Tag Archives: travel planning

One of the best ways to get away from it all for a while and have an adventure is to pack up the car and head off on a road trip. Roadtripping gives you ultimate freedom and flexibility when it comes to where you want to go and it allows you to see multiple destinations in one fell swoop. The difference between jumping in the car and hitting the road compared with a flight for example is all about the journey and the things that you will discover and the places that you visit that flying would never give you the opportunity to see. Before you head off on that road trip then there are some important preparations that you need to make and here is a quick checklist to ensure that you have everything you need.

Car Preparation

Your car is likely to be clocking up some miles during your trip and the last thing that you need is any kind of problems like a breakdown, for that reason it is vital that you thoroughly check your car before leaving home. Here are a few things that you need to check.

• Fluids – Make sure that your car has sufficient levels of brake fluids, water, oil, gas and screenwash before you travel.
• Tires – Make sure that your tires have sufficient tread and air in them, you will be putting them through their paces during the trip and you may even want to consider putting new tires on before you leave. Michelin tires are one of the most durable on the market and if you do opt for a new set then these will be a great option.
• Lights – It is very important that you ensure that all lights on your car are in good working order, headlamps, indicators, brake lights and reverse lights. Ask someone to give you a hand when checking and it would also be a good idea to grab some spares to take with you.

For the Journey

You want to make sure that the journey is as fun as it can be and in order to do so you should be loading up on snacks and drinks as well as some in-car entertainment. Music will be vital and if you’re using a digital device then you should make some time and get a playlist put together for your trip. To keep everyone entertained you could plan some in-car games and if you have kids with you then make sure you set time aside to download some movies or games onto a tablet to keep them entertained in the back.

Planning Your Route

Although you do have absolutely freedom when it comes to where you stop during your trip, it is a good idea to have a loose plan or destination in mind for your road trip. Remember that you may not have great phone signal if you are traveling through more remote locations and you should prepare ahead of time for this. Despite technological advancements there is nothing wrong with a good old fashioned map to help you out. If you use something like Google Maps then you can preload your destination and it will still track you with GPS even if you don’t have signal, alternatively you could use a Sat Nav to help you on your journey, getting lost can sometimes be fun, but not always.