A road trip has the potential to be extremely enjoyable. Your experience depends on how effective your planning process is. Here are some tips on how to make your next one safe and fun.
Get the Whole Family Involved
When the children feel included in the planning process, they are likely to be more enthusiastic about the trip. You could give them a list of destination options and ask where they would like to go. When you’ve got a destination, you and the kids can now list down all the activities you would want to do as well as the sites you would like to see.
Check the Condition of Your Car
Your vehicle, being your mode of transportation for the road trip, should be in good shape. You need to make sure that your vehicle has been serviced properly and you have a spare tire handy and intact. Also, carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, booster cables, and other essentials in the case of an emergency. Another thing you should do is to have a list of emergency contact numbers in the case of an emergency. Also, get travel insurance before your trip.
Consider investing in a citizens band radio, or CB radio, for your vehicle as well if you often go on long road trips with your family. A CB radio can come in handy during emergencies. It will allow you to call for help even without mobile reception. To this day, the police still check Channel 9 on the CB for communications during emergencies. These handy devices also allow you to tune in to the radio and weather channels to get updates.
Create a Budget
It’s very important to play it safe with your finances when planning a road trip. You won’t want to be bankrupt by the time all the fun is over. You could do this by estimating the amount of money you may spend on necessities like food, fuel, and activities, then save towards it. Opening a savings account would be a great way to encourage you to save more towards your goal.
Carry a Travel Map
As a part of your planning process, get a paper map and highlight the route you intend to use. You can also highlight all the sites you would like to visit on your way. The map will help you to avoid getting lost and choose the most efficient route to take based on your research.
Plan to Take Turns Driving
This is a great way to make your trip less exhausting and avoid accidents. It has been noted that, internationally, 1.25 million people are killed in accidents annually, whilst 20-50 million become wounded or permanently disabled because of accidents. With that said, it is crucial to take breaks from driving for the safety of everyone.
Pack Efficiently
What you carry has a massive impact on your overall road trip experience. With the average American home having about 300,000 items in it, it’s easy to get confused about what to carry. To avoid over or under-packing, you and your kids should make lists of everything you will need. Then, review them together to see if everything is necessary. Some things you could carry to keep your kids entertained are toys, dolls, workbooks, and notebooks. Make sure everything is age-appropriate. Also, carry some disposable bags to throw litter in and a first aid kit.
Carry Food
To keep everyone happy and energetic, pack some food into a lunch bag. This is also a great way to save money. You would need easy-to-eat snacks as well as some healthy and well-structured food options. You could pack snacks like bananas, apples, crackers, grapes, protein bars, chips, and water which may be eaten whilst driving. Some healthier food options are sandwiches, buns, or muffins. Plan to make a stop to rest and eat your food without rushing. Another important thing is to make sure you pack snacks for both going on the trip and for the journey back.
Book Accommodations
Before going on the trip, decide where you would like to stay and make reservations. When choosing accommodation, make sure both places have good facilities and wifi so that everyone is happy. Research shows that from 2019 onwards, the U.S has 1,580 resorts and 204,100 units, and there are surely plenty of places to stay throughout the UK as well. This gives your family lots of accommodation options to choose from!
These are some of the tips that will help you to have a blast on your next road trip. Get your family involved, budget your spending, and pack lightly but efficiently!
Additional reading:
- Uncertain about the state of your car? Check out available cars for sale to see better options
- Safety tips to teach your teenager before they own a car
- Car driving tips that may save your teen’s life
