BOSTON, June 16, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Travel Expert host of the nationally syndicated radio show, Travel WITH Stephanie Abrams, heard weekly coast-to-coast on the Business TalkRadio Network(tm), was asked to comment on the results of a survey regarding 2005 summer drive-vacation trends and their relationship to the high price of gasoline. Her remarks, captured in a video news release for general TV, radio and print distribution, focused on the positive effects of a summer break-away, tips for economizing during travel in order to budget for the big splurge and to compensate for higher gas prices, and suggestions for creating "uplifting, inspiring, enriching experiences" which Abrams refers to as, "platinum rather than plastic experiences."
Abrams says sacrificing hard-earned vacation time may cost consumers more than they think. "My mother used to say, 'If you don't go and take that break, you're going to give that money to the doctor because there is a relationship between stress and the stress-busting vacation.' One of the things that troubles me is when people put off experiences in their lives. You have to balance what is the value, not just what is the cost. In reality, when you start taking the cost of travel and amortize it over the experience and the memories, it will come out to pennies in your lifetime."
Abrams states, "It's important to make those hard-earned dollars count. If you want to travel and take that well-deserved breakaway, make it a priority and pass up other temptations. Eliminate the over-rated pleasures in favor of those experiences that make life worth living," she states. Taking time to reconnect with special interests and special friends and family is not a frivolous way of spending time and money, but a prescription for a happy and meaningful life." Story details and click-through to the complete audio/video story are posted at Abrams' award-winning website, www.sabrams.com
To take the heat off travelers' summer gas woes, Thrifty Car Rental launched a sweepstakes on www.THRIFTY.com. Every day from June 1, 2005 through July 31, 2005, Thrifty is awarding a prize of a year's worth of free gas in the U.S.
Sixty-one lucky winners will be awarded a pre-paid gas card good toward a year's supply of gasoline. Each daily winner will receive one pre-paid gas card worth $1,800, which represents the average fuel costs for one vehicle yearly based on the Department of Energy's estimate of an average of 14 gallons of gas per week, filling up 52 weeks per year at approximately $2.50 per gallon.
"Thrifty has focused the traveling public on how to overcome the impact of high gasoline prices in a way that motivates people to keep on rolling!" Abrams concludes.
"Travel WITH Stephanie Abrams!"