The perfect road trip allows you to soak up the scenery and eat up the miles at your leisure, in a blissful drive along one of the many ribbons of road that cut through monochrome desert plains and imposing mountain ranges. Whether you’re undertaking the road trip of a lifetime or spending the journey showing off the beautiful country to your little ones, this pain-free and stress-free journeying is only achieved through some savvy pre-trip planning. The planning needs to take into account all of the bumps in the road ahead, smoothing them out so that your road trip is plain sailing. Therefore, if you’re considering embarking on a long drive to see some of the wonders the world has to offer from the comfort of your trusty vehicle, you should bear in mind these tips so that your trip is gratifying from start to finish.
Pack the Car
The beauty of road trips is that they allow you to pack those luxuries that won’t fit into the hold luggage of a plane. While overpacking isn’t necessarily a good idea, this does give you room to pack extra food and drink, some games, all-weather clothing, and a fold-out chair to relax on in the sun. Part of the blissful road trip experience is having a home away from home, so if it fits in the car and you think it’ll get used – pack it. Check out this list of all the accessories you should take with you, including the perfect playlist to entertain you during the drive and of course, your camera.
When it comes to specific road trip items, you should always have the requisite repair gear for a flat tire at the very least. On top of that, charging cables for phones and satellite navigation, and a first aid kit should all be packed and easy to access in case of emergency. It won’t hurt to pack blankets too, in case you suffer a breakdown and have to spend a night in your vehicle.
Check the Car
Rudimentary checks are crucial whenever you plan to embark on a long drive. Ensuring everything is as safe as possible before you leave your driveway gives you the peace of mind to hit out onto the highway with gusto and adventure in your soul, without worrying about creeping faults or unpleasant breakdowns.
For particularly long trips, it pays to get your car checked out by someone you trust, who’ll point out any areas which you might have to invest in for maximum safety. Otherwise, measuring the level of your oil and windscreen washer and checking the tread on your tires will keep everything running smoothly and will keep your vehicle on the road whatever the weather.
Sort Insurance
Another guarantee for peace of mind, having the appropriate insurance is a must on road trips. Check with your provider as to whether your policy covers long drives, and what exactly you’re insured for. Check out 100 300 insurance, who’ll fill you in on the differing levels of insurance, providing you with all the information you need in the event of a mishap on the roads.
On top of your motor cover, travel insurance is well worth investing in for your trip to provide that extra security should you encounter roadblocks to your perfect drive. Losing belongings, being robbed, or even missing out on booked hotel stays are all covered in travel policies so that disasters on the road won’t make your trip any less marvelous and memorable.
Plan the Route
Rigid plans with strict itineraries don’t particularly suit road trips, which often meander onto more scenic routes or grind to a halt in pretty provincial towns that you can’t bear to leave. Instead of planning every detail meticulously, get a feel for the roads and the destinations that you’re most keen to discover, and plan loosely around those.
A good guide for route-planning is to strike a balance between the most picturesque roads and the most exciting stops. A beautiful road might have you driving for five straight hours before you pass so much as a motel; on the other hand, a boring road might pass a dozen sights that you really don’t want to miss. If you’re one that likes to keep friends up to date on your travels, download interactive mapping apps to show where you’ve been so far!
Give Yourself Enough Time
A road trip can quickly descend into a series of long drives, pushing each day to make the distance, which drains the pleasure out of the whole experience and can leave you equally drained so that sight-seeing becomes more of a chore than a delight. The best trips are wary of this eventuality and plan so that the driver is never over-faced by a long and tedious string of kilometer-gobbling drives.
Plan rest days in towns you expect will be particularly enthralling, and ensure that your drives are broken up by regular stops in beautiful locations. The vehicle is your mode of transport and not your home on wheels; you shouldn’t spend more time in it that is necessary to get from place to place.
Buy into the Lifestyle
It’s a unique way of discovering a new place, driving through the areas that mainlining tourists never get to see. Make the most of this special type of adventuring by stopping off not at chain restaurants and big towns but the smaller local diners and independent villages that ooze the charisma and traditions of the country you’re visiting.
In these local hubs, you’ll be greeted as a wandering adventurer, which is a wonderful conversation starter – a way of quickly ingratiating yourself with people and winning over their hearts. The less well-touristed the stop, the more interesting the clientele and the more interested the clientele will be in you. Make the most of this exciting lifestyle by embracing the one-off nature of your journey, creating the perfect memorable experiences on the road trip of a lifetime.
Leave a Reply