Whether you’re an explorer, a beach chiller, safari enthusiast, or a novel and cocktail person – the fun way to get to your holiday destination is always a road trip.
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With the holiday season upon us, many people are scrambling to figure out exactly what they’re going to do with their precious time off. Let’s face it, this year has thrown us a curveball, and many people are either skipping their usual holiday plans, or are only now starting to plan, as none of us were 100% sure what the lockdown situation would be by December.
It is therefore the ideal time to work a fabulous road trip into your planning. Whether it’s a one-hour or two-day drive, it’s the approach and attitude that turns your drive into an epic road trip.
Here’s why we love road trips, and you should too!
1. It's the perfect way to segue into holiday mode
A nice, relaxed road trip is the perfect way to leave work and study stress behind and get into the holiday spirit. Play your favourite music, stock up on delicious snacks, and just enjoy the journey.
If you’re worried about the kids getting bored, here are some excellent ways to keep them entertained. If, like many of us, you haven’t hit the road in a while, make sure you’ve got it all covered with these handy tips.
2. It’s socially distanced
We know! COVID-19 fatigue has most certainly set in, but that’s exactly when you need to be more careful. A road trip is the ideal way to stick to your family and friends ‘bubble’, while still getting away from it all.
3. We need to break free
Speaking of COVID-19 fatigue, a good road trip is the perfect cure. That feeling of escape and freedom that you get when hitting the open road is precisely what we all need right now. So fill up your tank, and just enjoy the feeling of simply getting away.
Driving tips on a long trip If your road trip is going to cover quite a distance, there are a few things to consider before getting behind the wheel.
- Route and distance: Identify safe stopping spots beforehand so that you can either rest or change drivers when needed. Your road trip should be fun, not an endurance challenge, so plan ahead.
- Stay calm: At some point, you will get stuck behind a truck, or experience holiday season traffic. Remember: this is not a race and you’re not going to be late for a meeting! So turn up your favourite playlist and relax – don’t get impatient and resort to dangerous overtaking. You’re on holiday!
- Organise your car: To make the most of your road trip, you need to do a bit of organising beforehand. Whether you’re travelling on your own or with the whole family, you want to make sure that everything is where it needs to be. You don’t want to spend your entire trip stopping to look for snacks, toys, iPads, sunglasses and phone cables.
How to plan or prepare for a road trip
The most important part of your road trip is, of course, your vehicle. No matter the distance or destination, use this handy checklist to make sure you get there safely and smoothly:
- Have your vehicle checked. Many dealerships offer free pre-holiday vehicle checks where they’ll make sure crucial elements, such as brakes, electronics and all engine fluids are in good working order.
- Make sure you have your wheel alignment and tyre tread checked. If you need new tyres, please don’t ‘skimp’ and think you can do it after your trip. Your tyres are the only part of the vehicle that’s physically in contact with the road, so they are by far the most important safety feature.
- Check wipers and window cleaning fluid – you don’t want to end up next to the road trying to wipe karoo gnats off your windscreen with wet wipes, or your sleeve.
- If you have air conditioning, make sure it’s filled and in good working order.
There are plenty of detailed checklists to help you prepare, and there’s nothing wrong with being a little over-prepared. But, to come back to our first point, your road trip is an escape and you want peace of mind knowing that you have covered all the potential hiccups before you set off.
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