Self-drive holidays are increasingly popular with the mature traveller wanting to explore the world comfortably and conveniently. Here, Chris Moor from trailer specialist ERDE, gives his top 5 packing tips for your first self-drive holiday.
Self-drive holidays let you take complete control. From creating your own agenda and slotting in time to visit all your must-see sights, to being able to bring more luggage with you daily, there are many advantages of embarking on these types of trips. But all this freedom can make packing pretty daunting!
To learn how to pack savvy, follow my top 5 tips to get you fully prepared for your first self-drive holiday.
Pack Logically
Just because it can fit, doesn’t mean it has to come with you. We often find ourselves packing things we don’t particularly need because of the convenience that self-drive holidays offer.
Having things on-hand in the car rather than having to haul them round during the day makes this an appealing option but, as well as taking up more room, it’ll also weigh your car down, reducing your car’s mileage and efficiency, making the trip more expensive for you.
Packing too much stuff could also pose as a risk on the roads if it’s blocking your back window, so don’t take the risk and pack with purpose!
If you can’t fit everything into the car comfortably, or without it blocking your vision, you should use a roof box or trailer. Practise first if you haven’t driven with a trailer before, and make sure to load all the heavy items towards the front to help prevent fishtailing.
Don’t forget your documents
Whether you’re travelling in your own car for the trip or in a rented car from abroad, you’ll need to have your licence and registration documents with you, ready to show at tolling stations or to any authoritative person who questions you on these. Keep a copy of your insurance policy in the glove compartment too in case of any accidents or emergencies.
Pack an emergency kit
As you’ll be spending plenty of time in the car, you should pack for all eventualities — whether that means waiting for a recovery van or someone in the car falls ill. Keep a fully equipped first aid kit in your car with plasters, dressings, antibacterial wipes and any compulsory medication any passengers will need. Packing extra snacks and water is a necessity to keep everyone fuelled and going throughout the day, and will be particularly important in the event of a breakdown.
You should also have items like a warning triangle and torch in the event of a breakdown. If you're travelling abroad, as well as familiarising yourself with the rules of the road, find out whether there are any compulsory emergency items. For example, in France, you can be fined for driving without spare bulbs in your vehicle.
Don’t rely on Technology
Although satnavs and smartphone maps are regular life-savers for a lot of us, we shouldn’t simply rely on these to get us to where we want to go. Having an up-to-date paper map in the car will be really useful if you lose signal on your phone, or the satnav starts to act up on the one day you really need it.
Unlike these methods, a paper map will never let you down, and some, like the ones from Stanfords, give you recommendations of where to visit alongside the map! We’re not saying go completely cold turkey on the technology, but having a back-up is always a good idea.
Your first self-drive holiday should be memorable, so ensure you’re equipped for anything that might be thrown your way. Packing sensibly and remembering documents and maps will give you the best start to your holiday. So, where will your journey take you? Well, that’s for you to decide.