Savings at the Pump

Hotels, car rentals, airfares--those are the elements of a vacation that most travelers budget for carefully. Many overlook the cost of fuel, which is risky because sometimes getting stuck at a pricey pump can mean the difference between having enough of your per diem a nice meal out--or grabbing a cheap burrito at said gas station.

Seth Kugel, the New York Times' Frugal Traveler, hit upon a good way of saving on gas for the next two months. He holds a Chase Freedom credit card and lucky guy, its giving 5% cash back on all fuel purchases. So he remembered to pull out that card when he hit the gas pumps on his recent visit to Texas.

Grocery shopping in the right store can also help at the pump. The Kroger's chain of stores has had a popular "Save on Fuel" program for some time now. Its details vary from region to region, but it rewards shoppers who spend a certain dollar amount on prescriptions or food, with savings at the pump.

Warehouse store members--BJ's, Sam's Club and Costco in particular--also make out well on fuel outlays. They do so buy gassing up at these warehouse stores, which often feature much lower prices for gas, available exclusively to their members.

A final strategy for savings? Use the website and app GasBuddy.com to find out which gas station will be cheapest in the area you're visiting.