5 tips to prepare you for your next road trip
Freedom should be the best word to describe a road trip. Having the open road in front, the music blasting and one arm out of the window gives travelers the ultimate surge of wanderlust. To be the captain of your own ship, the leader of the pack, and the driver behind the wheel… The opportunities are limitless on four wheels. Here are 5 tips to help prepare for your road trip that you should know in advance.
1. Pack carefully for your road trip
This must be the no.1 tip for road trip preparation. Packing gets way more complicated due to space and logistics. Sure, your van or car may be bigger than the 50-litre backpack that you’ve used on previous trips, but packing for a road trip gets tricky and needs a lot more preparation. You have to consider all materials and amenities that you will need for a fully-functional home, kitchen, and sleeping area, with just a fraction of the room of your actual home.
2. Get those little luxuries for your road trip
Living in a campervan or car will not only make you appreciate nature, but it will also allow you to appreciate the smaller luxuries in life, such as running water and a real toilet. It becomes humbling when you start to take note of the things you previously took for granted. It’s good for your soul to check your privilege and realize how lucky we really are. So, to prepare for a road trip, make sure to leave behind all expectations and be ready to go for a pee in the forest.
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3. Personal Space
During the road trip preparation, forget about personal space (unless you’re traveling alone). But if you’re hitting the road with a TravelMate or partner, make sure you enjoy each other’s company. When sharing a tiny living space, you sacrifice privacy, you give up your personal bubble and it’s something you have to get used to. When times get tense, go for a walk, or read a book. Allow yourself time to be alone, even if it means you have to get creative to find your own space. To prepare for your road trip make sure to pack those little things that will keep you occupied in the back of the car; download your favourite playlist, a good novel or a little sketchbook.
4. Control your budget
It’s no secret that gas is expensive, but this will be the most expensive part of your travel days on the road. A road trip in a campervan allows you to really control your budget because you have the ability to cook all your own meals instead of hitting up restaurants every day. You don’t have to worry about hotels, hostels, or Airbnb’s either, because your home is on four wheels! That being said, some days you will want to splurge on a hot shower and fresh sheets, and that’s okay too. One essential step of road trip preparation must be planning your budget carefully.
5. Local Friends
You will seek out extra help and guidance on the road and you will need to be comfortable about asking for directions from the local folks. When you stay at hostels or hotels or take public transit, you immediately come across human interaction and can ask for directions right then and there. On the road, you have to work a little bit harder to get the pointers you need. The plus? Locals know the best secrets. So be sure to prepare by taking a dictionary and your best interpersonal skills.
So here we are, tips you want to keep in mind so you’re fully prepared for your road trip. But what would a road trip be without fun people to join you on it? JoinMyTrip will help you find amazing travel buddies to keep you entertained even on the most boring roads. You can either create your own trip and plan an amazing adventure or you can look for other road trips planned by like-minded travelers.
In case you’re still in need of more important tips, then head to the JoinMyTrip blog section. Here you will find lots of informative blogs that will help you plan the best adventure of your life.
