How You Can Prepare For Your Next Vacation Road Trip
Vacations are something that everyone looks forward to enjoying. Road trips are especially fun because you can see parts of the country that you hardly ever see. When driving, you are in full control of where you want to go, when you want to stop, and what you want to see. You have the ultimate in flexibility. If you want some tips on how to plan for your next road trip, read over this article for some advice.
When you have decided which region you are going to drive to, get maps of those areas. Plot out the route that you want to take, and circle cities that you plan to stay in. Even if you are using a GPS, it is still good practice to have printed maps with you. Maps are good for getting the big picture of your route. When you have your route plotted, estimate how much driving you will do everyday. Do some research on the cities in which you are staying, and look into special local attractions.
It is a good idea to keep a cooler in your car with drinks, fruits, and other types of snacks. You may be on a long stretch of road where rest stops are far in between. Keeping some food in the car can hold you over until you can find a good place to eat. Avoid packing a lot of junk food. Things like nuts, fresh fruits, granola, crackers and pretzels are good, healthy snacks that you can bring.
Keep a lot of water in the car. If you bring a lot, you would not need to look for a convenience store that frequently to replenish your water supply. Also, just in case you have car problems along the way and get stranded, you will at least have enough water to drink.
Before your road trip, take your car in for a tune up and thorough check up. This will minimize any possibility of car problems during the road trip. Spending a little money now to fix up your car may save you tons of money for major car repairs if your car breaks down during your trip.
If you are bring equipment that requires batteries, bring extra batteries with you as back-ups. Flashlights, portable radios, DVD players, etc. all need batteries. So be sure that you bring extra batteries in the right sizes for your equipment.
A first aid kit is a must-have in your car. If you have a minor injury on the road, you would not want to waste time driving around looking for a drug store. Having the essential elements of a first-aid kit on hand will save you time, and it will also provide the needed immediate treatment of the wound.
Most importantly, have a good time! You deserve to have loads of fun after your hard work planning for this trip.
With some thoughtful pre-planning, you cut down the likelihood of unpleasant surprises. Follow the advice in this article and plan the exciting road trip that you have been dreaming of.