Having taken road trips all over the world and being massive lovers of them, it looks like we now will be taking a lot more of them. With international travel something that could be a long way off, we are going to take the opportunity to explore more of our local area together with more of the UK (barring Wales at this time). We are already preparing for a post lockdown road trip. Maybe you are too, if like us you are not willing to take a flight at the moment but still want an adventure.
As we have two small children travelling by car holds a lot of appeal. We can stop when we want to stop if something piques our interest (or there is a cry for food or the toilet from the back seats). Plus we can pack more as we have the luxury of not having to lug our bags on our backs or behind us. This is a godsend when you have kids, if you are a parent you will understand how it is next to impossible to leave the house without taking the contents of it with you.
Also, we’ll be honest, we have travelled to far-flung places across the world, yet never really experienced what’s on our doorstep or travelled to everywhere in England we’ve wanted to before (Cornwall I’m looking at you). Therefore, we are going to take this opportunity to see what close to home gems we can find and explore. Living in the UK we have a lot of beautiful places and we’re sure that wherever you live there are places famed for the scenery that you have never visited either.
However, there are a couple of major things you need to think about before hitting the road. These include the following.
Having The Right Car
In reality, you can have any car to take a road trip. It does, however, need to be roadworthy and reliable, no one wants the possibility of breaking down at any minute hanging over their head. If you are in the market for a new car, don’t forget to shop around to get the best deal (regardless of if you plan to pay cash upfront or take out car finance over a number of years) and if you plan to drive a lot, try to find an economical car which will benefit both the planet and your wallet.
If buying is not something that you are interested in or are able to do, check out if your company offer any work perks i.e. leasing schemes. For 9 years I leased cars through my company. The package also included tax, insurance, servicing and 7 replacement tyres. Granted you will never own the car which may put some people off, however, you do have the luxury of driving around in a brand new, reliable car with guarantees.
Or maybe you simply do not want the pressure of owning or being responsible for a car? Maybe parking is an issue where you live? Maybe the long term financial commitment is too much? If that’s the case, hiring a car for a road trip is a great solution. Depending on your budget or required comfort level, you can choose the car that suits you and once you have finished, you just hand it back, until the next road trip of course.
Don’t Forget Fuel
Fuel prices are at the lowest I can remember in a long time, therefore fill up while you can, especially if you are planning on taking a road trip as soon as you are able. Whilst on your road trip, unless you are totally familiar with the route, ensure you fill up regularly. As a regular participant of fuel light roulette, I would hate to play it and not know where the next fuel station was, especially in the more remote areas of the UK.
If you have a company car and/or a company fuel card, it’s important to remember to keep receipts for your fuel as you will need to work out what fuel you have used for business journies and what fuel you have used for personal trips. It is recommended that receipts are kept for at least 6 years (I keep mine in a folder in my desk drawer), however, don’t forget to check with your own company, as its requirements may be different. If you think your company or the company you work for would benefit from fuel cards, check out iCompario, the largest fuel card comparison site.
Also if you are hiring a car, I’d recommend double-checking what fuel the car needs. There have been plenty of times when I have nearly put petrol in a diesel hire car. I find I tend to just go into autopilot at fuel stations. Luckily I have never actually made the mistake. Diesel pump nozzles are usually bigger than most petrol filler necks, therefore making putting diesel in a petrol car more difficult.
Hit The Road & Enjoy
These are very uncertain times and it’s important we all do what we feel is the best for ourselves and our family. And for us, that is preparing for a post lockdown road trip. We cannot wait to visit places we have never seen before as well as revisiting some old favourites. We will use the opportunity to educate and enjoy spending time with our children. The UK is beautiful and we cannot wait to explore it further.
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