Travel Destinations

Road trips are a cool way to get around your own country and see all sorts of new things. They’re also fantastic for exploring new countries too. You can do a bit of road trip planning, get behind the wheel and get started with your own awesome tour; you’ll see all sorts of things that others won’t because you’re travelling independently.

I advise a minimalist approach when it comes to planning a road trip. You obviously need a little structure, but the fun is really in the random things you find along the way. By deciding only your final destination and the amount of time you have to get there, you open yourself up for all sorts of possibilities (and save yourself a crazy sprint at the end of your road trip).

When planning, definitely plan on taking snacks. One problem we face though, is that snacks are often high in sugar, which means we’ll be getting energy slumps that can negatively effect our safety while driving. Look for farmers’ markets which make great stops and also allow you to stock up on tasty, fresh fruit and veges: the will taste better than in the supermarket! Remember to pack a plastic bag for rubbish and avoid throwing things out of the car. Even organic produce can negatively impact some environments.

When choosing drinks, think about the sugar and caffeine content. You might want a pick-me-up, but do you want the several extra toilet breaks? Water and juice are usually good options for any trip – keep the coffee for the coffee break.

In terms of budget and fun, the more the merrier. This isn’t always true in terms of comfort though! Four or five people can be a bit of a stretch, so a group of three or four is the perfect match of splitting costs and sharing space. It’s always nice to be able to lean on someone’s shoulder and fall asleep in the back seat.

The more people you have, the more road trip planning you feel you need to do. This isn’t neccessarily true though. If everyone chooses one key thing they want to see or do, you can plan for all of them and allow the rest of the time for random stops and diversions … that’s the key of any road trip in any case! Ensure you leave time for the random and, most importantly of all, have fun.

Learn more about road trip planning. Stop by http://indietravelpodcast.com where you can find out all about budget travel and what it can do for you.