If you love to travel, a road trip could be an amazing adventure that you’ll never forget. Driving is a great way to see a lot of new places, whether you plan a route in your home country or abroad. If you’re going to get the most out of a trip like this, it’s important to plan it out properly so you can relax and enjoy the road.
THE CAR
If you’re going to be on the road for a long trip, you need the right car to do it in. Whether you use your own car, buy a new one or hire one, make your choice wisely. You need to be sure your car is going to be reliable. If you’re using your own car, get it checked over before you leave. Be sure you’re not going to find yourself broken down at the side of the road.
If you’re going to buy, and you’re feeling something like Mercedes and Smart used cars, choose a car that will be comfortable. Pick comfortable seats, good air-conditioning and a decent sound system for your road trip tunes.
ROUTES
Once you’ve chosen a destination, it’s time to plan how you’re going to get there and where you’re going to stop on the way. Spend some time researching the route and seeing what interesting places are on the way. Try and find blogs and vlogs from people who have completed the same road trip to get some ideas of where you might like to visit.
There are several apps on the market that can help you map potential routes. If you’re going to navigate with a Sat Nav, take a second GPS device as a backup in case one stops working, and pack a map, just in case.
Remember to build in some room for spontaneity. If you’re making stops on the way, you might find somewhere you expected to like isn’t very interesting, or you might stop somewhere you want to spend more time. Allow for traffic and other incidents on the way that might slow you down.
BUDGET
You don’t want to run out of cash halfway through the trip. Set a budget and stick to it it to stretch your money further. When you’re saving for the trip, account for fuel, accommodation, food and money for places you visit on the way. Leave some cash for fun too; like drinks, souvenirs and impromptu tourist attractions.
Make some savings by filling the tank before you leave. You know where the best fuel prices are near you, so set off with a tank of well priced fuel. Try not to overload the car. A heavier car will use the fuel faster, and you’ll need to refill more. When you do need to refill the tank, choose somewhere with multiple exits and choices to get your fuel. Prices are likely to be lower where there’s more competition.