With the “unofficial start to summer” behind us and the solstice nearly here, families across the United States are gearing up for their annual trips. From family reunions, day trips to the beach, and destination weddings, summer is one of the most popular times to travel. If you’re planning a vacation that requires you drive this summer, keep these tips and tricks in mind when traveling.
- Service your vehicle. Before hitting the road for any kind of trip, have your car inspected to ensure it is running properly. Schedule to have your oil changed, tires rotated, and battery checked to prevent breakdowns on the highways. If you’re not in need of new tires, test the air pressure and inspect for any leaks or punctures that could cause problems on the road. Ensure that there is a spare tire in your trunk in case anything goes wrong during your travels.
- Plan ahead. Creating an itinerary helps keep everyone in check on travel days. List information like departure time and location, routes to be taken, stops to be made, and expected time of arrival. If you’re traveling in a large group, this is especially important.
- Be mindful of what you pack. If you’re hitting the road for a few days, you’ll likely have luggage and/or food and drink packed for the ride. When loading your car, it’s important to distribute the weight of your cargo evenly. Failing to do so can cause your car to perform unsafely on the road, resulting in tipping.
- Limit distractions. Long trips in the car can quickly turn sour if the kids aren’t entertained. If you’re traveling with little ones, pack plenty of activities that they can busy themselves with. You can find plenty of handheld games they can play with for hours on end, or you can download movies to your mobile device to stream movies and television shows. Play to your kid’s interests to keep them entertained so that they don’t take your attention away from the road.
- Dress for the occasion. Your final destination and length of travel time will determine what you should wear on your travel days. If you’re going to be on the road for more than a few hours, you’ll want to wear something comfortable and breathable, as well as shoes you can slip on and off easily. If you’re only traveling for an hour or two, you have more freedom as to what you’ll feel comfortable in.
To lessen the stress and hazards travelling can present, hire a professional driver this summer. For day trips or local gatherings like family reunions, hiring a professional service to get you to and from is ideal. From ride-sharing to charter buses, hiring a driver to take you to and from lessens the stress travel can often cause. For some people, stress is invoked by hitting traffic. For others, it’s the aggressive drivers they run into on the road. Whether it’s to and from an event or a simple drop-off to the airport, hiring a professional to get you to and from makes travel that much easier.
