For many novice and well-seasoned adventurers, taking a road trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the travel bucket list. Dream voyages, however, can easily turn into a nightmare unless careful planning is conducted before the trip begins. This list of ten steps will help you stay prepared for any situation that might arise while you’re enjoying yourself on the open road.
1. Decide on the final destination. Open-ended trips can be fun and spontaneous, but they can easily sour into wasteful and dangerous circumstances. It’s fine to detour from your plan here and there, but having a clear idea about where you want to end up will help save you money, time, and stress. Sometimes it’s enough to pick a country or region and choose the exact location once you’re there.
2. Draw the route on the map. Geography classes were so long ago, so it won’t hurt to open a map (or download one) and trace your intended route from start to finish. This way, you will learn how many international borders you need to cross, which attractions might be within reach, etc. You will also get a sense of distance as well as the time needed for the entire trip.
3. Decide on modes of travel. These days, travelers typically have a variety of transportation options at their disposal, and traveling by train offers a different set of benefits than flying. It might take some work to explore all the possibilities and compare the upsides before definitely settling for a specific mode of transport. Of course, distance and geography play a big part, but financial considerations might ultimately be the deciding factor.
4. Check for visa requirements. Depending on your nationality, you might need to obtain a visa in order to enter certain countries. This is sometimes done at that nation’s nearest embassy, or perhaps at the border or destination airport. Visas can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 or more. Be sure to find out exactly what regulations apply to you or you might be denied entry and turned around at the border!
5. Budget for the trip. The last thing you want to happen during your trip is to run out of money a few days short of your return date. To avoid this potentially embarrassing and dangerous situation, plan your expenses for general expenses (accomodations, food, fuel) and leave a little bit on the side for emergencies. It will be hard to stick to this plan 100%, but at least you will have an idea how far in the red you actually are.
6. Book accommodations and making reservations. It can be very stressful to attempt to search for a hotel immediately upon arrival, especially if you’re visiting a country for the first time and don’t speak the local language. These days, everyone books rooms on the internet at no extra cost, and it’s highly recommended to adopt this practice at least for international trips. Booking with the click of a button also allows you to maintain a bit of spontaneity, as you can do it just a few days before you arrive.
7. Pack your bags (without forgetting anything important). Some people travel light while others carry almost their entire belongings, but in both cases it’s very easy to forget a key item. It helps if you pack your bags a day before your trip starts but leave them open so you can add a few things at the last moment. Before you finally close the suitcase, go through a list in your head of the most important items and check whether they’re all packed.
8. Obtain health insurance and vaccination. There’s always the possibility of getting sick while in a foreign country, and medical bills can become a burden if you have to pay out of pocket. Fortunately, it’s usually possible to purchase a health insurance policy ahead of your trip. If you’re traveling to a tropical region, you might need to undergo a mandatory vaccination in order to avoid contracting a infectious disease.
9. Arrange for local transportation. Having access to motorized transport can extend your range and allow you to explore a wider area, so you might want to have a vehicle waiting for you when you arrive. For example, when traveling to Pattaya, car rental services in the town can be compared in terms of prices and pick-up locations. That way you can have a car ready when you need it while also staying within your budget.
10. Pick up dictionaries and tourist guides. An average tourist looks to buy maps, attraction guides, and language aids at the airport, but a well-prepared one touches down with those handy assets before the trip begins. You can save a lot of time and money if you print out travel guide materials after gathering info on the web, which shouldn’t be too hard to do with all the available digital resources.
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