Posted on November 16, 2009 by Fiona Hilliard

The make or break of any good road trip is your intent.  Before setting off, you should have clear in your head what the point of your trip is.  This shouldn’t be too difficult. You’re either a free spirit who wants to follow wherever the road takes you or you’ve got a specific plan in your head of who, what, where and when you want to see, as well as a carefully crafted itinerary. Whichever category you fall into, the following car hire tips should help you on your way.

Planning Your Trip

If you intend to fully embrace the freedom of the open road, then the best plan is no plan.  Allow the moment to determine where you eat, explore and spend the night.  It’s usually the sleepiest towns and villages that provide the most colourful road trip moments.

If you’re road tripping with your family or you’d prefer a more clear-cut trip with pre-arranged stops, you’ll definitely be planning ahead.  Before you set off you should book your camping accommodation and hotel reservations.  Otherwise, best-laid plans may come unstuck with the dreaded “no vacancy” or “campground full” signs.

Your Car

Make sure your rental car or motor home live up to your needs and requirements. If you’re travelling with a large group or family – ensure that you’ve booked the right model to take you to your destination comfortably. The last things you want are cramped travelling conditions, petty squabbles and unhappy campers.

If you plan on visiting a destination hotspot during a festival weekend, expect and prepare for large crowds (and traffic). Add extra hours to your journey time.    If you’d prefer to have the open-road to yourself, consider visiting during off-peak times.

Essentials

• Always keep your mobile phone charged.  You never know when you might breakdown or need to call home. 
• Map/GPS system
• Water/soft drinks:  Not only will water keep you hydrated, it will also keep you awake!

Expect the Unexpected

Don’t worry if you end up taking a wrong turn and you end up drifting for three hours in the wrong direction.   In the end, you have to take the rough with the smooth.  It’s a combination of the good and bad moments that ensure any road trip is memorable.