Roadtrips are fun if you know how to execute them to the T. Similar to air and railroad travel, road trips come with a charm of their own and can be thoroughly enjoyed if you keep in mind certain things.
Years before Corona invaded our lives and toppled it upside down, I along with my family went on many road trips and learned a few tips and tricks that can enhance your experience on the road.
Avoid Frequent Rest Stops:
You have every right to enjoy the journey more than your destination and let your floral scarf wave outside the window. But please, do not stop too frequently to get some clicks for Instagram or just to admire the roadside beauty.
On a road trip, time is of primary essence. If you make too many stops, you will reach your destination quite late and won't be able to enjoy the place in its full glory. Also stopping too many times not only breaks the momentum but also extends the journey time longer than it seems. So, if you are a couple travelling together, try to keep the stops to a minimum.
P.S, of course, there are exceptions to these rules. If you are travelling with the elderly or with kids, you might inadvertently need to stop quite a few times. However, barring these scenarios let's enjoy the road while being on the road.
Spray Those Germs Away:
One of the major issues that we women face while being on the road is the lack of clean toilets. Sometimes, it feels like finding the lost city of Atlantis would have been an easier task than getting one clean bathroom on the highways.
So, always keep spray sanitisers with you in the bag all the time. Personal hygiene products are a must on every road trip.
Pack Light:
Unlike air and rail travel, where you only need to pack for your family and yourself, on a road trip, you also need to pack for the car. Personally, we (me and my husband) consider our car as just another member of our family, who is responsible for making this road trip a memorable experience.
So, before we hit the road, a box dedicated to car maintenance is loaded in the boot leaving us with limited space to load our luggage. So, packing light helps in more than one way. One of the best hacks I find for packing light is using vacuum storage bags.
These bags not only help me take all kinds of pretty clothes with me but also saves space significantly. The only additional thing you need to pack in is an iron or steamer. While vacuum bags come in handy during road trips, the clothes get wrinkled when taken out. An iron or a steamer is a Godsend during these situations to get the wrinkles out.
The Driver Makes the Playlist:
This is a cardinal rule and you must follow it unless you want the driver falling asleep on the wheel. The driver is the one person, who needs to stay alert and awake while you are on the highway. So, if Jagjit Singh ghazals are something that keeps him/her focussed then so be it.
Whoever takes the wheel, gets to choose the playlist. The other passengers cannot take over the stereo for long hours on the road. Of course, you can play your favourite songs but make sure that the majority of them are favourites of the person driving.
Load up on Snacks and Energy Drinks:
Hunger and thirst can turn even the most joyous trips upside down. Packing healthy snacks and energy drinks is a must for any road trip. This will not only help you reduce the number of stops on the road but will also help you avoid those hunger pangs.
Here are some things that I like to bring with me on all of my road trips:
Ice cold water wrapped in a damp cloth
Dry fruits and fresh fruits to munch on
Energy drinks especially for the person driving and the front passenger to keep them from getting drowsy
Multigrain chips and cookies
Knowledge of the Route:
Doing some homework on the route you will take can help you make the journey smooth and enjoyable. Here are some of the benefits of knowing the route.
Selecting rest-stops for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Getting an idea of alternate routes to reach the destination
Location of petrol pumps and possible car repair shops
An estimate of how much time it would take to reach the destination
P.S. we rely on Google Maps and the knowledge of locals extensively while touring on the road. Google Maps, to date, have given accurate or close to accurate real-time information on road conditions. We also ask the locals for directions from time to time when Google Maps fails us or we have no connectivity on our smartphones.
I look forward to family road trips and would say that the journey matters more to me than the destination. Your first road trip might look daunting but keep an open mind and be flexible. There will always be hitches on the road. At least you will have your loved ones beside you for support or shouting :D
What are your road trip hacks? Do let me know in the comments :)