With the arrival of the school holidays comes the time of great departures. As we know, going on vacation is not easy, especially when you go to the other end of France by car and all the more so with children. To help you reach your destination safely and in peace and with good humor (if possible), here are some tips that you might find helpful on a long drive.
1. Prepare your trip well in advance
Anticipating will allow you to leave in peace without being stressed by possible unforeseen events. We are not asking you here to give yourself a scenario of all the difficulties you may encounter, but rather to put all the chances on your side to avoid or overcome them. For this, it is essential to organize your trip in advance with the itinerary and the estimate of the expected travel time to your destination. This will allow you to plan for everything you will need and also to prepare yourself mentally
2. Prepare your car
We can never say it enough: having your car serviced before a big start is essential. As the famous quote goes: “prevention is better than cure.” Also, be sure to take any safety essentials for your car with you, namely yellow vests and a triangle. Also, pay close attention to your tires before you leave and check their pressure just before you leave. Remember to take something to change your tire … you never know!
3. Take breaks for a reasonable length of time
You probably already know this, but breaks are essential to make your journey in the car run smoothly. It is recommended to stop every two hours or so. But you shouldn’t stop to clear your conscience. It is important to make sure to rest and gain strength to get back in shape. If you are traveling as a family, don’t forget to entertain your children during this break and let them let off steam. This may make them calmer afterwards and less frustrated with sitting for hours.
4. Find entertainment for young and old
Car journeys can sometimes seem interminable. So, it is important to find ways to entertain young and old. The solution can be to find roles adapted to each one, such as route control, music management, or even signaling slowdowns or others on dedicated applications. Otherwise, listening to radio dramas is a very good alternative to music which can be redundant after a certain number of hours. To occupy young children, there is still the possibility of providing them with many toys that will make them happy, including coloring, etc.
5. Take enough food and drink with you
For everyone’s comfort, but also for the sake of your wallet, remember to take enough snacks with you for all passengers. Indeed, the prices of food and drinks can sometimes be excessive on the roads. To not be frustrated by the sight of this food, it is enough to do some shopping before departure. We advise you to put aside your diet during the journey in order to reward yourself, then leave in good shape and in a good mood.
6. Carry out stages during this long journey by car
If you are with your family and are going really far, allow yourself the possibility of doing one or two stages during your trip if your budget and your schedule allow it. In addition to resting and calming your children, it can allow you to discover a new region that is not your final destination.
7. Take out term insurance if necessary
Our lifestyles are different, and so is our use of the car. Thus some people do not often drive their vehicle and do not need to take out a comprehensive cover like a motorist who takes to the road every day. And the holidays are times when we try to be serene, aren’t they? You can therefore opt for temporary insurance that will allow you to travel with peace of mind. Several offers are available depending on your car, your length of stay, or the borders you plan to cross.
8. Drink water
This may seem trivial advice, but dehydration happens faster than you think and can ruin the start of a vacation. Coffee is not sufficient and has a diuretic effect. In addition, cars turn into a suffocating oven in summer, especially for the most fragile among us (children and the elderly). So take a supply of water on hand, if possible, in bottles that are not plastic. With heat, these could contaminate the water even more with plastics. And never mind, if you need to take bathroom breaks more often, it’s always better to do more than not enough.
Rental car is also an excellent option for a long trip. You can rent a car in Karachi from Carlay Car Rental. It is a well-known car rental company.