Road tripping is one of the best ways to spend a holiday with friends. While you do want to take it easy and enjoy your holiday, there are a couple of things that you need to plan for before heading out. So here is a guide for planning the best road trip.

Set down a budget

Before you head out on the open road, you need to set a budget. While driving is cheaper than flying, it can still cost you quite a bit of money in terms of petrol. You will also need to have money to spend on accommodation, food, tourist memorabilia and some extra cash for emergencies. This is why it’s important to set down a budget so that you aren’t surprised by any unexpected costs.

Plan your route

There are many road trip worthy places that you can go to throughout South Africa. Whether you’re visiting all the best small towns or hitting up the big cities, you need to have it all planned out. Take a map and choose your destinations, making sure to write down how far away they are from each other so you can plan your stops.

Choose the right accommodation

If you’re planning a trip with a group of friends you’re probably not planning on staying anywhere super fancy. So when you’re booking your accommodation, be sure to have a look at different places online so that you can compare the costs. This way you’ll be able to save some cash if you opt for a backpackers rather than a bed and breakfast.

Pack food

Food is going to be one of your biggest money spenders, after petrol and accommodation. One of the best things that you can do is pack a cooler bag with some food. If your accommodation is self-catering then you’ll probably need to bring your own food along anyhow. What also helps is if you pre-cook food, so all you need to do is heat it up when you arrive.

Make sure your car is ready

In the weeks leading up to your trip, you should make sure to have your car checked out by taking it in for a service. Sure it may cost you money, but it will actually save you on costs as it won’t break down on the road. You’ll also feel a lot safer knowing that your car can handle a long journey.

Keep things loose

With road trips, things don’t always work out the way you would expect them too. Whether it’s due to traffic, an accident or sleeping in late, things can sometimes diverge from your plan. This is why it’s important to keep calm and to just go with it. Try not to stress over it, because in the end it’s still supposed to be a holiday trip.

This is why it’s important that you don’t plan out your whole day. You never know when you’re going to drive by a small town that you want to go for a quick visit or if you want to sleep in until the afternoon. So be sure to plan for some free time for the unexpected things.

Going on a road trip can be a great experience for you and your friends. This is why it’s important to minimise the stress and have the important things planned out. That way you can just enjoy the trip and not have to worry about what might go wrong.