Road trips are one of the most fun things to do when the holidays roll around.
With your family in tow, driving to that new or familiar destination while you take in the sights, sounds and food make for some great memories.
But before you grab your family and set off, here are five tips to remember.
1) Make sure the car is in tip-top shape
Road trips become miserable if your car breaks down.
Prior to setting off, you might want to get your mechanic or authorised dealer to give your vehicle a once-over.
Mechanical anomalies can be detected and remedied.
You may want to have your wheel alignment checked as well.
If your tyres are in good condition, check their pressures when they are cold and ensure that they’re correctly inflated.
Prior to any road trips, you’re legally required to have three quarters of your fuel tank full before crossing into Malaysia.
Don’t forget to inflate your spare tyre as well.
If you prefer a puncture repair kit, try to ensure that it’s in working condition.
2) Make sure you and your family are in tip-top shape, too.
Road trips are a bummer when someone falls sick.
A sick person in the car might pass that nasty bug to other family members, too.
Ensure you’re well-rested and have a good night’s sleep before you set off.
Tired drivers are dangerous drivers on road trips.
Make sure you have motion sickness pills or other remedies on hand for anyone who is prone to motion sickness.
3) Plan your route, even if you’ve been to the destination before.
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is a saying to keep in mind here.
Having a plan or at least a general itinerary saves you time on road trips.
It’s much better than Googling stuff on the go.
4) Have a list of things you need and pack early.
It’s certainly tempting to just grab the essentials and spontaneously drive off.
This is great if you’re just planning a B-road blast and will be back in Singapore after a few hours.
But if you’ve typically got a kid or kids, plus other family members on your road trips, it makes sense to have a packing list.
You don’t want to have to scramble for essentials such as water, a first-aid kit and sunblock.
That takes precious time away from exploring and enjoying your holiday.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance for everyone!
Remove unnecessary items from your car to save space and improve its performance.
5) Clean out your car!
You don’t have to wash and wax your car before setting off on road trips.
But it is a good idea to clean out your car interior and boot, to make space for your shopping.
It also means you’ll minimise carrying any excess weight, which hampers performance and fuel economy.
