Road trip plans: 5 ways to get prepared

Whether you’re thinking about a family holiday to the seaside, a romantic getaway with your partner, or a weekend in the city among friends, making plans for a road trip can be extremely exciting. But for some people, there’s also the potential for stress and suffering. 

This doesn’t have to be the case though, as long as you organise yourself and are fully prepared for anything. That way, you can simply sit back and enjoy the journey, which is often just as good as the destination itself.

Give your car a once-over

Every road trip is completely dependent on the vehicle you travel in, so giving your car a once-over before setting off is absolutely essential. This is especially true if you’re travelling a long distance with lots of extra weight, as the car will be under extra strain. 

Mechanical checks you can do yourself include:

• Oil – Make sure the oil level on your car engine’s dipstick is between the minimum and maximum markers. 
• Coolant – Check your vehicle handbook for the location of the coolant filler cap and follow the instructions if you need to top it up. 
• Tyre pressure – If you’re weighed down with passengers and luggage, you might need more air in your tyres according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  
• Lights – Ask a friend or family member to check the back lights for you to ensure you’re visible to other road users.

Get breakdown cover

Even if you give your car a comprehensive inspection before setting off, there’s often no way of knowing whether something else might go wrong. That’s why getting breakdown cover makes perfect sense. 

The last thing you want is for your road trip to be over before it even begins, so sign up to a reputable provider like the RAC for round-the-clock recovery and assistance.   

Pack the essentials

Once you’ve signed up for breakdown insurance, remember to take your policy details with you. The same goes for your driving license and car insurance documents. 

Other essentials include loose change for toll roads and parking, a first-aid kit for minor bumps and scrapes, and a sat-nav or smartphone to help you find your way.

Pack for comfort

Now you’ve got all the essentials, think about items that could make your road trip more comfortable and enjoyable. 

For example, drinks and snacks to provide much-needed sustenance, sunglasses to shield your eyes from glare, toiletries such as wet wipes and sunscreen, as well as clothes for every possible weather scenario.

Decide upon a beginning, middle, and end 

There’s a good chance you’ll already have a final destination in mind, and you’re more than likely to be leaving from your home too. But what about attractions, activities and landmarks along the way? 

Take a look at your route beforehand and pick a few places of interest to visit. Not only will this break up the trip and make it feel shorter, you may even be able to tick off a few bucket list items too.