| Road trips are a time-honored tradition in the | | | | probabilities of a problem. |
| United States and even abroad. Though | | | | Experiencing a vehicle problem along a road trip is |
| Americans are far more cosmopolitan today than | | | | certainly no fun. |
| a generation ago, road trips remain quite popular - | | | | Even worse, it has the potential to seriously |
| especially as air travel costs start to once again | | | | compromise the rest of your schedule. Investing |
| increase with the rising price of oil. | | | | a little bit of time to service your car in advance |
| Planning the perfect road trip is not easy. | | | | will pay dividends down the road. |
| Plan on the planning process being challenging! This | | | | Tip 4: Invest in Quality Sunglasses |
| article offers some time tested and practical | | | | Every passenger in your car is guaranteed to |
| advice to make the journey a little smoother. | | | | absorb a massive amount of sunlight along the |
| Tip 1: Leave Flexibility in Your Plan | | | | trip. This is especially the case if your road trip will |
| Obviously you'll need to know when you're | | | | take you across the desert or mountain West |
| starting, when you'll be returning and generally | | | | regions. But even if it doesn't, you'll still be |
| where you'll be going at points in between. Many | | | | absorbing more than a typical amount of sunlight. |
| families, however, overlook the basic human | | | | Investing in polarized sunglasses is well worth the |
| necessity for flexibility. A road trip is designed to | | | | cost. It will not only increase the comfort level of |
| allow a much higher degree of freedom than air | | | | the driver and passengers they will also improve |
| travel can ever allow. | | | | people's spirits because strain and fatigue will be |
| That freedom comes from the ability to | | | | lessened. |
| investigate new locations and points of interest as | | | | Tip 5: Arrange a Family Conference Call While On |
| they arise. Capitalizing on that advantage requires | | | | the Road |
| leaving at least some space in the itinerary to | | | | Chances are high that some members of your |
| explore those avenues. | | | | family will not be along on the road trip. It could |
| Veteran road trip travelers will frequently agree | | | | be grandparents, older siblings, cousins, etc. In any |
| upon a certain ratio. For example a ratio of 3:1 | | | | event, there will probably be other family |
| might be employed. That means that if the trip is | | | | members anxious to hear how things are going |
| a total of 12 days, nine are planned but three are | | | | on the road trip. |
| deliberately left open. | | | | Scheduling a conference call is an intriguing solution |
| Tip 2: Visit At Least One Old Friend | | | | to addressing this challenge. Rather than having |
| Road trips are ideal for reaching out (literally) to | | | | multiple and repetitive one-on-one conversations, a |
| friends you may not have seen in years. Because | | | | teleconference on the fly allows the family |
| it is super convenient for an old friend to receive | | | | members who are left behind to be looped in to |
| a visit (no trip is required on their part), such | | | | what is going on. |
| friends are likely going to be thrilled by the | | | | These days, holding a phone conference need not |
| opportunity of a visit. | | | | cost much. In fact it need not cost anything. A |
| Many families on road trips will make time to visit | | | | number of services provide free conference |
| distant family relations or in-laws. That is definitely | | | | calling and require simply that all participants dial in |
| a positive. But also consider making time to see | | | | to the same number and enter the same PIN |
| an old friend or two along the way. | | | | code. |
| Tip 3: Get Your Car Well Serviced in Advance | | | | A road trip can be a great way to see the |
| Having a tire blowout or a chipped windshield is | | | | outdoors, visit old friends and generate fun |
| probably inevitable. But there are a platitude of | | | | memories. The tips covered in this article will help |
| other aspects of routine maintenance that if well | | | | ensure a great experience. |
| attended to, we'll substantially reduce the | | | | |