Road trips are one of the most popular family holidays to take. Whether you are going for a weekend, or plan to travel long term, it is a great way to explore. With the COVID-19 pandemic, road trips have become even more popular than normal due to a variety of restrictions in different countries.
Going on a road trip is an exciting adventure to plan. In amongst all the excitement, there are some important things that you need to consider to make it an important trip, as well as important things you should avoid.
When you are road tripping with your family, these factors are paramount to their safety and wellbeing. It will also ensure that you have fun, and have everything that you need for a successful trip.
To help you with your planning, and ensure you remember everything you need to, here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid.
#1 Not getting your car serviced
No matter how reliable you think your car is, you are making a huge mistake if you don’t get it serviced before you travel. Whether you choose to service it yourself or get help from a professional mechanic, service is vital before you hit the road. A service will include all the most important checks that will ensure your car is safe for a long journey, for example, the tyre pressure, tyre tread depth, oil levels, lights, windscreen wipers and screenwash, engine coolant, and more. A service will give you peace of mind, and ensure you don’t run into any trouble on the road. This can be costly and disruptive, as you will need to fix the issue, call out a professional, or head home and cut the trip short.
#2 Not creating a list of the essential items
While you think you might know everything you need to pack on your road trip, if you don’t create a checklist, you might forget something important. If you forget something important, such as travel documents or medication, you are going to have to go home, which will disrupt your family road trip. Creating a checklist will ensure you are well organized and prepared before you set off, so you can relax and enjoy your road trip. It will also minimize the stress on your day of departure. This day can be particularly stressful, as you try to load the vehicle and get your family ready to leave. A checklist makes the process easy and simple. Make sure you include some of the most important items such as:
- Travel documents
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance policies
- Emergency contacts
- Car safety tools
- Phone chargers
- Medication
#3 Not making a plan for your health
When you are on a road trip, especially for more than a weekend, you must consider your health and wellbeing. If you don’t, you may find yourself stuck and in a desperate search for help. The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a position where a family member is not well, and you’re not sure what to do.
If you are traveling with your family, then you need to be prepared for anyone to fall ill. You also need to ensure you are fully prepared if anyone has any medication or medical conditions. Make sure you plan for the essentials that are required, as well as basics such as pain relief medication. You should also research different stops on your trip in case you need any medical help, or sign up to the Simple Online Pharmacy to make it easy while on the road.
#4 Not researching your routes
With technology, it can be extremely easy to just put your location into your satnav and set off on your road trip. Unfortunately, this may not always be the best journey you should take as it could result in long delays, lots of traffic and a boring drive.
To avoid this mistake, and all the risks that come with it, you should plan your route. The management of your time is vital on a trip. You likely have a strict schedule to stick to and you need to maximize your time. You should conduct research into the areas you will be traveling to and alternative routes. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the routes and even obtain a map that you can use in case of any technical issues or emergencies.
Feature photo credit: here.