There is nothing more fun than an old-fashioned road trip. I love
taking to the open road and exploring our country. Now, I've been a
"road tripper" for some time and though I love air travel, I love the
road trip because that's how you can really experience the country. So
it's time to get your favorite tunes and munchies ready and plan your
open road trip adventure with these ten easy road trip travel tips.
1. Plan your trip.
First,
you need to determine where you're going to go and then plan your trip.
Planning doesn't have to take a long a time, but you do need to know
the route you're going to drive and points of interest along the way
that you're going to want to stop and explore. Half the fun of a road
trip is seeing the sites along the way. I like to MapQuest my trip and
have that as my main plan of attack for my road trip. GPS is very
popular these days and I recommend them, but you can't always rely on
them when you hit construction zones or accidents on your journey.
That's why it's essential that you have a real map with you for the
areas you'll be traveling to and to plan alternate routes if necessary.
2. Make your hotel reservations BEFORE you go.
Part
of the fun when traveling on the road is stopping wherever your heart
desires, but there's nothing worse than a "no room at the inn"
experience on a road trip. You may not realize that there is a "Comic
Book Trade Show," "Strawberry Festival" or convention in town while
you're visiting and there are no rooms to be had. If you do not book
your reservations in advance, not only are you running the risk of
having to sleep in your car but also you can't manage your road trip
budget effectively. If you're traveling with your family or a group of
friends, consider staying at an all-suite hotel or even renting a time
share, a great option for families taking a road trip. Did you know that
90 percent of people who own a timeshare don't utilize it on a regular
basis? Many great offers can be found at some of the bigger hotel chains
that offer timeshares and many of them even have a washer and dryer.
For my road trip to Scottsdale, I booked a fantastic one-bedroom suite
with a kitchenette at a time share property directly through the hotel
for just $100/night including tax at the Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas.
3. Give your car a full tune up before you go or consider renting a car.
One
week before you go on your road trip, take your car in for a tune up
and ask your mechanic to ensure the car fluids are topped, air pressure
in your tires is at its best for highway driving, and any other
necessary concerns regarding your vehicle are addressed. Should you need
to get something fixed, it is best to do it at a place you can trust
before your road trip. Plus, it can be more expensive when it is a
have-to situation. Also, make sure you pack a roadside safety kit just
in case of an emergency. For me that kit includes my American Automobile
Association membership card (Premier Membership). If you have a car
that is no longer under warranty or has automatic roadside assistance,
then a American Automobile Association membership is a necessity as it
will save you a fortune in the unfortunate event you have a break down
and have to have your car towed. If you're at all concerned that your
current vehicle is not "road trip worthy," then you may want to consider
renting a vehicle for your road trip. I did this for my trip to Arizona
as I found a great deal on a rental car and had the peace of mind for
my road trip.
4. Pack your own food and plan a picnic.
I
used to be addicted to stopping at fast food joints on a road trip.
There was something that felt fun about that on a trip but I've since
learned that I prefer to pack my own food for my journey. It doesn't
just keep me eating healthier, but it also saves money, too, especially
if you're traveling with your family. Also, if you plan ahead, you may
find that there is a great stop for a scenic picnic in your travels and
packing a picnic is so much better than flying through the
Drive-through. If you do make a stop, either for a picnic or to explore a
cool sight along the way.
5. Bring great music or audible books with you!
Music
is truly the soundtrack of our lives and every road trip needs a
soundtrack. I think of my trip to Seattle every time I hear a Phil
Collins song from "No Jacket Required" because that was the primary
music I was listening to on that trip. I think of the Bahamas Harbor
Island and the amazing walks on the Pink Sands Beach every time I hear
Wilson Phillips music. It's sort of like having a theme song for every
vacation but hearing the music even today will evoke fun memories of
wonderful trips. I also love catching up on books I'd like to read but
somehow find it easier to listen to. That's where audio books come in
and you can download them to your mp3 player, iPhone, or other PDA
device. !
6. Don't forget to pack a boredom buster bag for the kids.
One
thing I've learned from producing for TV's "The Travel Mom" Emily
Kaufman, is that if you're traveling with kids, you need to make sure
you have plenty to entertain them during your road trip. She calls this
the boredom buster bag. Don't forget to pack some kid music your
children like along with fun travel games that include magnetic board
games. DVD players are an option for really long trips and as long as
your child isn't prone to car sickness. Of course, electronic games will
keep your kids occupied but I would encourage you to limit the time on
these toys especially if you're traveling through some great scenic
areas. It's an excellent chance to bond as a family and your child's
memory of the trip will be lost if they're lost in a Game Boy.
7. Remember, a road trip is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
One
of my all time favorite road trips was the day my niece, Jessica, and I
drove 52 enchanting miles on the "Road to Hana" on the island of Maui
in Hawaii. I'll never forget that the guide book said, "Remember, Hana
is not a destination, it's a journey." Hana is located about 52 miles
from Kahului, however a typical trip to Hana takes at least three hours,
as the road is very winding with approximately 620 curves over 59
bridges, 46 of which have only one-lane. This delightful road trip is a
memorable journey that winds through a lush, tropical rain forest that
is laced with tumbling waterfalls, black sand beaches, scenic lava
cliffs, fresh fruit stands, and tropical hillsides. Jessica and I
stopped at least ten times including one stop to picnic on that black
sand beach. We took photos by waterfalls, delicious fruit stands and
beautiful tropical flower gardens. You should treat your road trip vacation the same way we did our Road to Hana: Enjoy your road trip as a journey, not a destination.
8. Make good use of every stop.
I
like to plan my stops for fuel, food, and restrooms so that I utilize
my time efficiently and don't waste time making three stops instead of
one. Probably the most important thing is that every time you do stop,
make sure everyone in the car uses the restroom (even if they think they
don't have to right then). This will cut down on the stops you'll make
only for that purpose. Also, if you're traveling with kids, and you just
need to stop for the restroom, I recommend stopping at a Starbucks.
Parents can get a coffee or an ice tea, the restrooms are clean, and
there are not a lot of distractions for kids (like toys to buy) that a
truck stop or gas station may have. Use the Starbucks store locator at
their website to help you plan your stops before you go. Do be a "good
egg" and make a purchase at Starbucks while you're there.
9. Avoid Trouble.
When
you're on a road trip, you need to be street wise. Don't be a target
for crime by leaving your valuables on the seat in your car (DVD
players, Game Boys, etc.) and don't advertise you're on a road trip with
pillows and blankets every where. When you park your car, hide your
valuables and road trip creature comforts. If you are proactive at
keeping your "I'm on a road trip clues" clearly hidden, any thief or
troublemaker should just walk right by your car. Other street wise
considerations is to always park where there is good light and foot
traffic and make sure your windows are rolled up and the doors are
locked whenever you leave your car. You may also want to purchase items
like "the Club" if you like that extra insurance for safety. Finally,
when you're driving, watch your speed. Speeding gives you the chance to
get a ticket and more importantly, it decreases your time to react if
the need should arise. If you are the driver, you are responsible for
your passengers. When you see signs that say, "Speed limits are photo
enforced," believe them. Other good driving tips include avoiding rush
hour, especially in bigger cities, and whenever possible take turns
driving with other people in the car. You'll also want to avoid driving
at night if you are not familiar with your surroundings.
10. Get a Go City Card and save up to 55% on attractions and theme parks at your vacation destination.
Last
year, I flew my 8-year-old niece, Alexis, and 10-year-old nephew,
Tyler, out to Los Angeles for their spring break (using Southwest
Airlines Reward Miles, of course) and we took a road trip down to San
Diego. That's when I discovered the money saving Go City Card for San
Diego. With this card, I saved hundreds of dollars in admissions to
Legoland, the Wild Animal Park, the San Diego Zoo and other attractions
including a Whale Watch on the Pacific Ocean just by purchasing a Go San
Diego Card.
Instead of paying individually for each local
attraction, you pay one price for up to 40 attractions (depending on the
city your visiting) and you get to create your own experience,
tailoring your activities based on what you like to do, while also
enjoying tremendous savings. For example, with the Go Los Angeles Card,
you can choose one, two, three, five, or seven day cards at a low,
pre-paid price to gain access to 40 included attractions. This saves up
to 55% compared to buying tickets directly at Universal Studios
Hollywood, LEGOLAND California, Knott's Berry Farm, Paramount Studios,
the Queen Mary, and many more attractions. Go City Cards are
available in many cities and vacation destinations in the U.S. including
Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, New York City, San Diego, San
Francisco, Honolulu, Orlando, Miami, Seattle, Blue Ridge and even
Toronto.
Final Tips:
Don't forget your cell phone
and make sure you're "hands free" when you do use it while driving. In
many states, it's the law, but it's also down right dangerous. Always
use your cell phone "hands free" when you drive. Don't forget to update
your software on your mobile before you leave because you don't want to
be charged higher rates for roaming charges. Finally, it's a real good
idea to email a copy of your itinerary to other family members or
friends in case of an emergency - this is especially a good idea for
women traveling together. Now, drive safe and have fun!
You can get more details at my website at Best-Travel-Deals-Tips.com.
For over twenty years, TV Travel Show Producer, Marianne Schwab,
has been collecting money saving travel tips as a travel producer for
high profile television programs and also as a road warrior of business
travel. In addition to traveling around the world, she has flown all
over the country to produce and direct video shoots and live television
productions. She has produced on location from Ceasar's Palace on the
Vegas Strip to Universal Studios Hollywood to the beautiful island of
Oahu.
She loves sharing her insider travel secrets on how to get
the best travel deals. Marianne helps her readers discover a world of
ways to see the world on almost any budget at http://www.best-travel-deals-tips.com/index.html
including the latest travel tips most people don't know on how take
vacations you never thought they could afford at prices that seem
unbelievable. In addition to her travel advice web site, Marianne is
Executive Producer at CMP Media Caf�e in Los Angeles where she
specializes in getting her clients media exposure on television and
radio news programs.
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