Make the Most of Your Holiday Road Trip

As the holiday season approaches and with all the days kids will be out of school, many families are thinking about vacation plans. We’ve put together a list of tips to help make things as smooth as possible from the planning all the way to the road.

Planning

• Try to plan as far ahead as possible. If you haven’t started yet, start now. You’ll get the best pick before everything is reserved.
• Make sure that you have all the neccesary documentation (i.e., insurance cards, vehicle service contract, if applicable)
• Determine what your family needs. Find a place that will interest both and your kids. Jot down a list of everyone’s needs and find a place that has a little something for everyone.
•  If you have young kids, try to go for off-season times. Trips during these times are always cheaper, and there are less people, leading to an even more enjoyable experience.

Packing

• If they’re old enough, get your kids involved in the process. Give them a small kid-size bag to pack and take with them. It saves you time of getting toys or coloring books, and they enjoy it.
• Pack according to child. Put all of their clothes and toiletries altogether so that you’re organized and never have to dig to find something. You’ll know exactly where it is.
• Try rolling the clothes rather than folding it to save space. You can also use zip-close bags or packing cubes to separate clothes further and maximize your suitcase space even more.
•  Make sure to have snacks and drinks. Let kids pick before you leave so that no one will complain that they don’t like what you brought. Avoid anything sticky or that will create extra garbage.
• Keep extra clothes at hand. At some point or another, someone spills something on themselves, and if you have a baby, you may want an extra outfit for yourself as well.

On the Road

•   One of the hardest things to deal with on the road is hunger, especially since you don’t want to have to stop every hour. Be sure to keep those snacks within reach.
•   When it comes to long trips, kids get bored easily, even if they pack their own toys. Make sure you pack a few extra backups so that they’re always entertained.
•  And if that’s enough, car games are always good distractions. “I Spy” is a very common one, but there are many more. Get creative!
•  Make everyone use the bathroom before you leave, so you won’t have to make unnecessary stops. And when you do stop, make sure everyone uses it then, even if they say they don’t.

With good planning and preparation, you and your family should have a great trip. No matter how long you’re on the road.