Road travel is one of the most underrated forms of transportation. When you’re using the road as a transportation mode, you have the complete liberty to explore the sights as well as the countryside along the way. Moreover, you are at liberty to drive at the speeds at which you feel comfortable. Thus, you have a complete control when you opt for road travel as compared to any other mode of transport.
At the same point in time, it is important to prepare for road travel in advance. When you are able to prepare for your road trip, you can avoid any kind of unplanned obstacles.
Here are 5 Essential Road Travel Tips You Don’t Already Know.
1. Getting your car ready
The number 1 spoiler on your road trip can be your car. Even when you rent a car, it is important to check that everything functions properly before you start your journey. This will help you avoid any kind of breakdowns. Some of the things which you should get checked in the car include:
– Level of coolant
– Level of oil
– Pressure of the tires
– Availability of a spare tire
– Braking system
– Lights and other indicators
You need to ensure that not only the essential core systems are in perfect order but also there are redundant systems like a spare tire as well. You should check the toolkit to ensure you are able to tackle any minor repairs which might need to be done in the car. This prevents wasting time doing the rounds of the garage in case something small crops up.
If you’re heading abroad then make sure to read up on local car and road regulations so you don’t get stopped by the police for something trivial and end up spoiling your trip, or costing time on the road. Most importantly, check that your insurance covers you to drive in another country.
2. Have a roadmap as a backup
Most people these days rely on GPS in their smartphones in order to navigate their way. Network reception is not that reliable in the countryside. That’s why, as a backup, it’s a good idea to carry a map. You can even carry a satellite navigator as an extra precaution.
3. Rely on locals and reviews both
Before choosing a hotel or a restaurant, most of us look at the reviews online to help us pick the best option in the vicinity. While it appears that reviews can be reliable, you have to always trust the word of the locals as well. This will help you make the right decision when it comes to exploring the neighborhood of the city.
4. Make hotel reservations in advance
Normally, when you embark on a road trip which will last multiple days, you have to decide in advance which cities you are going to spend the night. When you’re on a road trip, there is no time to waste. At the end of a long day, you just need a comfortable room to settle down in. Instead of checking out the hotels in the vicinity, it’s a good idea to make the hotel reservations in advance. This will not only save you time but also money as you will be able to get discounted rates for booking in advance.
Pro Tip:
Look for hotels and accommodation options which are located close to the highway. This can save you a significant amount of time and money.
Check out this list of dog-friendly hotel chains.
5. Use gas judiciously
A significant expense on any road trip is the amount of gas which you need to cover the distance. There are a few tips which you have to keep in mind in order to use gas judiciously.
– Try and maintain a constant speed for as long as possible. Rapid accelerating and de-accelerating consumes more gas.
– Purchase gasoline at the coolest time of the day. It is densest at that time.
– Keep windows closed when you’re traveling at high speed as that will reduce the drag and therefore the gas consumption.
– Remove excess weight/baggage from your car before the trip to ensure that the mileage of the car increases.
So if you opt for road travel over other modes of transport,these are the 5 tips which you should consistently follow. These will help you make your trip smoother and also help save money on your road trip.
Share your Road Travel Tips in the comments below!
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