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It's true that a road trip is an economical way to spend a vacation and, theoretically, it can be a chance for some quality family time. But instead of just stuffing everyone into the vehicle, hitting the road and hoping for the best, plan ahead. Plan your trip starting at the point before you leave and anticipate issues that will come up along the way to assure it's a trip to remember instead of one you spend years trying to forget
To Rent or Not To Rent?
Depending on the type of vehicle you own and the number of passengers, you may want to rent a van, SUV or RV for your summer fun. Peruse the larger vehicle options like the Ford Expedition and Honda Odyssey at JeanKnowsCars.com. Rent or not, though, the vehicle will be your home away from home over the next several hundred miles so be sure it's comfortable for extended periods of time. Planning, foresight and a lot of patience will prevent mutiny on the road and could make this trip the best yet.
Feed Your Vehicle
First off, do some preemptive maintenance on your vehicle. You'll be eating, sleeping, driving and practically living in it for a while and nothing will put a damper on the trip like a crisis in the middle of nowhere. Change the air filters and the oil, check tire pressure and fill window washer fluid. Make sure the hi-tech gadgets are working properly so they won't fail you during your trip. Every now and again the little ones need a "Cars" break.
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Limit Baggage
Don't take along all your worldly possessions. Just bring a few days worth of clothing and food so you don't over crowd your SUV and your companions. You can always do laundry and snack shopping along the way. And a family that isn't crammed into an overloaded vehicle will have the space they need to remain on friendly terms.
Plan Ahead Where You Rest Your Head
Spend time shopping for a hotel instead of pulling into the first one you find. There are guidebooks and smartphone apps that can alert you what is near. Apps like TripAdvisor will give you customer reviews and clarify amenities. Also, you can get more than reasonable rates if you look around. Scout ahead so you don't waste time driving around when everyone is tired, cabin-feverish, ornery and ready to be done driving for the day.
Game On
Keep the movies to a minimum and earbuds out of their ears. A road trip is the time to enjoy family. Play games to alleviate the inevitable boredom that will settle during the longer parts of your drive. A lot of road trip games don't need batteries, teams or a spinner to play. Usually the sights you'll be seeing will be all you need to keep the group occupied for hours. Buried Adventures has put together an impressive list of road-trip games that include the ever-popular I Spy, 20 Questions, the Counting and Spelling Games and the Alphabet Game. Keep track of the winners and crown an over-all victor in each game at the end of the trip.
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