AP9 Articles

AP9 ValueMax Provides a Travel Checklist That No Family Should be Without

The end of the year is not only the holiday season but also the peak travel season. Travelers begin to load up and get on their way to spending time with their families and friends. But getting ready for such excursions -- whether they’re long or short – involves much planning on many levels, from finding ways to save money on travel expenses to ways to keeping the family safe and having a more pleasurable trip.

AP9 ValueMax, a premier savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, provides the entire family with ways to save on many of their everyday activities, from health, finance and travel needs to fitness, dining and beauty benefits. Members of AP9 ValueMax access their benefits conveniently and effortlessly online via DealPass. Once members have made a decision on where they are going as well as when they’re departing and, of course, which benefits will save them the most amount of money, the only things left are activity planning and the countdown to take-off!

Before the day of departure arrives, AP9 ValueMax provides you a pre-travel checklist intended to help you have a safe and happy family vacation:

-- Confirm reservations. Have your travel itinerary re-confirmed a couple of days ahead, including hotel, air or car rental and tour or other activity reservations. Write down confirmation numbers, addresses and phone numbers for the place(s) where you’ll be staying, and be sure to bring them with you.

-- Map the trip. Bring along travel leaflets, maps and an agenda for the activities you will be participating in at the place you’re visiting. It’s a good idea to have things planned for each day, but the guides can give you some unplanned ideas for fun with the whole family.

-- Pack emergency contact information. Prepare, pack and give every family member a list with numbers of local visitor services, your family physician, credit cards (in case they’re lost or stolen) and a friend or family member who’s not traveling with you (as an emergency contact in case your family is separated).

-- Prepare the kids. Tell them different facts about the places you’re going to. And most importantly, make a contingency plan in case of emergency (such as a lost child, accident), and have your children go over the plan to make sure that you are all on the same page.

-- Use technology. Test your cell phone (and those of other members of the family) to ensure proper working order, and pack accessories, such as the charger and hands-free device. Also, verify that your cell phone provider services the area you’re vacationing. A walkie-talkie set can also be useful on trips to congested areas or when the activities call for the kids and the parents to split off from one another.

-- Get insurance. Call your insurance agent or credit card provider to see if your plan has coverage for unexpected travel issues. Rental car collision damage, theft and lost luggage are some of the coverage types you might want to look into. You may want to look into membership programs that offer emergency roadside assistance like AP9 ValueMax.

-- Plan a budget. Bring along traveler’s cheques, credit cards and some discount coupons for restaurants or visitor attractions. It’s an excellent way to keep your money safe and to budget for unexpected expenses that you may have to deal with.

In addition to savings on travel arrangements and resources, members enjoy significant discounts on financial resources, health, home and auto needs, fitness and beauty and much more, for the entire family, concludes AP9 ValueMax.

AP9 ValueMax Offers Fuel Efficiency Tips for Drivers as Gas Prices Hit Record Highs

Soaring gas prices continue to hit consumers in the wallet and it does not appear that relief is in sight anytime soon, predicts AP9 ValueMax, a premier savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®.

AP9 ValueMax provides its members a means to save on many of their everyday household expenses, including shopping, healthcare, auto care, travel and entertainment. Members access their benefits quickly and easily via DealPass.com.

AP9 ValueMax reminds motorists that they can use less fuel -- and hit the pump less often -- with just a few simple gas conservation tips:

1. Stay on top of your car maintenance. The better your car runs, the more efficiently it burns fuel.

2. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Not only do under-inflated cars reduce fuel efficiency, it shortens the life of your tires.

3. Gas up early or late in the day when it’s coolest. Gas at cooler temperatures is denser, which means you are getting more gas for your volume.

4. Mind the speed limit. Cars use twenty to twenty-five percent more gas at seventy miles per hour than at fifty-five miles per hour. Steady driving speeds are also significantly more efficient than sharp accelerations and sudden braking.

5. Remove your roof rack, ski or bike racks and cargo racks when they are not in use. Roof racks create “drag” that dramatically affects your vehicle’s aerodynamics.

6. Lighten up. Remove all excess materials from your vehicle. Extra weight also impacts aerodynamics.

7. Use the 60-second rule. If you plan to idle for more than a minute, turn your engine off.

8. Save the air conditioning for heat waves. Your air conditioner reduces your fuel efficiency by as much as twenty percent. Try to use it as little as possible. However, keep in mind that driving with your windows open at high speeds reduces your fuel economy by about ten percent. Use your ventilation system as much as possible.

9. Plot your errands. Map out the stores and other locations you need to visit so your route is as short as possible. >

10. Go public. Consider public transportation -- buses, trains and the like -- which can be cost- and time-savers (as well as a welcome break to the stress of driving in traffic).