If you really want to enjoy life, plan a road trip to just about anywhere. The fun of the trip is the journey itself, especially if you are one of those who love driving. If you have a good car, not necessarily a large sedan or SUV but just about any reliable car, it’s the best way to enjoy a good driving holiday with family or friends. However, there are some basics you need to keep in mind when planning a road trip.

The plan Pick a destination you can reach with leisurely driving and frequent breaks, which allows you to enjoy the sights and sounds along the way and ensures you reach your destination fresh enough to enjoy the vacation you have planned. Do a bit of research on travel sites about places to stay and preferably book your hotels in advance online as this ensures peace of mind and no nasty surprises.

The ride Next, ensure you have a reliable enough car for the trip. Ideally, get it serviced two weeks before your planned road trip to ensure it is in proper shape, allowing for enough time for issues that sometimes even an improper service can throw up. Get all the documents of the car in place and ensure you have valid insurance and pollution certificates.

and keep a set of photocopies in the car as well. The car should get a thorough check up. Ensure the battery and tyres are in good enough condition before the big day. Many great holidays can get ruined because of car trouble. Keep a list of phone numbers of the car’s dealerships in the towns you will be passing or visiting.

Usually the owner’s manual has these, but it’s better to keep an updated list along with road side assistance or helpline number if any. The gear As always it is best to pack as light as possible. And depending on the size of car you have and the number of people travelling, it would add to the comfort as well. Roof racks are best avoided on cars as they make them unwieldy to handle and reduce fuel efficiency drastically.

However, if you are in an MPV with seven people on-board, racks are unavoidable because of the lack of luggage space inside the vehicle. If you are using a roof rack, make sure it is packed aerodynamically. Use a tarpaulin with bungee cords to secure the luggage. Get all occupants to use duffel bags instead of hard luggage as they are not only lighter, but also flexible enough to pack in tightly.

If your trip is over multiple days, it would make sense to pack a smaller bag with essentials for overnight halts, while keeping a larger bag with things you would need only at your final destination. That way the car need not be unpacked entirely each day. The trip Start early, drive steadily and reach safely. The whole point of a road trip is to enjoy the drive, not to set a land-speed record. Keep a steady pace and plan your route in such a way that you have good places to stop for a 15-minute break every three hours or so.

Always fill the tank with fuel before setting out and refuel at a good pump when you still have about a quarter of a tank left. Keep a cup or pouch handy near the driver’s seat for toll tickets and keep enough change to pay tolls along the way. Use a credit or debit card to pay for fuel and other large purchases as that way you will not need to carry too much cash. However, do keep at least enough cash with you to be able to go fetch help in emergencies. Most important, don’t forget to carry your favourite music.

OLMdesk@outlookindia.com