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This guide will help you get organised and prepared for your next road trip. Whether you have a final destination in mind or if you decide to let the wind take you to new places, you will definitely have a road trip of a lifetime… You just need to be organised. As always, preparation is everything. Before you embark on your journey, no matter the distance, there are a couple things you must do. Check your tires, oil and water. Fill up with petrol. Test your air conditioning and wiper blades. Have your driver’s licence and keep your insurance numbers handy in case of an emergency. And lastly, take your spare car keys! You never know… you might just find yourself locked out of your car and you are hours away from home. These things can happen, so it’s best to be prepared.
Without keeping you in suspense any longer, here are the 10 most important items you will need for a fun, enjoyable and stress-free road trip.
1. Car entertainment:
If you get nauseous in the car, audio books are a great alternative to reading. It is also a great way to keep you entertained for hours. If you have kids, play any children’s audio book. That should keep them busy for a solid couple of hours. There are a few travel games that are fun, exciting and suitable for all ages. These include: cards, travel bingo and word games.
2. An awesome playlist:
At some point, listening to the radio can become quite monotonous, so it’s always a good idea to have an awesome playlist ready with all your favourites. Mix and match your music genres and include variety. This will ensure that you don’t get bored. Your playlist should cover everyone’s different tastes in music. Don’t forget to pack your aux cable!
3. Snacks:
Try keep your snacks mess-free, so chose things like energy bars, fruit and nuts. Or even a chocolate or packet of chips when you feel like a treat. Sandwiches and crackers are also a great choice for road trips and keep you full for long.
4. Water and other beverages:
It is very important to stay hydrated, so always have water ready and take a sip when you remember. It’s also nice to keep other beverages in the car when you need a change from water: energy drinks, fruit juices, etc. If you are planning on going on a very long road trip, it might be a nice idea to take a cooler box with you. This way all your snacks and beverages are kept cool.
5. Toiletry bag:
Among the most important toiletry items you will need on any road trip are tissues and wet wipes. When it comes to wet wipes, I would recommend purchasing baby wet wipes. This is because they are great for sensitive skin, which means you can use it anywhere on your body and even your face. These wipes don’t contain alcohol or any harsh fragrances. Keep some dry shampoo handy when you need to freshen up your hair and lastly some chewing gum to keep you felling minty fresh all day long.
6. Toiletry bag extras for the girls:
It is always a good idea to have four items handy, because not having them can make your entire trip uncomfortable or unbearable. These items are: lip balm when your lips are feeling dry and chapped; a hair tie/pony when you just need to get your hair out of your face; and a nail clipper or nail file when you chip or break a nail and can’t bear that sensation. Girls, you know what I mean.
7. Travel kit:
It is of vital importance to have a GPS navigator on long trips. Whether you know where you want to land up of not, rather take one. No one likes to get lost. There are a variety of navigation systems. You can use Waze or Google maps on your mobile device if you prefer that. In this case, don’t forget to pack in your cellphone charger. If you don’t want to use your cellular data, rather plug in your GPS navigator for the duration of the journey. And as a backup, it is always a good idea to have a paper map, just in case you run out of data or battery. Lastly, don’t forget to keep some spare cash in the car for toll gates if you don’t have a petrol card.
8. Emergency kit:
This is a must! Include: jumper cables, a tool kit, flash light and a spare tire.
9. First aid kit:
If your vehicle doesn’t already have a first aid kit, buy one! Include some sun screen in there as well, especially if you decide to do your road trip with the car roof down.
10. Vehicle accessories:
Passengers and back seat drivers definitely need to bring along loads of pillows and blankets for the long drive. Comfy and stretchy clothes are a must for all passengers. You can never go wrong with a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. Also don’t forget to pack an umbrella in the car as well. You will never appreciate the importance of this small item, until it’s poring with rain and you find yourself completely drenched. The last vehicle accessory I must include is a camera. Whether it’s a professional camera, a Polaroid or simply the camera on your cell phone, you need to have one handy to take some photos of all the beautiful views you encounter along the way. Don’t only take photos of the views; remember to also capture the memories inside the car!
Have fun, soak in the sun and capture the scenic route as little photos of memory in your brain. There are times when we need to venture alone, but road trips are just too much fun to do solo. So don’t forget to bring family, a friend or even a couple of friends along for the adventure. It’s nice to share the journey with others.