Many people crave for the thrill of a road trip experience. One may organize a road trip for reasons like satisfying an adventurous spirit, making a loved one happy, or even stretching out for an outdoor event. But for whichever reason, road trips are so memorable.
While road trips are pretty amazing, they sometimes can get disappointing. It’s good to ensure that your passengers and the car come back in one piece. First look at these pro tips for planning a fantastic road trip adventure.
1. Know The Right Time To Hit The Road
The first thing to consider before your travel is the right time of travel. Generally, you know pretty well that summer holidays and weekends fill the road and destinations to the brim.
Though a spontaneous trip might sound great – like a surprise for your newlywed, it can turn out to be a big headache. It is, therefore, necessary to know the right time of travel, as no one would enjoy the trip through crazy traffic jams and rush hour congestion.
2. Make Use Of Technology
The Millennium prides itself in its high-end technology. You really don’t want to find yourself hitting the wrong road (I have been there, for sure it sucks).
If you are worried about the directions, you need to make use of maps.me, an app that lets you download maps so you can check them offline, from whichever part of the universe.
Additionally, no one wants to lose the phone’s battery when cruising the best roads, so an in-car battery or a battery pack is must-have for an enjoyable road trip (especially if the trip takes long hours).
The best way to enjoy the road trip is to have an AUX cable, for enjoying the best acoustics during your road trip.
3. Ensure You Have All Traveling Essentials
There are basically a handful of things to include in your checklist before heading to your road trip. If you’re crossing boundaries, for instance, you need to have an international driving license, if you don’t want to bump into the arms of non-friendly law enforcement officers.
Also, check your car insurance, if it’s up-to-date. It’s annoying to part with your cash, or worse still, be charged in court for failing to update your car insurance policy. If you shop around, you should be able to find good prices for your insurance. Just make sure to read in–depth reviews of the providers too – here are some Country Financial Car Insurance reviews as an example.
4. Perform A Little Search
Performing a little search before you travel can reveal a lot of information about the road and the ultimate destination. What the latest news on the destination? What are the security issues? How are the locals, are they friendly?
A simple Google search can also reveal essential facts like distance, population, etc. Be sure to ask for insider tips before you go on a road trip.
5. Reserve Campsites
If you have a detailed trip, you need to reserve a camping site. It relieves much stress to know that you have a place to lay your head every night. You won’t want to drive till late night looking for an open campsite. What about the camping gear? Yes, ensure you book the best camp with the best camper covers.
Remember your camping experience is part of your adventure. You, therefore, should ensure you get the best campsite. You can Google or seek friends’ recommendations.
6. Have A Clear Destination In Mind
The most exciting part of planning a road trip is planning where to go. This is not saying that you should write things on a stone, but having a general idea or a theme. You may plan like, say a national park road trip, which gives lots of fun.
7. Have Your Car Serviced
Nothing disappoints like a broken car on an enjoyable road trip. Worse still, if your fiancée accompanies you. Unfortunately, an excellent conditioned car still breaks down, but performing a basic tune-up is a good idea before hitting the road. Ensure the oil and oil filters are changed, as well as regularly checking your coolant to avoid unwanted disappointments.
8. Be Ready With Roadside Rescue Tools
At the very least, take with you necessary tools that you can use to repair a puncture, inflate tires, etc. You won’t want to shout at every fast moving vehicle asking for assistance. Put together all the necessary tools and skills needed for roadside assistance.
9. Choose Your Companion Wisely
Road trips can get stressful at times. Why? Issues crop from unlikely situations. Think of this, you bump into a road sign, and you can’t decipher whether it means someone crossing the road (pedestrian crossover point), or the end of one way traffic. It’s so sad having a companion who can’t read a map, can’t understand road signs, etc. I would contemplate dropping them at a nearby fuel station!
With a good companion, he will make you stay calm and sure of your turns.
10. Check On Road Conditions
What if the road has a major construction closure? Well, you will need to study the state of the road to avoid disappointments. Try to gather much information from the oncoming motorists as well.
Lastly, remember that the road trip is not enjoyable by the places you visit. The experience does. Therefore, take time to prepare like a pro, and you give yourself and loved ones a fantastic road trip adventure.