A family road trip is both exciting and daunting, Your thrilled to be hitting the open road on a fun vacation, but you’re also paranoid that you will forget something essential. A road trip is an event one must plan for.
You have to ensure your vehicle can make the trek, pack the appropriate amount of luggage, map out how you will reach your destination, and this does not even cover half of it. If you have young children along for the ride that adds even more to the checklist. You do not have to feel overwhelmed, however, because all you need to do is focus on the essentials. Here are seven essential things that will make or break your upcoming road trip.
Electronics
Technology is the saving grace of a road trip. Long treks are now a breeze thanks to internet-capable devices that stream fun to any location. Tablets, smartphones, and portable gaming systems not only provide entertainment for the young ones but also for you. You can watch your favourite shows, play games, and read all from the same location.
Remember, you are going to be spending a lot of time cooped up in a box with your family. You will all be strapped to chairs with nothing to do but stare out the window. So having mobile devices to distract from these conditions is a must. You can still monitor how much time the kiddos spend on their mobile devices to allow for family time. But do yourself a favour and ensure you bring some electronics with you. It will help the time pass easier and avoid the stress small spaces create.
Car Chargers
This goes hand in hand with electronics. Even if you plan ahead and bring along some tablets, smartphones, or gaming devices if you have no way to charge them on the go you are sunk. A long trek is to wear and tear on batteries. Eventually, those mobile devices will die.
If you have no charger your kids will have to wait for your next stop. This can be disastrous. Most cars produced today already have charging ports installed but buying two 8-volt chargers is a smart idea. You can charge multiple devices and ensure that you always have electronic entertainment ready to go when needed.
Grocery Bags, Kleenex, and Wet Wipes
Clean up on aisle backseat! Bringing snacks is road trip 101, but a factor that is missed is the cleanup. Snacks leave debris like empty chip bags, water bottles, or apple cores. Then there are other messy factors like runny noses, motion sickness, and powdery fingers.
Having wet wipes and kleenex on hand ensures that any mess can be wiped away. Bringing along some empty grocery bags provides a specific place for trash to be stored. A car is cramped enough without trash clogging the rest of the room.
Protection from Complications
An essential factor you need to take care of before leaving on your trip is making sure you and your family are protected. This protection would be a spare tire, the number of a good tow company, and comprehensive car insurance. You never plan to be stranded by the side of the road but it can happen,
You can run out of gas, get a flat, have engine trouble, or get in an accident. Car insurance will make sure you and your loved ones are covered, a flat will get you back on the road, and a good tow service will take care of everything else. Roadside assistance is another gift to the road trip. So make sure you are covered if complications arise.
Flip Flops
A road trip often involves getting in and out of the car frequently. Especially, if the little ones like to kick their shoes off in the car. Even adults like to shed their shoes to be more comfortable. If you wear flip flops the process of getting in and out of the car is much easier as they are less trouble getting on and off.
Water Only
Water is essential to life. It is also a lifesaver on a road trip because it does not get sticky. Juice and cola can be very sticky. If you or your child has a spill it creates quite the mess. If you bring just water on your trip it avoids such messes. It also makes sure you are properly hydrated as well.
Dress Comfortable
Road trips are not formal affairs. You will be sitting down for quite some time. When you eventually get out of the car parts of your body will be asleep and you will stretch your legs for at least five minutes. This is because your travel quarters are cramped. So do yourself a favour and dress comfortably.
Sweats, lounging pants, and even pyjamas are okay for road travel. You will not be going anywhere that needs formal attire so do not wear anything that will become uncomfortable after wearing for a while.
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