Over the past few years, we’ve all spent more than our fair share of time at home. Now, with restrictions easing, travel is on the cards again - which means it's time to start planning your long-awaited summer vacation. Whether you are craving sunshine or crisp mountainside air - there are plenty of benefits associated with planning a family road trip. For example:
- You get to spend more quality time together. You can work your way through your travel bucket list, visiting multiple destinations on one trip.
- They are often less expensive than other vacations, especially as you can avoid airfare.
- You have more freedom during your trip, as you can go wherever you want whenever you want.
- Road trips can be fun for the whole family as you can visit a variety of different attractions, being sure to cater to everyone's needs.
With that in mind, here are some top tips you can use to plan the perfect road trip.
Put together a budget. Money management plays an important role in your daily life but is key when planning a road trip - after all, you don’t want to get halfway on your journey only to have to return home early due to dwindling funds. As a result, you should make sure that you put together a budget that you are comfortable with ahead of time - and that you stick to it. Knowing your budget will help you when it comes to booking accommodation and activities and planning the length and duration of your journey.
Map your route. The first step towards pulling off a successful road trip is mapping your route. While traditionally, this would have meant spending a lot of time in front of a map, you can now put together a straightforward plan using sites such as Furkot - you simply need to have a list of destinations in mind. Alternatively, you could follow more traditional routes, such as the world-famous route 66.
Choose the right car. It goes without saying that when heading out on a road trip, you need to make sure you’re behind the wheel of the right car - one that is designed for long-distance travel and will keep your family safe throughout. The 2022 Jeep Compass is an excellent example of this, as they come with superior software and are known for their high levels of comfort. You can learn more here.
Pack the essentials. When heading out on a road trip, it's important that you pack light when possible - as this makes it easier for you whenever you stop at hotels. It also means your car is less cluttered. However, it's important that you don’t forget to bring along the essentials. For example, you should ensure that you have access to a portable charger, especially if you will be using your phone to navigate your way from place to place.
Plan a mixture of fun and educational activities. As a parent, you’ll always be on the lookout for ways in which you can teach your children something new. While the primary purpose of your trip should be having fun, this does not mean that you cannot make educational stops on your vacation. For example, you could spend time at local museums. Not only are they a great way to learn something fun, but they are also often free - which is excellent for those looking to save money while travelling.
Consider various accommodation options. Accommodation plays an essential role in your road trip, as you have to ensure you get enough sleep to be safe behind the wheel. As a result, you should ensure that you have your accommodation sorted out ahead of time. Thankfully, there are plenty of options available to you - from camping to luxury hotels.
Be prepared for the ‘are we there yet’ questions. Every parent hitting the road with their children dreads this question - especially when you have to hear it 1000s of times a day. However, it's an unfortunate reality of road trips that you must be prepared for. You can remedy this by making sure you have plenty of entertaining distractions for kids on long car journeys. For example, you could play games or even stick on their favorite movie. If you’re planning on having a technology-free trip, you might also want to buy some books for them to read (or pick them up from your local library ahead of time). However, allowing them to use their tech during long journeys isn’t too bad, especially as it will keep them quiet for a little bit longer.
Put together a playlist. No road trip is complete without a killer playlist to listen to along the way. As a result, it's crucial that you put together a playlist ahead of time so that you aren’t arguing over who is in charge of the music when you should be focusing on the road. One way in which you can keep everyone happy when listening to music is by letting each person add a certain number of songs to the playlist. If you’re struggling to choose, you could choose themes such as ‘songs to sing along to.’
Brush up on the legalities. Different states and countries have different rules for drivers, so you must do your research ahead of time. For example, if you intend to split the driving time between yourself and your spouse, you may both have to have spent a certain amount of time behind the wheel (especially if you are using a rental vehicle). This is also important if you have a teenager who wants to spend a bit of time driving during your trip but has only recently passed their test. As always, staying safe on the road should be your main priority - so in addition to abiding by all rules, you should also make sure that you get a lot of rest. If you find yourself getting tired when driving, pull over and take a break - even if it's just to stretch your legs and grab a cup of coffee.
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