Tuesday, June 6, 2017

The Ultimate Road Trip Planning Guide


Now that summer is pretty much upon us, many families are looking forward to their vacations. And for a lot of people, this will involve a road trip of some kind. Whether you are planning a huge multi-day trip or just a visit to see some family in another town, it is still a good idea to be prepared so that the trip goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some of the top preparations that you need to make when you are planning your own road trip.

Plan Your Route Before You Set Out
Okay, many people rely heavily on GPS systems when they are driving these days, but it is still a good idea to have your route planned out before you actually set off. This way, you have a much better general idea of where you need to be going and you can also plan out some stopping points along the way. As well as this, you should check out some traffic reports before you set out so you know if there are any roads that you need to avoid which your GPS system will not take into account.

Make Sure Your Car is Ready
Obviously, your car will be your closest ally when you are heading out on a road trip so you need to make sure it is in peak condition before you set off. The last thing you want is to break down when you are out on the open road. If you want to be especially prepared, you can schedule your car to be serviced just before you set off. However, there are also plenty of jobs you can do yourself like checking the vital fluids and making sure you have all the proper tools to change a flat tyre.

Ensure the Trip is as Cheap as Possible
No one likes to pay more than they have to, and there are several ways that you can make your road trip more affordable. Fill up your car before you set off as you know where the cheapest place to buy gas is nearby to you. Keep the weight down in your car by not over packing as this will also affect your fuel efficiency. Try to avoid buying gas along the highway as much as possible as this is where you will end up paying the highest rates. You should also drive within the speed limit as this is both the safer and cheaper option.

Stay Entertained on the Road
The initial rush that you first feel when you head out on the open road will soon start to wear off so you need to stop yourself from getting bored. There are so many streaming services, podcasts and audiobooks out there that you should always be able to find something to listen to. If you want to go old school, why not revive a classic car game like I Spy? You should also consider creating your own road trip playlist before you set off. In years to come, these are the tunes that will bring your mind back to your trip!

Make Sure the Kids Don’t Drive You Crazy

We all know only too well that a lot of kids don’t do too well when they are stuck in the car for long periods of time. Luckily, tablets have helped out a great deal, especially with services like streaming app Cinema Box. If you don’t want them staring at a screen the whole time, simply giving them a pencil and some paper to draw and come up with their own games can help let their imaginations run wild. You should also make sure you have plenty of snacks to stop them from becoming hungry and some pillows and blankets in case they want to go to sleep.

Prepare for the Journey Home
When the time comes to head back home again, safety is your number one priority, so you should inspect your car by doing the same basic health checks that you did before you set off. You should also make sure that your car is clean and tidy as the mess has probably really started to build up at this point. Once again, check out any information you can find about any hazards that are out on the road and also take a look at the weather forecast. And don’t forget to fill up on gas before you head out as running out would not make a good end to the trip!      






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