Posted on August 14, 2009 by Fiona Hilliard

Renting with loved ones this summer?  Keep squabbles to a minimum with our essential tips.

Loading Your Car:

Leave the enormous ‘one for all’ suitcase behind.  You’ll be thankful when you don’t have to heap everything out onto the side of the road if you or the little ones need to get something in a hurry.  Strong, soft-sided bags are not only lighter, but also make travel easier in the long-run.  Allowing older children to pack their own bags will teach them lifelong skills.  It will also put a stop to them blaming you for packing the ‘wrong’ things. 

Packing – Follow the basic rule, ‘last in, first out’.  Items required for the first night at the hotel/apartment should be packed last.

Watch Your Weight:

Not your own, but your vehicle’s payload capacity.  This is the combined maximum weight of everything on board, (passengers and cargo) and is known as the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).  The GVWR is usually found on a sticker on the driver’s door.

Stay Mobile:

A fully charged mobile phone is an essential piece of equipment for any trip, especially now that most smart phones and iphones come pre-loaded with travel applications like maps and destination guides.  Be sure to pack a spare battery (and a charger) if one is available for your phone.  Other useful devices include a USB phone charger that can be connected to your laptop’s USB port and perhaps most importantly, a phone charger that can be adapted to be plugged into your vehicle’s lighter socket.

Other Essentials:

Zip-Lock Bags

These are a must-have for travelling families.  The bags can be used for everything from storing half-eaten snacks and fruit to juice cartons to small pieces of toys.  They also come in handy when it’s time to tidy the car before drop-off.

Umbrella/Rain Jackets

In addition to the clothes that you have packed in your suitcase, make sure everyone has some sort of cover for bad weather, e.g. an umbrella or disposable poncho.

Music

Don’t forget to pack your iPod/MP3 player or favourite CDs, especially if you’re planning a lengthy trip. If you’re not driving you might also want to bring some light reading material or your favourite DVD if you’ve got a portable DVD player. Your fellow passengers may also thank you for remembering to pack headphones too!