Planning a Road Trip Vacation
Little compares to the thrill and excitement of planning a road trip vacation. With the convenience of your own vehicle at your disposal and no predetermined travel itinerary that is time and schedule bound, you are the master of the road. However, careful planning does help.
Weather Conditions
It is very important to consider the weather conditions, both back at home and at your destination. Considering weather conditions also has a lot to do with your packing and baggage weight. While on a summer vacation, clothing and accessories are always at their bare minimum, they are the maximum during winter and really overbearing in the monsoons. You would have to plan an early morning getaway during summer, to avoid the heat and grime, while in winter and during the monsoons, you get to plan departure and arrival as you like. Your food and water quantities also differ according to season. During the warmer months, disposable bottled water helps lighten the luggage as you move along. Planning for extra tuck always helps, especially when children are around. This also helps you to save wisely, instead at stopping at restaurants for every meal.
Condition of the Vehicle
You need to ensure that the vehicle you plan to drive in is serviced and the tires are double-checked for durability. Get your mechanic to test drive her and certify her suitability for the long journey ahead. Double check the brakes, horn and headlights and consider oil-change. To be absolutely sure that nothing goes wrong as far as the vehicle is concerned, rearrange the coupe and boot. Pre-plan the arrangement and positioning of the baggage and the perishables. More the space, happier the spouse and children. An uncomfortable journey will only make everyone edgy. If you and your spouse drive, then design a rote chart, making things simpler and the holiday fun. If you plan to take the road trip vacation with friends, then you should work towards generating ample room for every member of the group. The allotment of seats should suit everyone's preference. Most importantly remember that the vehicle can add to the excitement only if you plan to enhance its performance. Never for one moment underestimate the role of the vehicle in the journey.
Music and Conversation
Keeping in mind the long hours of focused driving that you too would have to put in, it pays to invest a bit, to make the journey enjoyable for the rest of the family or for the remaining members of the group. You could consider a good selection of music, to suit everyone's preference. You may like peace and quiet, but do remember that there are others in the vehicle. Children and even grown-ups are always at their holiday-best around music and travel. Music not only brings the family or group together, but also adds to great memories. You should also avoid bringing out issues that highlight conflicting thoughts. It is very easy to get aggravated while driving or simply sitting in the passenger seat for long hours. Consider story telling, sharing of jokes, games like, "I am your disc jockey now" and "Remember the last license plate?" and board games. You should monitor the onset of drowsiness while driving and be quick to pull up. You could take a 'picnic-break' or drive into a park and refresh yourself a while. Never forget the camera.
First Aid
It is very important to ensure that the vehicle is equipped with a basic first aid kit. You should shop locally for bandages, pain relievers and common solutions for minor health issues that invariably set in during travel, like diarrhea. If there is any member of the family or group who has a long term ailment, you should ensure that proper medication is taken along and the family physician is consulted prior to the road trip. You would also have to consider allergies and elders with arthritis, as well as water safety. It makes the trip more pleasurable for everyone, when the 'crew' is feeling healthy. In case you have an elderly member of the family who uses a wheelchair, you should consider vehicle adjustments to accommodate either the folded equipment or the open, usable version. Both are possible, with the help of the mechanic. The same applies for pet travel.
Pick the Route
If your holiday destination is one that has many alternate routes, take time off with your spouse or other friends traveling along to assimilate route maps and pick any two that are not far apart. Yes, two! This is just to play safe in case of a detour required on account of construction delays, peak hour traffic jams and highway construction zone regulations. Planning the route prior to the journey also helps to tap the potential of exact mileage and travel time. This helps a lot to design the mental make up of the group and budget fuel expenditure. Most route maps available online as well as offline are very versatile and also offer you detailed road trip vacation ideas with information on alternate highways, inner city routes to bypass traffic, demographic information and information on hotels and motels en route, as well as travel tips.
Like This Article?
Follow:
Post Comment