How to Prepare for a Road Trip
Everyone likes Top Ten Lists, so here are the top ten questions you should ask yourself before you take a road trip.
Do I know where I’m going to sleep, and how I’m going to get there?
If you are taking your 15th annual road trip to Aunt Fanny’s house, the answers to this two-part question are a simple ‘yes’ and ‘yes’, and you can move on to the next question.
If you are going someplace you are not familiar with, check out your lodgings with someone you know in the area you are visiting, or on-line with sites such asTripadvisor. Are you using low-tech navigation aids such as foldout maps, printouts frommapquest, orAAA Triptiksto get where you are going? Put them in a readily accessible place in your vehicle so you won’t have to rummage for them. If you are on the higher-tech side, take some precautions to avoid distracted driving. Program the addresses of your hotel and any restaurants or other attractions you plan to visit into your GPS before you leave for your trip, or download any navigational apps you will need into your smartphone before your departure.
What is best to take with me in the way of food, clothing, shelter, and sleep, and what is better procured along the way or when I get there?
This question will keep you from the extremes of over-packing or under-packing.
If you are roughing it on a camping trip, it’s pretty hard to over-pack, since the only accommodations once you get where you’re going may be the ground you’re going to sleep on. Bass Pro Shop’sOutdoorshop Libraryhas some helpful ideas for campers.
If you are travelling to a well-populated tourist area, you may be able to conserve energy and reduce stress by leaving behind some of the things you will need from home. This is especially true of relatively inexpensive items such as grooming aids, flip-flops, and consumables, which can be purchased during the inevitable visit you will pay to the local WalMart within the first 24 hours of your arrival at your destination. This strategy results in lighter suitcases, better luggage-to-person space ratios in your vehicle, and reduced worry about leaving items behind when you pack up and head home.
Whatever your destination, make sure you take enough of any needed medication with you for the duration of your trip, and that there will be some medication at home on your return.
What would the pit crew do?
Since you won’t have a pit crew with you to check out and top off your vehicle at intervals, make sure that it is in good working order, and likely to remain so, before you go. Just in case, be sure repair supplies are at the ready in the trunk. About.com has some ideas forhow to prepare your car for a road trip.
Are cell phone and lap top (if you use one) ready to go, with chargers?
Make sure your links to the outside world are available and that you can power them during your trip. If you are travelling in an area which you think might have patchy cell phone coverage, find out what you can about where thedead cell zonesare before you leave.
Are 'all systems go' on paper and plastic?
Karl Malden wouldn‘t leave home without ‘em, and neither should you. Make sure that you have them with you when you leave: driver’s license, car registration, insurance card, passport, health and dental insurance cards, credit cards, some cash, any ‘club cards’ you have that will get you hotel or restaurant discounts, AAA card if you have one, and any other cards or documents you think you will need.
Will the house still be standing when I get home?
You will have to come home from your trip eventually, and you don’t want any unpleasant surprises when you get there. Make home security arrangements, such as giving an emergency key to a friend or neighbor if you will be doing so, well in advance, and confirm plans before you go.Top Travel Tipsoffers a comprehensive to-do list to help you cover all the bases.
Who’s going and who’s staying home?
If you’re traveling with family or friends, keep everyone posted on plans, and synchronize and resynchronize calendars and watches. Make sure you have enough luggage space to accommodate all travelers in your vehicle.
If you are leaving someone behind that may have to contact you in an emergency, leave them destination hotel and phone contact information, email contact information, and a rundown of your travel itinerary.
If you are travelling alone, leaving this information with someone you know is especially important. You may also want to set up a phone check schedule with this person, so that they will know to check on you if they cannot make contact with you at expected intervals. Edmunds.com has some specific recommendations for the safety ofwomen driving alone.
If pets are going with you on your trip, theASPCAhas some suggestions about what to do. On the other hand, check out these sixteen tips from Peggie Arvidson-Dailey if you will beleaving pets home.
Are camera/webcam and batteries, cords, or chargers good to go?
The family bonding doesn’t end with the vacation, it just begins. Once you get home, you get to share the footage with family, friends, and neighbors who did not go with you, not to mention posting it on Facebook.
How am I going to keep everybody happy during the road trip?
If you're travelling with kids, the folks at Disney Family Fun share sometrip gamesto help keep them entertained.
If you're traveling with pets, visit howstuffworks,com forways to keep pets entertained during a road trip.
If you're going to travel in the company of another adult or adults, check out FiveTips for Getting Along 24/7 During Your Road Tripfrom Divine Caroline.
So, what am I going to do once I get there?
Guidebooks, websites, and word of mouth from friends are all good sources of information on what to do once you arrive at your destination. If tickets or reservations are involved, double-check that they are in order a day or two before you leave. It's also a good idea to check the times of year, days of the week, and hours of the day that tourist attractions you want to see are open to the public.
Plan carefully, but don’t plan too much. Leave some space for pleasant surprises during and after you road trip.
