The quintessential vacation for most college-aged kids, retired couples, friends and people with enough time booked off from work during the summer months, is the road trip. You gather your friends, whatever money can be gathered amongst you, and head off in one general direction, with a possibility, but not a requirement of a destination for the road trip. Destinations are not required for road trips, as the trip is the vacation, the road is the venue and the roadside attractions provide some well deserved laughter and bonding.
Essential items for every road trip include, but in no way are limited to;
* Vehicle. Car, SUV, RV, motorcycles and even bicycles can be used for a road trip, but the RV is the king of the road. Gather all of your friends into one vehicle, and the party can continue while driving, as long as the drivers do not imbibe. You can limit the driving for each driver to two or three drivers, and drive through the night when the weather is nasty. Having a kitchen, full bathroom with a shower and hot water, electricity and beds galore makes the RV the perfect choice for the road trip vehicle.
* Safety. The road carries with it a lot of drivers who really should not be driving. Sure, they may not have been in any accidents, but they sure cause a lot of them. Drivers must keep all attention on the road and the vehicles all around them. Safety articles include; first aid kits, both road and airborne location flares, road safety pylons, vehicle tool kit, extra fuses of all ratings and styles that the vehicle uses, at least one full sized spare tire, trolley jack and axle stands, a filled ten gallon gasoline jerry can, smartphones, GPS and an updated map of the areas you plan on visiting.
* Companions. Bringing your best friends will always guarantee a fun-filled road trip. A close-knit family can enjoy a lengthy road trip, but most multiple-children families will encounter many a personality conflict, and differences of opinion on what to do and where to go. Friends will make the trip more about sharing and enjoying each other’s company, while family road trips may find themselves trying to please people as opposed to enjoying themselves. Besides, friends will chip in on the costs of the road trip, and when traveling with family, the entire bill is on you.
* Money. It may well make the world go round, money is required for a rad trip. You could possibly make the entire road trip using credit cards, but then they have to be paid of when you get home. You should try to bring at least $35 to $50 per day that you plan on being gone on your road trip, along with at least one credit card with a minimum of $1,000 left on balance. When emergencies or accidents happen, it is money that, essentially, makes the wheels go round and round. Campground fees, gasoline and possibly a new tire or two, a tow truck fee or a roadside assistance plan (most major credit cards offer this for about $5 to $25 per month), and enough money to pay for your own share of the groceries and drink.
* Sense of adventure. Many people go on road trips solely because their friends are going, then end up ruining the trip due to car sickness, constant complaining or an unwillingness to try a few adventurous outings, like sip lining, white water rafting or bungee jumping. If the sense of adventure is not there for one or two people who come along on the road trip, they can be used as videographers. Digital cameras and a laptop should be brought along on the road trip, so that fun films can be made either along the way or when you get home.
* Sense of humour. Everyone should have a good sense of humour, as being in one vehicle for an extended period of time with a group of people, be they friends or family, can cause tension and animosity between the best of friends when problems occur. Being able to shake off any arguments or disagreements and enjoy the camping at night as a group is a must for a successful and enjoyable road trip.
Enjoy your road trip, and make sure that everyone involved is willing to let their imaginations dictate the route that you take. A road trip is supposed to have an element of surprise, and an element of adventure.
Drive safely, drive informed.
