Hit the Road: Travel Tips for Your Holiday Trip

Thanksgiving is almost here, and we know that many of you will be hitting the road to visit family and friends over the holidays.  While enjoying time with the ones we care about is always enjoyable (and so is the pie!) we know that road trips can quickly turn from nice to a nightmare if you aren’t properly prepared.

Here are some of our favorite tips for making your road trip successful and…dare we say it…enjoyable?

• Prep your car before the trip.  Make sure the oil life is in a good range, have any maintenance done well before the trip, fill up with gas, and give your car a good cleaning if it hasn’t had one in a while.  Starting out fresh is always the best!
• Car trash cans can be your best friend on a long road trip.  Instead of empty cups, wrappers, and other small pieces of trash being thrown around the car, it will all be contained in one area.  You don’t need anything expensive.  Simply placing a plastic grocery bag in a small container will work just fine!
• Pack a small cooler with your own snacks and drinks/water.  This will not only save you cash on your trip, but it will also minimize stops, meaning you get to your destination faster!  Perk?  The snacks you pack will likely be healthier than anything you’d stop and get on the road.
• Prepare for the worst.  Make sure you have some plastic bags on hand, a roll of paper towels, wet wipes, etc. in case of an emergency.  You could even put together a “kit” of sorts that stays in the back of your vehicle.  This is a lifesaver in case of a spill, someone getting sick, etc.  Other good items to include are a flashlight with extra batteries, a towel or two (can be used as a makeshift blanket in a pinch) and a first aid kit.
• When traveling with kids, consider packing a few small toys/activities that can be pulled out as needed.  There are lots of great ideas for this online based on the ages of your children, so check them out.  Most of them are inexpensive, and very effective when you feel like you can’t handle one more round of “Are we there yet?”
• Another “kid” travel tip is making sure you have a change of clothes easily accessible for young kids.  In case of an accident (whether from sickness, spill, or other reasons) you don’t want to be stuck in a parking lot having to open up suitcases finding a change of clothes. Keep an individual change for each child in a large ziplock style bag, and you automatically have a bag to seal up the soiled clothes in after the change!

Of course, the biggest tip we can offer when taking a road trip is to make sure you are covered before you ever leave your driveway.  Check with your insurance advisor to ensure that your vehicle is covered in case of any breakdowns or accidents, and make sure your health coverage is up to par, and that all cards and information are current.  It’s so much nicer being able to travel with the peace of mind that you are taken care of in any situation.

Stay safe this holiday season, and enjoy your time with family both near and far!