There are various reasons to choose a road trip for your holiday. Depending on your budget, you can either save up or splash out. Regardless of the reason, it can bring you joy and adventure along the way prior to reaching your destination but it requires more thought than let’s say flying from point A to point B and taking a ride to your hotel. There are probably a lot of things to be covered but I’ll just point out some that I found are crucial for me.
Choose your ‘teammates’
Let’s face it, you can’t really find new friends (let alone a new family) just to take on a holiday, but make sure you are surrounded by people who have a similar idea of fun and holiday as you do. You will probably be excited about your holiday for weeks before actually setting off so use that time to analyze everyone’s expectations and agree on a budget. This is somewhat easier with a family as it’s usually just you and your partner planning.
Plan your time and the route
Now that you’re all on the same page, it’s time to decide on your stops. The number and the type should depend on the distance you’re crossing, a number of drivers, things you want to see and the time available. If only one of you is licensed to drive, plan enough brakes so they can rest. Make it a rule never to have a tight schedule as it will kill the joy. You want the sense of freedom and relaxation and rushing from place to place will not contribute to it. Also, you should allow for things unplanned, such as a cute spot on the way, a sudden toilet break or bad weather. Make it a must to include the forecast in your route planning. Don’t forget to update your navigation device but also checked the best way to get to places beforehand.
Inspect the car
Don’t forget your ride! Do a standard checkup of your car even if you think everything is in perfect order. According to a car repair service in Granville, a lot of breaks happen because we think that the rumbling noise we hear is a minor issue, or that we can change the oil after we come back, as long as the car is running smoothly. Have all the basics checked, the fluids, the breaks, the battery, the lights, AC is a must for a summer road trip and an emergency kit. Another good thing to remember, if you haven’t already, sign up with a roadside assistance service. This will keep you at ease while crossing miles through nowhere and potentially save your money on towing you’d have to pay in case something had happened.
Pack carefully
Have an agreement on how much and what each person can pack. You don’t want one person cramming the car. The less you have, the easier it will be to stay organized. Find out what things you will have available in your accommodation so perhaps you don’t have to pack those. If you are traveling with your friends, decide who brings what as certain items can be shared and there’s no need to double up. Packing food is a good way to save both money and time.
Bring entertainment
If you are traveling with friends, you require only a good playlist. If you are traveling with children, be aware! As much as you would sometimes like to leave them on the side of the road, it’s not really possible so think of their favorite games, toys and treats, something that will keep them busy if they get bored or become agitated.
We all spend so much time looking forward to this, we might as well enjoy it. I hope this helps you in achieving that, it certainly has me covered.
Author bio
Steven Clarke is a business consultant and a travel enthusiast. In his spare time, he likes to write about his ideas and share them with the world. Steven is a regular contributor to several websites.