There’s no feeling quite like setting off on holiday with your family. A train, plane, or even a boat could get you from A to B in no time, but that doesn’t mean that any of them are the best choice. If your family enjoys the journey much more than the destination, you should take advantage of the warm weather and holiday by car. Road trips are exciting and adventurous, after all, but just one small error could cause chaos. With that in mind, here are six big mistakes you must avoid.
Establishing No Ground Rules
When on holiday, the usual rules of the house tend to go out the window. However, that doesn’t mean that your little ones should live completely lawless. You might not want to listen to kiddie stories the whole journey, but you shouldn’t let your children zone out on tablets the whole time either. Make sure that you set screen time boundaries ahead of time to avoid any arguments.
Renting Your Holiday Vehicle
Having no car doesn’t mean that a road trip is off the table. What it does mean, however, is that you’re going to have to get one. For this reason, you should consider purchasing a used car from a company like Newtons Of Ashley. While this would be a significant added expense, renting a vehicle for a road trip can work out more expensive. Plus, you can always sell the car on again.
Neglecting Checking The Car
No matter where the car comes from, you must remember to check it over a few days before your trip. Make sure that you inspect the transmission, check the fluids, and change the oil. You should look at the tires too, to ensure that they’re in good condition. If you don’t trust your own knowledge enough to carry out these checks, then ask a mechanic to do it for you instead.
Leaving The Music Behind
Going on holiday together is a brilliant opportunity for your family to bond. The trouble is, with so much time together, especially in such a small space, you might get frustrated with one another. This is why it’s so important that you have plenty of entertainment to hand. As well as books and toys, you should pack things that the family can enjoy together, like music and games.
Setting Off At Night
Driving throughout the night is the best way to reduce your travel time. After all, there are fewer cars on the roads, which means that you’re unlikely to get stuck in traffic. However, nighttime driving isn’t a perfect solution. Not only does it increase your chances of being in an accident, but it will also ruin your sleep schedule. This might not bother you, but it will make your kids cranky.
Waiting To Fill Up
When there is fuel in the tank and food in the boot, stopping at every garage and service station can seem a waste of time. However, you must remember that you don’t know for sure when you’re going to come across another one. It might be just a few minutes, but it could be hours. Rather than risk that chance, you should fill up and take your kids to the toilet every time you can.
To ensure that your family road trip is a success, try to avoid making the mistakes listed above.
