Road trips are an extraordinary experience.
People travel by car all over the world and there are many beautiful places like the USA, Europe, New Zealand and many more to do that.
If you are new to the world of road trips there are some things you should know before.
This guide will give you all the information you need for planning the most amazing trip, including tips, do’s and don’ts and route planning.
Rent a car in advance and rent wisely
Here are some things you should do before renting a car:
Types of driving licenses
Before renting a car make sure to get an International driving permit.
Car rental companies usually ask for an International driving permit and in that case, your “local” driving license won’t help.
Getting an International driving permit is not a tough procedure, actually, it takes less than 10 minutes.
Compare Prices
Rent a car from a well-known website like Rentalcar.
Rentalcar compares prices between different rental car companies, you just need to fill in your trip details (dates and destinations) and the type of car you would like to rent.
I totally recommend this website, their customer service is great and readily available, the web is user-friendly and reliable.
Policy Status
cancellation policy
On many contacts there is a free cancellation policy, make sure to check the policy status and to read the fine print before signing on any contract.
Look for a cancellation policy, if for any reason you would like to cancel the transaction.
Mileage Limit
Some car rental companies limit the mileage and the distance you are allowed to drive while using their car (most of them are low-cost companies).
I recommend renting a car with unlimited mileage, the main reason is that on a road trip your plans might change and you don’t want the mileage limit to limit you.
Return Policy
Sometimes the road trip starts and ends at the same place while other times the route starts at one place but ends in all other destinations.
If you would like to end your trip at a different location you should check the return policy of the car rental company.
This option is usually offered by the bigger car rental companies with an additional charge.
Fine print
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to read the fine print.
Check if there are any car accessories, what is the pick-up and return policy and even the services that the car rental company offers.
Read everything even if it is tiring and exhausting.
Car Insurance
Check the car insurance before renting a car, see what the insurance covers, and whatnot.
Sometimes the insurance won’t cover every damage or car accident.
In most cases, you would be able to upgrade your car insurance with an additional charge.
I recommend buying comprehensive insurance that way you would feel less stressed.
Check the car
It is important to check the car from the inside and out, make sure that there are no scratches or any defects, if there are, ask to replace the car with another one and take pictures of the car you got- that case there won’t be any doubt that you did not cause the problem.
In case of problems contact the company’s customer service.
Fuel
In most cases, you will be able to choose to rent a car with a full tank of gas, or one with a half tank, I recommend renting one with a full tank.
Moreover don’t take risks, don’t drive the car empty, on a road trip you can drive for miles with no available gas station if you see that the fuel gauge goes below a quarter of a tank refuel the car.
Be responsible
It is important to be responsible with the car.
Don’t drive too fast, respect the traffic codes and return the car as clean as you received it.
Route planning
Before going on a road trip it is necessary to plan the route that way you will be able to find the ultimate road for you that includes attractions and stops.
Not planning a route in advance may cause problems such as driving miles without a reason.
The best way to plan a route, in my opinion, is the app google maps, just pin the places you want to visit and then plan the best route.
Accommodation on a trip
Book in advance a place to stay, at least for the first night. After a long drive and a busy day, the thing you would want the most is a comfy bed.
That way you save yourself unnecessary occupation during the trip.
I recommend starting in interesting places where you have attractions like a local bar, festival or in an amusement park.
Playlist
For enjoying the way all you need is good music.
On a road trip, you might drive for long distances and it is everything but easy.
Make a playlist for the drive that includes your favorite music, try to make this playlist at least 3 hours long so that your music won’t repeat over and over.
Also, try to add to your playlist energetic songs for creating a fun atmosphere.
You can make your playlists via Apple Music, Spotify, and many other apps.
You can download your playlists in advance to your phone so when you drive you don’t need any WiFi or internet connection.
Especially for you all, I made 3 perfect playlists for any vocation on Apple Music:
Important things to bring for a road trip
Internet and GPS
Using GPS or Waze is necessary especially on a road trip, that way you can make sure you’ll get to your destination in the best and safest way.
Portable charger
Don’t forget to take with you a portable charger in case your phone runs out of battery.
Snacks for the road
As I mentioned before you might drive for hours.
Make sure to bring some snacks for the road.
Camera
If you have a professional camera I recommend to bring it with you, If not use your phone to take pictures.
Adventurism
On a route trip you can find magical places and spots. If you see a cool spot on the way, don’t be lazy, pull over and explore it.
That way you’ll make your trip more exciting.
Adventurism
On a route trip you can find magical places and spots. If you see a cool spot on the way, don’t be lazy, pull over and explore it.
That way you’ll make your trip more exciting.
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