Summer is luring around the corner and you and your friends are desperate to get out. Are you and your friends the spontaneous types? Then, we suggest going on a spontaneous road trip. Going on a road trip is a cheap way to get around Europe. And there are many benefits attached to it, hence why it is so popular. But before you pack your bags, there are few things you need to know before you leave on a road trip.
Table of Contents
1. Know what to pack
So knowing what to pack has everything to do with what kind of road tripper you tend to be. Do you want to go camping or combine living on the road with a bit of luxury by staying at a hotel every night? In both cases, there are some essentials that you can’t live without. To start off, having a practical cooler bag can be an absolute life saver. There is nothing more annoying than being thirsty and having to drink warm water. When you don’t want tea, at least. But a cooler bag or box will ensure that your snacks stay fresh longer. Secondly, you may want to bring activities, such as playing cards, pen and paper or even an Ipad. Also, don’t forget to bring a good travel pillow, long trips can be tiring, that’s why you need to be ready when the nap strikes. Other important things to pack are (of course) a toothbrush, driving license, bottle of sunscreen, bottle of water and a charger.
2. The car dilemma
So you’re with a group of friends and no one has their own car. What now? Well, you can decide if you want to rent a car without a credit card (Dutch: auto huren zonder creditcard) or ask if you can borrow your parents car. Chances are low that your parents think it’s a good idea to take the brand new car for a spin through Europe. Another great idea is to rent a van for 9 people (Dutch: 9 persoons bus huren). This way, all your friends and luggage easily fit in the van. Every single friend can drive around for a few hours while others take a rest. However, when renting a car or van, you must take out your car rental insurance for driving abroad in case the car breaks down.
3. Try to budget
Sticking to a budget doesn’t sound fun when you’re on a holiday. But when you’re road tripping and you’re not a heir to Bill Gates, you’re not going to have a lot of money. The first step in your budget is that you need to know what kind of car you will be driving. When you know what kind of car you will be fulfilling your road trip, you know how many gallons of fuel fit in the tank. Then you need to research the fuel prices in all the places you plan to pass. A common mistake is to forget to budget for tolls.
Unless you want to camp in the wild, you need to think about the cost of accomodation, even if it’s just a small campside. But always treat yourself one day to the luxury of a hotel. If your budget is tight, try to have a basic daily budget for supermarket essentials and don’t eat out everyday.