If you haven’t already started counting down the days until the December holidays, what are you waiting for? Not only is it the most festive time of year, it’s also a time to rest, spend with family and perhaps best of all, to explore! If you’ve decided to hit the road for a little festive road trip, we’ve got some useful tips to make your holiday extra-safe and even more enjoyable.

Safety first 

Before we jump into all the fun stuff, let’s not forget all the important safety factors to bear in mind when embarking on your road trip. Make sure everyone is buckled up with either a seat belt or a car seat throughout the journey. Also, make sure you have a car charger or power bank so that you won’t get stuck on the side of the road with a flat phone battery. Before heading off on your adventure, get your car’s tyre pressure, oil, water and lights checked. Lastly, always choose the safest, not the quickest route. If it happens to be the scenic route, too, then so much the better! 

Don’t forget the padkos! 

To save money and time, pack your own snacks and meals. Easy road-worthy snacks include sandwiches, crackers, yoghurt, fruit & nut mixes, cheese cubes, chips and fruit. If you are bringing along a few perishable items, pack a car cooler that you can keep within easy reach; the perfect place to store refreshing cold drinks and juices, plus any foods that need to be refrigerated. To keep your journey jolly, pack a few Christmas-themed sweets and treats (especially if you have kids travelling with you).

Are we there yet?

If one or more of your passengers are kids, you’ll have your work cut out for you and it’s much more likely that you’ll have to make stops along the way. Of course there’s nothing wrong with that; designated drivers need to take breaks, too. Entertainment options to keep younger travellers busy include an exciting Christmas kit filled with crayons, colouring books, card games and books.  Depending on how old they are, you can customise the kit to suit their interests. Alternatively, reward your kids for good behaviour using a points system – and points mean prizes! Alternatively, you can ‘bribe’ them with a little extra pocket money to spend on treats when you arrive at the next rest stop. 

A playlist of note

There is no denying the importance of a good playlist for long trips; it can get you in the holiday mood, and a great singalong helps the miles and hours fly by.Check your Bluetooth connection or or pack an aux cable so that you’re all set to bust out those tunes. Audio books or podcasts are also a great option if you want  more mindful sounds. Don’t forget to include some favourite tunes for the kids in the back seat, too – just don’t let them persuade you to put any of the songs on permanent repeat! Familiar tunes can have a calming or sleep-inducing effect on youngsters, which can be good news for everyone. 

So there you have it, our top tips to make your festive road trip a huge success. Happy holidays!