There is no question about it; road trips for a vacation are awesome. Regardless of where you are or what country you’re driving in, the image of Thelma & Louise won’t be too far from your mind. From ‘slumming’ it by sleeping in your car, to a road trip that involves stopping off at 5-star hotels, a successful road trip is something that will stay with you for life. Being able to just get up and go is such a thrill, plus there is definitely an element of uncertainty with it all, even if you have a rough plan. You never know what you will see and want to stop off with along the way.
It is up to you to choose where to go, when you will go and thinking about what kind of budget you want to have. So here are some tips to make sure that you can make the most of your road trip. When will you next be planning your trip?
Google Maps
Having a map to follow is a great place to start, right? You enter the final destination and then see the route options that there are, and then you can get an idea on timings too. If you need to plan pit stops along the way, then it can be easy to see where the best places to be are. Make sure that you have got your basic route worked out, but there is no need to have every mile planned out definitely. There will be some unexpected things along the way, and you might see things that you want to stop off and see for longer than you might have planned originally.
The Car
The kind of car that you choose for your road trip will depend on the destination that you have in mind. Plus, you need to think about the people that are going to be with you. A trip for two on quiet and long roads, could well with a convertible, for example. But a bit more of an off-road trip with a larger group of people would work better with a 4-wheel drive, for example. So if you are going to hire a car, make sure that you book ahead in advance and state the kind of vehicle that you want to hire.
The next step is to make sure that you get the right kind of insurance coverage too. You never know what may happen on a road trip, so it is best to be covered, just in case of a car accident; you’ll want to know what to do after a car accident that will help you to get on your way. Plus, if your trip is going to be a long one, then you might want to think about buying (or hiring) a used car, rather than a brand new one. Having any car checked over before you drive is so important too.
Music
There are few things that go together better than a great playlist and the open road. There will be plenty of chance to listen to some great tunes, so it is so important to have a playlist downloaded (don’t forget a USB cable and phone charger for your phone too). You never know how good local radio will be too, so don’t forget that an be a good choice too. Mixing it up and having a bit of both can be a good idea.
Cool Bag and Snacks
When you’re out on the open road, you don’t know where your next snack will be, so having a car full of snacks can be a really good idea. It is all part of the fun of the journey, right? So the best thing to do is to grab yourself a cool bag, to keep things cool, of course. You can even get cool boxes that are electric so that they can be plugged into your car, and you don’t have to worry about ice packs (or said ice packs melting all over your goodies). Plenty of drinks are a must too; make sure you pack plenty of water to keep your hydrated. Being in a warm car for a long time, even with air conditioning, can be quite dehydrating.
Travel Mate
Road trips can be the kinds of things that can make or break a relationship or a friendship. Having said that, it can definitely be something that will be pretty lonely to do alone, though. It can be fun to be with friends that will make you laugh. But if you are stuck together for hours on end and are stressed because you are lost, then it can lead to more stress and annoying each other no end. You will want to have a travel companion that will help you to enjoy your time more, as well as one that will be interested in the same places that you are interested in, and will want to enjoy the same things as you. Even better if you’ve got a friend or partner that is well versed in driving and map reading skills.
Book Ahead
No matter where you are traveling to, there will be certain attractions that will sell out, making it hard to just call in en route. So from places like Alcatraz to the Chateau de Versailles, make sure that you plan ahead if things like that are on your list of things to see and do. So when you plan your trip, booking these things can be a good idea. If you don’t have to book a specific day, then it will be even better, just in case your plans change. But you never know, so having a rough itinerary is always a good idea. The same can go for hotels too, often, unless you choose to camp in your car, they will need to be booked in ahead of time too (to save money more than anything else).
