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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 9, 2011) -

Editors Note: There are two photos associated with this press release.

Summertime means vacation time, and for most Canadians that means a family road trip. It could also mean a big hit to the wallet.

According to a new survey released today by BMO Bank of Montreal, almost 80 per cent of Canadians will take a summer vacation this year and the majority plan to vacation within Canada. The poll also indicated one in three will enjoy short weekend jaunts and natural and cultural attractions close to home, while 54 per cent will go a bit further afield, travelling within province or country.

All this adds up to a lot of car travel. With gas prices still steep, touching $1.40 per litre in some parts of the country, BMO looked at the difference in the cost of gas for popular Canadian road trips today versus two years ago.

Average gas prices per litre on June 1, 2011 were $1.30. On June 1, 2009, they were $1.00 –- that's a 30 per cent difference. If gas prices stay at current levels, here's how much more Canadian summer road warriors can expect to pay for gas on these popular road trips. Assumptions include travel in a 2009 Honda Odyssey (Auto, 3.5L FWD, 11.6L/100 km average city and hwy driving):

"In our survey, Canadians told us that affordability will be the number-one factor determining their summer vacation plans this year," said Su McVey, VP, Marketing, BMO Bank of Montreal. "That's not surprising, given record levels of personal debt, a shift to more prudent spending habits, and recent increases in the price of food, gas and other items.

"We've put together tips to help vacationers conserve gas and keep their fuel costs down. These tips are good for the pocketbook and the environment, too."

1. Tune up before you head out. An engine that runs properly will burn fuel an average of 4 per cent more efficiently.

2. Relax and enjoy the ride. According to The Canadian Automobile Association it takes 20 per cent more fuel to go the same distance at 120 km/h than it does at 100 km/h. Avoid speeding and use cruise control on longer stretches.

3. Quit idling around. A few minutes of idling burns through more gas than turning your car off and on. Plan your route to avoid bottlenecks where possible so you don't have to sit in traffic for long periods. Unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air.

4. Use loyalty rewards to cut fuel costs. There are a variety of loyalty programs that offer free-fuel rewards. For example, it only takes 175 AIR MILES reward miles to get a $20 Shell Fuel Certificate that can be used at participating Shell, Turbo, Beaver and Payless locations in Canada. Also, the BMO CashBack MasterCard gives you a 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent cash rebate when you purchase your fuel at Shell.

5. Control the car climate wisely. Air conditioning can drain your gas tank and so can driving with the windows open. Keep your car cool by parking in the shade, and on cool mornings and evenings, just use the car fan to keep air flowing inside the vehicle.

6. Slow mo is the way to go. Fill your tank slowly by easing up on the gas nozzle trigger. Turbulence from faster-flowing gas entering your tank will create gas vapours that your engine can't use and that will ultimately escape from your tank.

7. Keep your tank full. Gasoline that sloshes around in the empty space in your tank tends to vaporize and eventually leaks away.

8. Keep your tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires waste gas. You can improve your car's fuel economy by up to 3 per cent simply by inflating tires to the proper pressure. Be sure to check your alignment, too.

Bonus tip: Roadside assistance plans can save you money. Most plans cover towing, battery boost or flat tire change, but they also limit the number of service calls per year. BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard's enhanced roadside assistance package includes unlimited service calls, up to 250 km towing distance, and free coverage for additional cardholders ($98/year).

BMO's 2011 Summer Travel Survey was conducted from May 16-19, 2011, by Leger Marketing. The sample was 1503 Canadians, 18 years or older. The margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

To view the first photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20110608-bmo0609gas800.jpg.

To view the second photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20110608-bmo0609map800.jpg.