Thursday 14 May 2009

7 Ways to Make Car Travel Easier

Traveling by car might not be as fast as taking a plane, but it's still the most common method of getting from Point A to Point B, even when long distances are involved. It's not always very comfortable or enjoyable to ride in a vehicle for long periods of time, no matter what your agenda is. Whether you are on a business trip or heading for a favorite vacation spot, here are some tips to make the trip a little easier.

Be prepared. While everyone hopes to have a safe trip, that isn't always the case. You'll want to have a membership with AAA and make sure that your car insurance covers everything that might occur on your trip, including another driver if you plan on switching off. This won't prevent problems with the vehicle, but it will certainly make things less stressful if you know everything is covered. Under the same category, be sure you have a car emergency kit on hand, as well as a spare tire.

Take breaks. There's a good reason that rest stops exist. Take the time to stop and stretch your legs at least once every few hours. This will prevent cramping later on and will get the blood flowing, which helps you stay awake on those long, boring stretches.

Invest in a nicer seat. If you travel frequently in your car, you'll really appreciate a nice cushy seat. There are many options on the market, from the common wooden bead seat covers to padded ones that your bones will thank you for after several hours of driving. While the driver usually needs the best seat since it's not really possible to shift around while driving, your passengers will probably appreciate comfortable covers, as well.

Bring entertainment. Just because you are driving doesn't mean you can't enjoy stretching your mind at the same time. Music gets boring after a while, so consider bringing along some audio books or a cd of an interview or seminar you've been meaning to listen to. Some people even learn new languages while on long road trips. And if you have kids, a DVD is a must to keep bickering to a minimum.

Plan your stops. There's nothing worse than hitting the point of exhaustion only to realize that there are no hotels for miles. By planning ahead and deciding where to stop for the night on each leg of your journey, you'll have a much more pleasant trip and can schedule stops at points before you get too exhausted to continue driving.

Make sure you have enough time. Rushing to get to your destination will only result in stress, frustration and speeding tickets, so it's really not recommended. If at all possible, plan to take your time getting there. 5-6 hours a day is usually plenty of time to spend in a vehicle, so if you plan for short days, you'll be well-rested when you arrive.

Make a list before you leave. This is very useful in preventing such tragedies as auto insurance papers left sitting in a drawer at home or forgetting your presentation cd for a business meeting. Having a list will enable you to go down it quickly and double check that you have everything you need and you won't need to turn back shortly after pulling out of the driveway.

Traveling in a car can be rather tedious, particularly if you are going to be driving for several days. These tips will help make it less problematic and help you to really enjoy your trip, no matter where you are headed.

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