You will, no doubt, get to enjoy plenty of wonderful sceneries. It gets better if you are planning on traveling by road.
Road trips are a fun and exciting way to wind down and simply let go of our everyday stress. They are also a great way to explore and share memorable times with our friends and family. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your next road trip this Christmas comes with all the benefits and allows you to enter your next year in a hopeful, more relaxed mood.
Here are some tips for your next Christmas getaway road trip to Wales
Set Your Budget and Stick to It
A proper budget helps prevent overspending. It also helps you avoid embarrassing situations such as running out of cash before the trip is over.
Remember, after 2020, no one can really tell how your next year is going to turn out. So while a road trip will do you a lot of good, it’s best to save some money too. One great way of doing this is by setting a budget and sticking to it.
For example, based on where you are going, you can decide to set a specific amount of money for the entire trip. Once done, do your best to stick to that budget.
Travel with Friends
Solo road trips are great for a lot of people. You get to see a lot of places and experience completely different cultures and sceneries undisturbed. However, consider having your friends join you on your next trip. This is because:
- Friends will help you save money – They will cover some of the costs that you would otherwise handle yourself.
- Friends are great for sharing memories – Take pictures, share jokes and good times as you reflect over the past year, and plan on the next.
- Friends offer some form of security- They are great when traveling to strange places because apart from the company and fun memories, you will also be on the lookout for each other.
Make Use of the Current Technology
Technology helps us make the best decisions in our daily lives. Better decisions mean you don’t have to waste time, spend extra money or find yourself in comprising situations.
For example, you can use such technology by downloading different apps. You do not want to wait for hours to get towed because you did not know the weather was going to be unfriendly. A simple weather app on your phone would have been enough to avoid such an inconvenience.
Find apps that will help you navigate through new places, keep updated on the local news, weather, and easily communicate with your family members or emergency services.
Carry snacks along the trip
Most of our bad decisions can be avoided if we eat on time.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to make bad financial decisions when you are hungry? Now imagine you are traveling alone and hungry.
You are likely to buy some highly overpriced food along the way to keep you sated. Food from many tourist destinations is usually overpriced, of low health value, and sometimes dirty.
The solution; buy and carry snacks to feed on during your trip. This will reduce your urge to eat along the way and ultimately prevent you from making unnecessary purchases. Also, a full stomach means enough energy and a clearer mind to make better decisions that could help you save more.
Check out All Accommodation Options
You now no longer have to limit your accommodation options to hotel rooms. Thanks to options such as Airbnb, you are now spoilt for choice.
Don’t just settle for the first “cheap” accommodation option you come across. It helps to explore the rest of the options before you can settle down on the final one. You might be surprised to find out that the “cheap” accommodation wasn’t really cheap.
Also, it is important to note that just because it is cheap does not mean you will save money. Some options might save you a buck or two, but you might end up spending more. This could be because they are far from your preferred destinations, they might have poor facilities and resources that might end up causing more inconvenience than the extra money you might have saved.
You would rather spend the night in a safe yet “pricey” location than in a cheap and dangerous one. Take your time and look at different accommodation options before settling down on one.
Get Your Car Checked Before Your Trip
If you plan to travel using your car, having it checked before your trip will save you a lot of headaches. Traveling with an unroadworthy vehicle is not ideal for fuel economy, your safety, and the car.
Your car will likely use more fuel as you travel those long distances. But this is not nearly as bad as the vehicle breaking down. You will be forced to incur additional costs such as towing or having to call a mechanic to help you out. Your car can also break down in a dangerous place and put you in a compromised situation.
Apart from having your mechanic give it the green light for traveling, make sure you carry:
- A spare tire and equipment for changing it
- 2 Jerry cans, one with water.
- Jumper cables for a flat battery
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- An extra phone or power bank if possible
- Safety triangle or something to let oncoming traffic know you are stopped
- Warm clothes and a blanket
- Some OTC painkillers
Traveling in a roadworthy car is always a great experience. You won’t have to worry about breakages or fuel economy. You are also quite sure that your car can handle your entire trip without you having to
Better yet, think about hiring a van for your road trip. Find the best option for van hire in Wales and enjoy the added convenience of hiring a car.
Conclusion
Wales is a beautiful country. Whether you are planning to visit the seaside town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, or to explore Portmeirion Village in North Wales, the above tips will make your trip fruitful, fun, and memorable.
