Last minute getaways by car have become a budget-friendly option again as gas prices begin to drop. Summer is an excellent season for road trips, which are easier than ever with new GPS technology and built-in entertainment systems for the kids. There are also DVDs, CDs and e-books to keep them busy.

You can rent DVDs from Redbox for only $1 per day, which can be picked up anywhere and then returned to a different location. Even with the help of GPS, it's wise to invest in a good map and a set of directions. Online information sites like Road Trip USA can also be very helpful in planning your itinerary. The website Road Trip America offers useful information on where to find cheap hotel rooms and the best tours.

Cheap last minute getaways can make it possible for those who have procrastinated on their summer travel plans to still snag an excellent deal. While travelers this year will all be paying a little more than in previous years due to high fuel costs, it's still possible to cut costs on other parts of your trip to make up for this fact.

The fact that oil prices remain above $90 a barrel will discourage airlines from offering major fare sales anytime soon, but some airline routes between the US and Europe may see price cuts due to some poor forecasting by the major carriers. They added too many seats anticipating large summer capacity, and so far planes have been flying with a significant number of empty seats. That means that deep price drops on business-class seats are likely to be coming soon.

There are a number of camping trip options available throughout the Asia-Pacific such as with holidays to Hong Kong or to Australia. In particular, camping holidays to New Zealand allow you to enjoy all the natural beauty the country is famous for. Renting a motor home is a great way to travel across the country while exploring a number of different camping sites on a single trip.

Those who travel to New Zealand during the Christmas holiday season will enjoy the summer weather and this is an ideal time for outdoor camping as well. Campgrounds in New Zealand abound and many feature both tent camping sties and electrical hookups for motor homes. There are also many campgrounds that have motels and private cabins available for rental on-site, including some with holiday villas. The parks also offer many entertainment options for their guests, yet they remain quite affordable relative to other types of accommodation in the country.