A travel list is like ingredients for a great meal. For a delicious dinner, mix selected ingredients in the correct proportions. And to make your family trip unforgettable, make a perfect vacation packing list first.
Ideally, you have to collect everything you need and at the same time not overload the car. How to do it:
- Print this article or make a checklist of all the items.
- Make a checklist of anything you want to take.
- Consider whether you can replace familiar things with lightweight counterparts. Read our tips and life hacks.
- Add your points if we didn’t account for your hobbies or freezing weather in the destination country.
- Exclude from the resulting list everything that you can do without.
So let’s go!
Basic things for road travel
Any packing list must begin with the travel documents required. In some cases, you won’t even be allowed to hit the road without them.
- License and registration
We will not remind you about passports and insurance, but we should note a driver’s license separately. First, check the expiration date of your license. It must be at least 1 year old, otherwise, difficulties may arise at the rental point. And they certainly won’t give out a car for an expired or temporary license.
Next, surf the Internet to see if your license is suitable for driving in the most visited countries. The fact is, some countries require an international driver’s license. Therefore, check local laws before leaving for your trip.
If you are driving your car, check the vehicle registration. This proves that the car you are driving legally belongs to you, a friend or a family member. In most countries, if you are stopped by a police officer, they will ask you to show your registration along with your driver’s license.
- Car manual
Don’t forget to add your car manual to your travel list. Not sure how to turn on the air conditioner? Want to know the perfect tire pressure for your car? Your vehicle’s manual is one of the most important road traffic elements. It is also necessary to troubleshoot possible malfunctions.
- Insurance
Make sure your car is protected from accidents. So, if you suddenly have an accident, you will be sure that you are financially prepared for an emergency.
By the way, it is worth buying health insurance as well, so that any injury resulting from a car accident is also covered. Or just address travel insurance companies to get a suitable insurance package.
Basic car tools
No road trip list would be complete without mentioning the items that will keep your car up and running in the event of an emergency. But remember that in addition to the tools themselves, you need to know how to troubleshoot yourself.
- Spare tire
A tire can go flat for a variety of reasons – bad roads, hot road temperatures, or even usual tear wear. Add a spare tire to your kit to be ready for any challenge. If you are renting a car, check with the rental agency if the car has a spare wheel.
- Jack
This point follows from the previous one. Without a jack and a cross-bolt wrench, you cannot change a wheel. Don’t forget to bring them along with other essentials.
- Roadside emergency kit
If you have problems on the road, take a kit that includes an emergency stop sign, washer fluid, oils, a road lamp, cables, and a first aid kit.
If you travel in cold weather, you can put hand and foot warmers, a heat-reflecting blanket, and an ice scraper in your travel kit.
For a comfortable trip
- Power bank
Don’t forget to bring a charged power bank to stay connected to the world. It can be used to charge a smartphone, tablet, headphones, and much more.
- Tablet
A tablet is an indispensable tool if you are traveling with children. Firstly, you can download a lot of road trip games like Alias.
Secondly, using simple tools like a screen recorder, you can record video on a PC that will have an educational purpose. So children will have something to do on the road. Just download some pictures, for example, how the car works or where the precipitation comes from, and use the cursor and your voice to explain to the children the things you are used to.
- Spotify playlist
Some psychologists say that the right music for the journey sets the tone for the whole trip. Before you leave, create and download multiple playlists from Spotify in case you’ll have hassles with the Internet on the go.
- Podcasts
Learn something new, listen to a high-profile opinion, and laugh with your favorite podcast. Download podcasts for a long drive for the sake of boredom avoidance.
- Snacks
Choose snacks high in fiber and protein that are recommended for long periods of inactivity. Apples, bananas, and cereal bars are good options.
- A blanket
A light blanket and a couple of small pillows won’t hurt in case you need to sleep in the back seat. Collar pillows are a good option.
- Tableware
Take a thermos, and preferably two – one for drinks, the second for soup, in which you can brew noodles or soup from bags. You will also need a thermal mug or travel kettle with a cigarette lighter socket so that you can boil the water on the way. And of course – a knife, it is advisable to choose a multitool. Or you can just buy one of the best kitchen boxes.
- Several five-liter bottles of water for drinking and washing
- Important travel stuff
- large package of wet wipes
- toilet paper
- umbrellas or raincoats
- portable shower
- lighter and matches
Final words
Traveling by car has many advantages – freedom of movement, the ability to go around more interesting locations, visit non-tourist places, and spontaneously change the route. This is a romantic idea, but it requires serious preparation. We hope our checklist will help you take into account the nuances of a road trip and make it as comfortable as possible.
