Going on a driving holiday can be a fun and memorable experience, which is why many families choose to enjoy one year after year. With the bleak financial climate of late, increasing numbers of people are choosing to have a so-called 'staycation', holidaying in their own country instead of venturing abroad.
Organising a busy family and preparing for your driving holiday can be a bit of a nightmare, which is why we have come up with some top tips on driving holiday preparation...
Choose The Perfect Destination
How can you actually find the perfect holiday destination? Perhaps you are already familiar with a certain area or have always longed to see a specific part of the country or world. If you are short on inspiration, ask around - friends, family and colleagues will no doubt be able to provide you with their suggestions for places to go and things to see whilst away. First hand recommendations are always better than taking the word of online reviews, so ask your nearest and dearest for their input where possible.
Failing that, look online. Search the web; look on review sites, forums and travel websites for further ideas and suggestions. The wealth of information available is vast and you will be sure to find several options open to you. Perhaps you will find some potential destinations which you wouldn't have otherwise even considered.
Plan The Route & A Back Up To Boot
Be sure to plan the route in advance (even if you will be relying on a sat nav!), it is always good to be aware of potential stopping places, service stations, scenic lunch spots, toilets etc. prior to setting off. In case of heavy traffic on the day, consider planning a secondary route to serve as an all-important back-up plan should you need it. For the extra prepared folk among you, maybe even plan a third route, just to play it extra safe.
If you will be using a sat nav on the day, be sure to have it fully charged and ready to go. Also carry a trusty map book to be on the safe side. There is no escaping the fact that sometimes, technology can fail us. In which case, a traditional map will have to be depended upon.
Prepare The Car & Check (Or Buy) Breakdown Cover
If you are going to be racking up the mileage on your driving holiday, be sure to get your car serviced as a precautionary measure. There is nothing worse than breaking down far away from home, especially if you have children on board! All the usual vehicle checks should be completed - e.g. tyre pressure, screen wash, oil, coolant, lights and battery. This will help to ensure a smooth and trouble free trip for all concerned. In addition, protect yourselves with breakdown cover. If you already have it, take your membership card and any important cover details with you on the trip, just in case. If you aren't yet covered, shop around using comparison sites or check out leading breakdown providers and purchase your cover ahead of time.
Pack The Car Safely & Effectively
In order to maximise space, many drivers opt to use a car roof rack on their vehicle. If you are going to be using one, ensure that you have the right roof rack accessories to keep the rack safely secured. An unsecure roof rack can be dangerous to yourselves and others on the road, so maximise the stability of the rack with straps, buckles and/or ratchets.
In terms of packing your luggage within the vehicle, all loose items should be secured to ensure that they do not move around the car unexpectedly in case of any sharp braking!
Check Your Children's Seats
Safety is paramount and this is why you should check that all children's car seats are properly installed before you set-off.
Always Be Prepared
When you are going on a long car journey, you can never have enough food or drink. This is especially the case when you have bored children to contend with. Arm yourself with enough nibbles to last the journey, or at least until the first service stop is on the horizon.
Occupy Your Children
Just like adults, children will become restless on long journeys and they are certainly harder at hiding it than us grownups. Whatever you do, don't forget to pack their treasured toys, books, music, gadgets and gaming devices! Also consider taking some travel pillows or cushions, to make sleeping a little more comfortable all round.
Have Fun!
Yes - have fun! Most of all, you want to enjoy your trip. So sit back, relax and take it easy. Complete all of the preparation and by the time the journey begins, you will wonder what you were ever worrying about!
Ron Donnebaum writes on behalf of MotoRack.com, a UK provider of roof racks for cars and vans.
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