With hints of summer sun appearing across the UK, holiday season cannot be far off at all. Domestic holidays have become an increasingly popular way for people to relax in recent years, with the humble road trip getting more and more of a look-in from younger holidaymakers. Road trips can be endless fun, if planned right – so here’s how to get the logistics sorted for your upcoming summer road trip.
Check Your Car
The most important constituent part of your road trip, as far as logistics are concerned, is your car. It needs to be fit and healthy for the long drives ahead, in order to mitigate the risks of a roadside breakdown or rural stranding. You will also want to make sure your car is comfortable for the ride ahead, both in terms of seat comfort and available space. You and your friends will be spending a long time in a relatively small cockpit, so you might as well make it a pleasant one to be in!
As far as car health is concerned, simple routine checks can do the trick, including:
- Checking your battery is charged
- Checking your tyre pressure is correct, and that the treads are not too worn
- Topping up your engine oil and coolant
- Checking and replacing any dodgy indicators or headlamps
Plan Your Route
A road trip is not to be taken lightly; if you set off without a proper route in mind, things can get hairy very quickly – whether you make life difficult for yourself with long detours or inadvertently get lost along the way. Exhaustively planning your road trip’s route is essential for the success of the trip, and for yours and your passengers’ peace of mind. Start with your intended stops, then connect them, taking into consideration fuel needs and any views you might want to encounter along the way.
Plan for Breaks
Likewise, it is important that you plan your driving just as much as you plan your route. Some of the legs of your journey may be particularly long, and it is very easy to get dangerously fatigued while driving. As such, regular rest stops should be included in your itinerary. If other passengers can drive, then all the better; you can swap drivers between legs to ensure whoever is behind the wheel is awake and energised.
Book Ahead
Whether you intend to camp out on your trip, or you are angling for residential accommodation in the form of Airbnbs or hotels, you should book your stays as soon as you are logistically able – ideally immediately after planning out your route itinerary. This way, you can guarantee that you will have a bed or camping spot waiting for you when you arrive, and you can avoid the prospect of a fully-booked hotel and a night in the car.
