luggage. Find them at gaiam.com or amazon.com.
Back Seat Protector. When dog owners hit the road, car interiors can take a beating. A car seat cover protects the back seat from dirt, hair, moisture and mud. A waterproof, washable version can be found at orvis.com.
Lumbar Pillow. Good back support can make the trip a lot more comfortable. An adjustable lumbar pillow will ease travel in cars, trains or planes. Get one with buckwheat hull filling, a machine washable cover and webbing handles for easy placement at protravelgear.com.
Travel Sound Machine. Make it easy to relax with a travel sound machine. It’s good for those who have trouble falling asleep or who prefer to wake up to pleasant nature sounds instead of annoying alarm clocks. A compact, battery operated model can be found at orvis.com.
Travel Magazines. Give your traveler new trip ideas with a subscription to a travel magazine. Travel & Leisure, Budget Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic Traveler all offer something for those with a permanent case of wanderlust.
Travel Gift Cards. Help travelers get where they need to go with a travel gift card. Third party gift sites such as giftcertificates.com offer certificates for airlines, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruise lines and more. Other gift card ideas include:

  • National Parks Lands Pass. Give unlimited access to the country’s greatest natural treasures. The pass allows entry into federal recreation sites that typically charge an entrance fee. A regular annual pass costs $80. A lifetime pass for seniors costs only $10. Get one at nps.gov.
  • CityPass. At citypass.com, pay one reduced price and receive a booklet with admission tickets to top attractions in New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto. You pay a lot less than you would for regular admission – and main ticket lines can be avoided, too.
  • Gas Cards. Gifts don’t have to be glamorous to be appreciated. A pre-paid gas card makes a great stocking stuffer for a road tripping college student or anyone looking to save on fill-ups.
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