Useful tips for a road trip
If you are thinking about the perfect vacation, going on a road trip can be relaxing and exciting at the same time. It is a classic American concept which takes you for a long, “on the road” adventure across the country. Fasten your seatbelts and explore the land one inch at the time with you closest friends. You’ll have tons of fun, provided that you have already taken care of most of the following things. Plan your trip right, and there won’t be any unplanned situation that could throw you off the track.
Clean your car before you go
Since your car is going to play the role of your home during your trip, you wouldn’t like it to be messy and filthy. Besides doing regular mechanical checkups, you should also check the interior of your automobile and take out the trash that would certainly be annoying during the following days. All those fast food wrappers, unnecessary receipts, dog hair and who knows what else, simply doesn’t belong in your car when you are going on a road trip. Get one of those handheld vacuum cleaners and shape up your car. And, don’t forget to maintain hygiene in the vehicle during the vacation. You will be pleased to sit behind the wheel of a clean car. Some chaos is tolerable but too much of it can drive you mad!
Try to avoid junk food
Yes, it the easiest and cheapest solution for sudden onsets of hunger, but try to control yourself. Unhealthy food full of fat and sugar won’t do you any good on the road when you have hours of driving left. Although it’s tasty, salty and tempting, try to avoid those snacks because they will leave you with no energy for driving. They can make you sick and drowsy and that’s exactly what you don’t need during your car adventure. Instead, consider bringing a cooler with you and fill it with ice every morning. There, you can store some fresh and healthy groceries that will keep you energized and wide awake! Tend to eat fruit and drink a lot of water, which will be extremely beneficial for your body and mind.
Take frequent breaks
Whenever you think to yourself: “I’m not that tired; I could drive a little bit more”, that’s exactly the moment you should stop and take a break. Do not push yourself over the limit because, hey! It’s a vacation! You’re not in a hurry! And even if you are, that’s not the reason to drive when you are tired, because you expose yourself and your fellow travelers to danger. Drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated but also force you to take frequent pit stops. It’s recommended to make a 30-minute caffeine break every few hours. And of course, it would be good if another person in the car had a driver’s license, so you could take turns driving.
Make sure you have car insurance
Before going on a road trip, think twice if you’ve just received your driver’s license or if you are, for any reason, unsure of your driving ability. Traffic can be unpredictable and it can get you in some stressful situations. And, even if you are an experienced driver, you shouldn’t go on a longer trip without having your car insured. For some people, SR22 coverage, also known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, will also be required. It is in your best interest to cover all the possible contingencies, so that nothing can surprise you and ruin your vacation.
Finally, whenever an unexpected situation emerges, remember that you are on vacation! Don’t overreact and, for God’s sake, don’t ever lose your temper! Relax and take things as they come. You aren’t in a hurry, there are no deadlines and all you should do is have fun. So, what if your car stopped? You can always hitchhike to the nearest gas station — it will be a fun story to tell your friends back home. The only thing left to do is to fill the tank, burn a CD with your favorite music and set off on an unforgettable adventure!