Family vacation time is supposed to be all about packing in the most amount of fun as possible in the given time. However, we all know that hassles can hamper the fun. Not every vacation hassle is avoidable, but most can be quickly dealt with to let the fun resume. Here are some tips on how to travel the US on family vacation with as little hassle as possible.
Check the Weather
It is important to check the weather for your entire travel area for each day of being on the road. The weather may be sunny and dry when you leave, but you could be headed into a storm. Knowing what type of weather is expected in your direction of travel will keep you safe and prevent delays in reaching your destination. Knowing that a tropical storm is turning into a hurricane that will hit your vacation spot the day after you would arrive is valuable information.
Have Your Travel Vehicle Inspected
No matter what you are heading out in, you should have a mechanic complete an inspection. The inspection should include an evaluation of the braking system, including pads and rotors, as well as a basic fluid and tire pressure inspection. Each tire should be thoroughly inspected for foreign objects, sidewall damage and tread wear. If you will need an oil change before you get back, have it done before you leave.
Get Advanced Roadside Assistance
Your auto club or other provider of roadside assistance likely has varying service levels. If you are taking a vehicle on vacation, make sure its type is covered under the towing policies of your auto club. Certain vehicles such as commercial-type trucks or RVs may require a different membership rate to cover towing. Choosing the package with the maximum towing miles can really come in handy when traveling through vast rural or desert areas of the Midwest and western states.
Take Your Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom with You
Family vacation adventures are greatly improved when you have all the comforts of home riding along with you. Today’s motorhomes are relatively fuel-efficient, easy to drive, have advanced safety features, and they have a place to cook, sleep and shower as well as a bathroom. Overnight stays or full vacation stays at RV resort parks are less expensive than hotels. You can be comfortable using your own linens and not needing to lug suitcases in and out of hotels. Modern Class A motorcoaches from places like Orangewood RV Center are of such quality that they are used by some RV enthusiasts for full-time living on the road.
Travel with the Right Papers and Info
Take a full list of phone numbers for every financial obligation you have, including utility providers and bank and credit card companies. Be sure to have your health, auto and home insurance information, cards and document copies with you. If you do not have passports, get them ASAP. You never know when your travels may include an opportunity to venture across a northern or southern border. Be sure to take your checkbook just in case you run into a situation that does not take credit cards. You might be surprised at how often this can happen on the road, especially at popular local eateries that do not take credit cards.
When you pack for your destination, you do not have to take a year’s worth of everything. However, you should pack some warmer clothes in case your summer vacation has a chilly evening, and you should pack some light garments in case you hit a warm spell on your trip far north. Do some basic research on risky flora and fauna for your vacation spot, and share it with your family. Knowing what plants to not touch and what bugs can bite can be a real help. A little preparation can take a major part of the headache of vacations out of the process.