“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail,” so goes a famous saying. And this applies to long road trips too.
While it's entirely possible to embark on a journey without a plan and be open to unexpected adventures, if you're looking to create something truly special and ensure that the entire journey runs smoothly, with a few memorable stops along the way, then read on.
Tips on How To Have the Best Road Trip Ever
The essential term here is “itinerary,” and we encourage you to create one in addition to keeping other things in order. Before you embark on your next adventure, here’s what you need to do.
1. Highlight notable sites and attractions.
A few places of interest can usually be found along the way to your destination, so keep that in mind when planning your road trip. You might find interesting sites and great stopovers that would make the road trip even better.
The most important aspect of creating an itinerary is being able to add anything that interests you as you go along. Additionally, keep an eye out for bathroom break locations where you can also buy supplies, drink, eat, refuel, pump tires.
2. Allot extra time for delays or detours.
Delays are usually a part of departures and arrivals, so make sure to plan for them as well. Your itinerary should account for things like traffic, restroom breaks, and just taking more time at one place than planned. This is an excellent way to keep your cool, especially if you're in charge of your family or a group of individuals.
3. Reserve or book ahead of time.
Make sure you've reserved or booked everything you've planned ahead of time in the days or weeks leading up to the road trip. That includes major purchases such as tickets to an attraction, dinner reservations, hotel rooms, and vehicle rentals. Getting these tasks out of the way early will be critical to ensuring that your trip runs as smoothly as possible.
4. Have all the essentials prepared.
Make sure to print out your reservation confirmation email, online tickets, and other little items at least one day before your trip, as well as load the RFID for the appropriate toll collection system. That or have their electronic copies saved on your phone, and organized in a folder for quick access.
You can check online how much you need to load for toll collection systems before a journey. As new expressways and exits are added, as well as other considerations like charge revisions and the like, toll fees frequently change. The same applies when it comes to extra cash or pocket money.
This keeps everything within reach, independent of internet connectivity. Rather than causing worry at every turn while waiting for your reservation or online ticket to load, download it ahead of time so that it’s with you when you need it the most.
5. Get your vehicle and passengers ready.
Whether it’s your own vehicle or a car for rent in Manila, make sure its seats are assigned to each person going with you on your trip so there’s no argument as to who sits where. Create room for cargo (if necessary), and fill up on fuel the day before to ensure a seamless departure.
Make sure to choose someone or several people to get the honor of riding shotgun because it's helpful to have a co-driver on a lengthy road trip or someone to talk to and keep you awake. Be sure to communicate the full plan to your group beforehand so they know what to expect.
6. Have a backup itinerary.
Even if you've meticulously planned everything, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to stick to your timetable exactly. So, better to have backup arrangements or be willing to accept other choices. Keep the plan flexible.
7. Consider your needs as well.
This can’t be emphasized enough, but it's crucial to look after yourself if you are the designated driver. Don't deprive yourself of sleep, eat something, and, if necessary, relax your thoughts.
Pack some snacks like chips or sweets, energy drinks, coffee, water, or other beverages for your consumption because it's common to underestimate your ability to stay awake during a lengthy journey. Make sure to get your body ready for the long drive. On the other hand, take into account the energy it takes to lead a group if you are the chosen navigator.
8. Relax and enjoy the journey.
Along with getting enough sleep, it's also essential to manage your stress. Depending on how patient each party is with the other, stressing out in front of friends or family may lead to a conflict. You should maintain your composure under pressure.
Remember to enjoy the process even though you have to be strict with yourself on call times, travel times, reservations, and bookings. If you're going to be stressed out, what's the point of going on a trip?
Final Thoughts
Above all, lead by example for the other members of the group when it comes to sticking to the plan. Saying that everyone should get up on time is one thing, but really getting up early or on time is quite another. Make sure to follow the schedule at each stop to set the example. If everyone sees that you are on time, it will mean more when you kindly request that they do the same.
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