Road tripping. theSceneinTO DOES NOT recommend driving like this on ANY road trip.

theSceneinTO DOES NOT recommend driving like this on ANY road trip.

It’s warm weather time and of course, with that, comes road tripping for a lot of us. I’m not going to lie, I do road trips, but I actually don’t like them at all. Give me a cozy flight, any time. But, I married a man who is 1) frugal  2) practical 3) really, really enjoys road trips. So, sometimes I need to just bite the bullet and not be selfish (ie. fly when the rest of my family drives to our destination).  So, what have I learned about road trips that make them more bearable for me? A few things, and many of them are listed below.

Safety First:

Ensure car maintenance is up-to-date before any long drive. Have a question? Check the owner’s manual or visit a reputable service centre, and ask a professional that you trust.

Don’t forget to pack an emergency kit including water, a blanket, first aid kit, and a flashlight with extra batteries. A charged walkie talkie can be helpful too.

Plan the route in advance to avoid getting lost or being distracted while driving. Make this part of the fun by getting family members involved in planning stops and navigating using maps, not just a GPS.

Make Memories:

Before leaving, create a family musical playlist. Those songs will be associated with great memories forever.

Get the whole family involved taking pictures. Use social media to share photos and updates with family and friends– or make a good old fashioned scrapbook.

Pack road trip appropriate games and music to keep everyone engaged.

Try to avoid hundreds of “are we there yets?” by packing road trip appropriate games and music to keep everyone engaged.

Stretching Dollars:

Make sandwiches or something substantial that will keep well for the ride. You can eat these throughout a drive that lasts about a day and then if you still want to stop for ‘extra’ food, you don’t have to buy too much.

Make every dollar count by earning loyalty rewards along the way at stops such as hotels and restaurants – they could come in handy on the next road trip.

Car Comfort:

Avoid over-packing to give everyone enough space. No one wants to hold a bag on his or her lap for hours, or have bags all around their feet.

Pack nutritious snacks but enjoy a treat or two on the road – it’s a vacation after all! It’s also wise to pack some snacks that will provide the driver(s) with energy for that long haul.

Keep younger passengers entertained with a variety of car-appropriate toys and entertainment – having a few surprises up the sleeve can help with any longer stretches on the road.

 

REPOST: CONTEST CLOSED

Until July 2, 2013, Air Miles Collectors benefit from earning up to 3,000 reward miles with the purchase of select new Chevrolet Buick GMC and Cadillac vehicles. More information on the program is available at www.gm.ca and www.airmiles.ca.

CONTEST:

Here is your chance to win a cool prize pack to help put the fun into your next road trip. Full of everything Canadian families need to road trip happily all summer long, the Air Miles and Buick Ultimate Road Trip Prize Pack includes:

Prize Pack Photo- ENG

This prize pack might just make your road trip the best ever

475 bonus AIR MILES Reward Miles

      Folding thermo cooler picnic basket – keep your food and drinks cooler during those long summer days on the road

      Picnic blanket – lounge in the sun in style during travel stops 

      Travel cups – spill-proof travel cups for the whole family to stay hydrated and keep your car clean on the go

      Travel entertainment kit for kids – packed with clever puzzles, brainteasers, board games, doodle pages and word games, it is sure to keep kids busy

      Dual use travel bin – keep drinks cool at a rest top or use it as a carrying case on the road

To win, simply make sure you tweet the following:

I want @theSceneinTO to help me #win by kicking off road trip season with comfort and ease!

Winner will be chosen at random from all participants who tweet the above. Bonus entries for multiple tweets on different days. Contest closes Sunday, June 16th 11:59pm

17 Responses

  1. Jerome

    I love road trips. I hate road trips. I love to hate road trips. Like your husband I am frugal and can’t justify buying 2 plane tickets and renting a car when I go anywhere reasonably close with my wife.
    One thing you forgot to mention is picking your car company wisely. If you go on a road trip with the wrong person it can be a nightmare. Not that I would know anything about that.

    Reply

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