There’s nothing quite like cruising along the highways or the dirt roads, exploring the world, and making memories on the move. When the weather’s perfect and they finally get time off, many people are eager to plan out their road trip.
Today we’ll explore strategies you can use to get the most out of your summer road trip and divide our list into three categories. The first is how to keep yourself safe, the second is how to keep your trip on track, and the third is how to get maximum enjoyment while you’re gone.
With millions of people taking road trips during the summer season, it’s an easy opportunity for criminals. You want to make sure that when you leave your house to hit the road, you don’t leave it open to potential intruders.
You also want to take care of matters related to your residence, so you aren’t getting any unpleasant surprises when you return. We’ll get to protecting yourself on the road soon enough, but let’s start with the basic safety tips that apply to your home while you’re gone.
- Lock your home down: You want to make sure your home is secure while you’re gone. Lock all doors and windows, and verify your home alarm system is set if you have one.
- Try to make it look like you’re home: People are less likely to try and vandalize or burglarize your home if they think someone is there. Consider putting your lights on a timer, or maybe have someone you trust move your car to a different position each day.
- Have friends check-in: If you’re having a friend move your car, you may as well have them check on your property as a whole for any signs of damage or tampering. Depending on how long you’re going to be gone, you may need them to feed your pets or water your lawn.
Those are the main safety tips for keeping your home protected while you’re away from it. However, that’s not all you should consider. You also want to make things easy on yourself when you get back.
Consider asking the post office to hold your mail (unless a neighbor can get it) and make sure you put your garbage out before you leave.
Plan Ahead to Make Your Trip Run Smoothly
There’s a bit of mystique to taking a trip on the fly – sporadic journeys are often romanticized, but the truth is planned trips go a lot smoother.
Make sure you have everything set up. This includes your hotel reservations, plane or train tickets, tickets to any shows you may need to buy ahead of time, and even alternate routes in case your planned path becomes compromised due to unforeseen circumstances.
Always Expect the Unexpected
It’s a good idea to plan for more than just unforeseen problems with your route of choice. Make sure you know your options if you end up needing a rental car in the area you visit. You should also think about travel insurance, especially if you’re trip is long or riskier than normal.
Bring a little extra money just in case your budgeted amount doesn’t stretch as far as you thought. You may want to carry things like a first aid kit and emergency supplies. These can include non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, phone chargers, a portable GPS and/or road maps, and a spare tire.
You may even want to bring along blankets, a rain poncho, and a small space heater if you’re traveling somewhere where the temperature is colder.
Enjoy Your Trip by Keeping Things in Order
Once you’ve taken steps to protect your home while you’re gone and yourself while you’re on the road, you can focus on taking additional steps that help you get every bit of enjoyment possible from your trip.
For starters, consider the ride itself. If you’re not behind the wheel, make sure you have things to entertain yourself like books, portable DVD/Blu-ray players, and even travel-sized board games. These are all great to have whether you’re a solo passenger or you’re in a crowded RV.
You should also have your phone set up to take pictures, or maybe even carry a digital camera along. You may see plenty of great sights on the trip, even before you reach the destination, so keep your camera handy.
For busier trips, you might want to consider making a list of attractions you want to see as they come along on your route. This makes sure you don’t miss anything and helps you use your time most efficiently to see the things you want.
Finally, post your vacation photos after you get home. This goes back to the first paragraph about home safety. You don’t want to advertise that you’re gone, but once you’re back, share those awesome moments with your loved ones.
Summer Fun is Better When You Plan Ahead
Whether you’re taking steps to protect your property or protect yourself, vacations are better when you have things in line before you jump in the car.
The summer season is about having fun and enjoying the weather. It’s much easier to do this when you have a peaceful mind and have all the major things planned out. For keeping yourself and your property safe, contact Higgins Insurance today.