Guide to Affordable and Safe Road Trips

As much as I love to travel, I don’t always go for flights or international travel. Sometimes, the places are closer than you think. Road trips can be just as fun as visiting a different country, in terms of adventure. Even though I mostly visit different countries, and then cross them off from my bucket list. Of course, air travel is pretty expensive so I try to find cheap tickets from different travel agencies, mostly I prefer Dream World Travel Flights. But every once in a while I go for a road trip. With some planning, it can be quite budget-friendly and fun!

Before The Trip

Decide the route

Planning your budget for the entire trip is vital to make it more affordable. The first step to make a budget is to decide where you’re heading to and how many days you will be staying. Once you decide on that you can look up different routes and go for the shortest one to save gas cost. You should also make separate maximum budgets for food, lodging, fuel, and entertainment. Doing suitable research will not only save you money but will also save time.

Tune-up your car

To avoid any needless stress, make sure everything in your car is in running order. It is recommended that you get a qualified mechanic to check your car’s battery, tires, fluids, and air conditioner. And if you’re traveling in a hotter season or general hot climate or even towing a trailer along then make sure you have a higher viscosity oil. It’s possible that you may not find any mechanics on the road so it’s best not to take chances.

Stock up

Make sure your first-aid kit is stocked up and in case you don’t have one then make sure you get one. It never hurts to be careful. Another thing to take note of is that you should check your spare tire (or tires) and see if you have the emergency equipment to change a tire or any other basic equipment for car maintenance.

Pack wisely

It may be tempting to over pack but even from a safety point of view, it’s not suggested. In fact, the more weight your car has to carry the more gas it’ll burn as the engine would require more power to run. Keep only what’s needed and try to make your trip more about where you’re heading to, so focus on exploring there. For that keep some comfortable clothes and basic technology items. For staying safe, store any heavy objects and bags under your seat or in the trunk to avoid harmful projectile in case you stop suddenly.

Things to be Careful About

Food

To really save money, bring along your own food. Only make a stop for proper meals. Not only will this save you money but it is also very healthy. You never know if a roadside diner is hygienic enough and trust me, stomach ache on a long road trip is a nightmare. While talking about food, I should also mention that you should bring your own water and if you run out only buy seal packed water bottles. Too much soda can make you feel bloated and since you’ll be sitting for the majority of the time, it can get quite uncomfortable.

Safety locks

If you’re traveling with younger kids then make sure the child safety locks are working. I guess, kids can get bored from road trips so think up interesting games to keep them entertained. Another thing to be careful of is the window. Keep an eye that your child doesn’t have their window open too wide.

Fight the sun

If you’re traveling to a sunny place or in the daytime with the sun smiling down, then keep sunscreen for yourself as well as your family. Long roads normally run straight for long stretches so there won’t be any respite from the blazing sun but a sunscreen will save you from it.

Sleep well

This one is perhaps most important. A drowsy driver can be dangerous so make sure you sleep well the night before your trip to stay alert and enjoy traveling.

On The Road

Good posture

To avoid any back aches, try to sit up straight. This will also prevent you from getting sleepy.

Say no to calls

Or texts for that matter. Just avoid your phone while driving whether you’re on a road trip or just driving in your hometown. This will keep you and others on the road safe!

Switch it up

If you’re traveling with someone, whether a friend or family, try to switch up driving duties with them so you don’t get tired and eventually get drowsy. If you’re traveling solo, you can make a stop at gas stations to loosen up your muscles and perhaps get some coffee.

Affordable enjoyment

Car camping

If you’re traveling with fewer people or have a trailer along, you can save a lot of money by camping. If you are planning on parking off road and just resting for the night, bring along pillows and blankets. And if you can’t bring along a trailer or if your car isn’t roomy enough, you can always put up a tent and enjoy camping. Be wary though because not everywhere is safe and staying off road does put you in dangers. Far too many horror stories revolving around this. The best option is to do some research and see if someone else has had similar experiences. If you’re sure it’s safe then go for it. Just to be on the safe side, keep the emergency police or highway police numbers handy.

Visit friends or family

If you’re passing through a city or town where a friend or relative of yours lives, see if you can stay the night at their place. I understand that if you have a bigger family, people may not be okay with it but it never hurts to ask. If it works, you can have a fun sleepover at a friend’s place and catch up. Just be a good houseguest and help them around. Just in case, they say no, then ask them if what place they recommend for you to stay at.

Go for free or cheaper attractions

When on an adventure, there is no need to spend a copious amount of money just to visit a boring albeit attractive place. Try to visit the free attractions like natural monuments or parks. Or see what things you can do within your budget. Best way to enjoy is to allow yourself one expensive entertainment and then stick to the free or cheap ones. This way you may have a reason to come back again and explore something new.

Most of the times, it’s more fun to do nature-related activities. Not only will they keep you fit but they will refresh like nothing else. Go for a hike or have a nice picnic. Another cool thing is exploring the historical places. Entry to them is normally cheap and you get to learn a lot as well. To truly explore a place, one must familiarize with the history of the area.

Offseason

To avoid nightmarish traffic and suffocating crowds, try to travel offseason. Not only will the overall prices for lodgings be low but you can also explore around in peace. It’s also a generally quieter time to so you take in your surroundings better and avoid annoying loud chatter. It’ll also be easier to make bookings in local restaurants.