Road trips are a great way to turn your next vacation into an adventure. Road tripping gives you a chance to travel through Canada’s vast landscape and take in the sights from a new perspective. Before you prepare for your next road trip, here are a few things to keep in mind that will make your voyage memorable.
Set Limits for Travel
It can be easy to get over-excited about a destination and not consider what it’s really like driving 10 or 12 hours a day. If you haven’t set out on a road trip before or are travelling with children, it’s best to limit the amount of time you’re on the road to several hours at a time. Take breaks to eat, freshen up and get some sleep. You can always try long-haul road trips in the future, but novices are better suited to shorter trips. If you decide to go all-out and rent an RV, make sure you’re comfortable driving it and know parking rules and regulations in different locations such as camping parks.
Get the Right Coverage
In addition to checking your auto insurance policy, you should also think about getting travel coverage. Travel insurance protects you against risks you may face while on the road. Various types of financial loss that you may face are covered under a good policy, including:
- Loss of event/theme park tickets or hotel reservations due to traffic, road construction or delays
- Emergency medical care
- Unexpected cancellations due to personal issues
- Lost/damaged luggage due to car theft or an accident
You can get the best travel insurance quote for travel within Canada to decide which provider is right for you.
Have All Your Documents and Cards Ready
Make sure you have your ID, driver’s license, license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration before you head out. The last thing you want is to get pulled over or involved in an accident and have no way to identify yourself. You also won’t be able to check into any hotel without an ID, so triple-check that it’s kept safely in your glove compartment with your other documents before you head out.
If you plan on travelling far from home, then you’ll want to notify your bank. This will prevent them from freezing your account when you try to pay for gas or food in a new area. You can also use a credit card to save money with travel benefits. You can check out the best credit card to save on travel online. You should also withdraw at least $100 in cash in case you wind up somewhere that doesn’t accept cards. Anything can happen on the road, so you can’t be prepared enough.
Leave Room for Unexpected Occurrences
A flexible schedule is always best when it comes to travel, even if you have a limited time frame for your itinerary. Just like flight plans can be thrown off course due to unexpected weather or delays, road trips can be deterred by accidents, road closures, construction and storms. To compensate for any unexpected circumstances, opt for hotels that offer refundable reservations or free changes. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll wind up having to drive a bit more than expected, so make sure you already have a backup plan. Know where the closest accommodations are based on your exits so you won’t wind up driving endlessly for hours with no end in sight.
Plan for Driving Entertainment
Even the best Spotify playlists isn’t going to keep everyone excited for days. You’ll need a good mix of in-car entertainment to ensure everyone has something to do when they’re either riding in the backseat or waiting for their turn to drive. If you have children, pre-load your tablet or iPhone with educational apps and kid-friendly games ahead of time. Just make sure they can work off data and WiFi. You should also have two car chargers for your electronics to make sure you’re never without a phone.
