Venturing out on a long-distance road trip can sometimes be tiresome and somewhat exasperating. Factors such as the company, the departure and arrival times, the distance to travel, the reason you are traveling… help make the journey more bearable or even become a fun story to tell your friends.
We never know how this weather will turn out in the car, as there are many factors that are beyond our control. But there are some aspects that we can manage to make the journey enjoyable and entertaining.
Make a list
Avoid surprises, distractions, and headaches en route with the peace of mind of having everything prepared. Lock your house well, make sure someone is in charge of watching the mail or even doing some important paperwork. The old methods are the best: make a list of everything you need to have ready before the drive out and enjoy!
Surely you have tools on your mobile to help you create this list, such as the notepad application that comes by default on our devices. There are also applications such as a trip list or pack point (which we told you about in the post the 10 best travel apps ), created exclusively to help you prepare these lists.
Rest before traveling
A good rest always helps. If you are going to take the car, the best thing you can do is rest to the maximum the night before. Taking the car sleepy distracts us at the wheel and does not allow us to enjoy the trip 100%. Remember that experts recommend sleeping between 7 and 8 hours a day, so if a long drive awaits you, follow this rule.
Review your car and essential things
It is very important to check our car before making a long journey. Oil, tires, and even, if we plan to go north or to areas where it can snow, consider bringing chains or antifreeze. Our car must be as prepared as we are for the journey that is presented to it.
Moreover, you must consider checking important parts like a spare tire, essential tools to fix tire issues, jump start your car, Gas spout to pour fuel for those who carry extra fuel, flashlight, and things like that.
Plan your route and avoid traffic jams
If you know the route you are going to follow well, you will be able to find out in advance what are the best times to avoid traffic jams and even if there is a shortcut to reach your destination earlier.
Applications such as Google Maps will help you find out the best route to reach your destination and even calculate how long it will take to get there. This application, also notify you of the influx of traffic in the different sections, so that you can recalculate your route and arrive at your destination on time.
Rest every two hours minimum
The desire to arrive before dark, have a special event, or even want to overcome your own marks, can make you avoid making stops or make less than necessary. Especially, on journeys of less than 4 hours. But it is advisable to stop every 2 hours to rest, stretch your legs, especially if you travel with children, and have a drink. Tiredness and fatigue decrease our ability to react. Also, what matters is the path, not the distance to be covered.
Review your route and plan your stops. To do this, you can consult the map of establishments in Areas and take advantage of the 10% discount of being Smart Travelers. Still not? What are you waiting for?
Be comfortable!
Wearing comfortable, light clothing that allows us to move easily when driving is key. The same goes for our family and/or friends. Make sure no one gets dizzy, or that precautions have been taken to avoid dizziness. Besides that everyone is comfortable and prepared for the cold or heat.
Well, driver’s license, sunglasses, mobile charger, and your smartphone, of course! Now that you have everything.
