7 Important Things To Have on Your Holiday Travel Checklist

The festive season is just around the corner, and many of us are planning holiday travel. Unfortunately, over the last year or so, we have lived under the threat of COVID, and most of us haven’t been able to spend much time with our families, so this Christmas, we all want a wonderful holiday season.

Suppose you want to travel to a cabin in the woods or visit your relatives in another part of the United States for Christmas or Thanksgiving. In that case, it makes sense to compile a holiday travel checklist to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

#1: Before You Go

If you are leaving your home for a few days over the festive period, ensure you lock all windows and doors, switch off unused electrical appliances, set a timer for a light to come on at night, and activate the burglar alarm. Tell a neighbor or someone you trust that you will be away and to call your cell phone if they have any concerns.

Plan your trip well. Look at the weather forecast, listen to the travel news, heed any alerts about road closures, and decide the best route. A well-planned trip requires carefully selecting your destination and activities and choosing the right luggage to accompany you.

Select the perfect size depending on the duration and your essentials. For example, if it’s a long journey, click here to choose a giant suitcase that will carry all your needed items and be relatively lightweight. On the other hand, if it’s a 2-3 day trip, opt for mini sizes or backpacks. Picking the right size, style, and material tailored to your needs allows you to navigate airports, train stations, and streets quickly and confidently.

#2: In Case of Emergencies

Ensure your car insurance policy is current, as the adverse driving conditions caused by winter weather increase the number of road accidents.

If the manufacturer’s warranty on your car has expired, you may want to consider checking out some used car warranty companies that will offer you a good deal. A contract will protect you financially if a critical component of your vehicle has a major failure, such as the suspension collapsing or the gearbox breaking.

#3: Good to Go

Before starting your journey, you must check that your car is road-worthy and can deal with winter weather conditions.

Mix a 50:50 solution of antifreeze and water and top up the coolant in your vehicle. If the car has little or no antifreeze, the solution will freeze, and the car’s engine will overheat. Check the engine’s oil levels and ensure the water/antifreeze mixture fills the windscreen wash container.

The tread on the vehicle’s tires should be at least 3mm so that they can grip onto icy, wet roads as well as possible. If heavy snow and treacherous conditions are forecast, you may want to fit special winter tires to the car, made of specialized rubber that gives a superior grip on dangerous terrain.

Test the heaters, lights, and windscreen wipers are working, and above all, make sure the car battery is fully charged and in good condition. The lifespan of a storm is about five years and should be changed once they exceed that. Also, because in winter, drivers use the lights, heater, and fan more than in warm weather, the battery drains more quickly.

#4: Safety First

Safety should be a priority on every car trip. Once you have checked your car, you can start to load the car up with your belongings and passengers.

Secure roof boxes, trailers, and bike racks if you have any. Pack bags, containers, and other cargo sensibly so that it doesn’t block the driver’s vision and won’t fall into passengers if the car stops suddenly.

Ensure everyone wears a seatbelt and children sit in the appropriate car seats if required.

#5: Furry Friends

If you take your pet with you, ensure they are restrained with a harness and lead on a seat, in a crate, or safely contained in the boot area. Provide them with a non-spill bowl of water and a comfortable bed.

If they get car sick, ask your vet about travel sickness medication. On a long journey, stop for a potty time now and again.

#6: Cozy and Comfy

Make sure you wear and pack comfy clothes for the trip! The last thing you would want on a long road trip is to have jeans that are too tight or freeze from not wearing a few layers!

#7: Are We There Yet?

Traveling with young kids can be challenging.

Some children can suffer from travel sickness, and when this is the case, you should give them some medication before the journey or tie an anti-motion sickness bracelet to their wrist. Also, ensure you have plenty of plastic bags, tissues, and wet wipes if you vomit.

Long journeys can be very dull for children, making them angry and irritable. So it is worth investing in a car DVD player or allowing them to bring a tablet to play or watch movies on.

Playing games such as I Spy or How Many Blue Cars Can You See may keep them occupied for a while, as will singing some Xmas songs or listening to an audiobook.

And there you have it! This a great checklist that you can count on working for even the most extended road trip during the holidays!