Summary: Going on a road trip is a great way to see a country - you cover a lot of ground and you come across things you'd find on an organised tour. It's an especially good way to see your own country inexpensively. Planning It's worth putting a bit of effort into planning, but don't overdo it. A lot of the fun of road trips is the spontaneity that's possible - if you plan every minute of every day, the holiday can turn into a chore. First choose a general direction and consider some of the places you might like to stop along the way. With a group of people, each nominate one thing you really want to do, and plan your direction around these few things. Travelling with a tent in the car opens up a lot of options when it comes to accommodation - you can pull into a holiday park, camp on a friend's lawn, or camp wild where it's legal. Plus you always have the option of checking into a hostel or motel if the weather is inclement. Have some information with you in the car as well - a map is essential, but a map with campsites or hostels marked on it is gold. We usually have a tourist guide to the region we're touring for some light bedtime reading as well. Tourist hotspots can be booked up if you're there at the wrong time, so having a few numbers to call before you arrive can save a lot of stress. Stocking up Yes, it's important to have snacks in the car, but think carefully about what you want to eat - avoid the big low that comes after a sugar high by eating sweets in moderation. A bag of local fruit is a good alternative to lollies - just make sure you have a rubbish bag handy for peelings and cores. To avoid arguments, it might be worth creating individual snack bags with equal amounts of different snacks in them - this tip is not just for travelling with kids! When choosing drinks, think about the sugar and caffeine content. You might want a pick-me-up, but do you want the several extra toilet breaks? Water and juice are usually good options for any trip - keep the coffee for the coffee break. On the road Who are you going to travel with? Three or four people is an ideal number in terms of budget - you can split on-road costs and it makes it cheaper for everyone. More than four in a regular car is too much of a squeeze - get a van or take two cars. Also be aware that the more people you have with you, the less you're likely to see. Make sure you see what you want to see and leave some space in your itinerary for spontaneous decisions. And most of all, have a good time!
