There’s no doubt road trips have been romanticised. No need to stress over buying tickets or paying for luggage; you can just throw your stuff in the car and go. Right?
Wrong. While there’s no doubt road trips give a sense of freedom and spontaneity, they still require some planning. A holiday should be fun and exciting, but dealing with easily-avoidable mistakes will make it a disaster.
To avoid your road trip dream turning into a nightmare, here are ten common mistakes to avoid.
No vehicle checks
Before setting off on your adventure, you must ensure your vehicle is in top condition. Checking your tyre pressure, screenwash and lights are just a few checks you can start with. Plus, you won’t get very far without fuel. You never know how far away the next petrol station is, so make sure your tank is full before setting off.
Don’t overload your schedule
Depending on your destination, there will be a host of attractions and sites you’ll want to see. However, while it’s tempting to see them all, you might benefit from taking it slow. You don’t want to rush from one tourist attraction to the next without fully taking everything in. Plus, you want to allow some time to be spontaneous and see where the road takes you as you go.
Not researching the route
Every motorist needs to be prepared. Looking into what kind of roads you’ll be driving is a great way to plan ahead. Are there a lot of single track roads? What about driving during bad weather? Is it safe? By researching your route, you can have a Plan B, C, and even D if you need to!
Ignoring breaks
Just because it’s called a road trip doesn’t mean you have to drive constantly. Allow yourself time to stop and stretch your legs. It can be tempting to drive and drive until you reach your next stop, but taking a break can lead to the best-unexpected adventures.
Unprepared optimism
It’s good to see the glass half full. However, this is not good if it results in poor packing. While we can hope for good weather, it’s best to prepare for the worst. Likewise, no one wants their car to break down, but it’s best to prepare with a car emergency kit.
Not budgeting
One of the biggest attractions of road trips is their spontaneousness. It’s great to play things by ear and find accommodation as you go. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t budget. Having guidelines for your cash to know how much you can spend on food, petrol, accommodation, and parking will give you peace of mind to know you’ll get to the end of the holiday without worrying.
Forgetting in-car entertainment
There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a boring car journey. To combat boredom, load up a playlist or podcast. Have a list of fun car games you can play with your fellow holiday goers to keep your brain occupied.
Relying on signal
However, you can’t rely on signals too heavily when on the road – especially if you’re travelling in rural areas. Sometimes you’ll hit areas that have no phone service at all. To ensure you’ve always got everything you need, download relevant maps, playlists, and entertainment.
Neglecting snacks
Snacks are important. They can give you that boost of energy you need for the day ahead. Having a stash of snacks in the car will prevent you from overspending at service stations or pitstops. Plus, you can keep the snack healthy instead of giving in to cakes, crisps and chocolate in shops.
Ignoring rubbish
But, snacking can lead to a messy car. Ignoring the mess will only cause rubbish to pile up and make your vehicle an unpleasant place to spend prolonged periods of time. Keep a bag in the car to collect discarded wrappers and waste to avoid this.
Enjoy your trip!
You’re bound to have a relaxing road trip with these tips in mind. But, although planning and researching are important, allow yourself to go with the flow. Spontaneity on a road trip can lead to the best adventures!
So, enjoy and get exploring!
