roadtrip tips & advice?

Hi we take a month long road trip each year here in the US. Here are some things that I have learned from my travels:

Phone Numbers: If it is an emergency such as an accident, trauma ect… You will want to dial 911. In the US that is the emergency number for most of the police stations…However, not all small towns are on the 911 system so I recommend contacting the cell phone company. They also usually have emergency numbers, one for roadside assistance and one for major emergencies. I would also speak with them about traveling; they sometimes have a roadside assistance plan that you can purchase on your phone. Also they might be able to help you with such things as roam. I would also recommend joining a roadside service club such as AAA. It can be very useful! Also most states have a sign when you first enter them that have a state trooper number such as *564, write this down on the map, could come in handy. Make sure you have the numbers for your insurance (both car and medical) and family members in case of an emergency and contact phone numbers for you Credit Cards and cell company. Now this part sounds silly but….write those phone numbers down! Yes I know they are in the phone but, what happens if the phone gets lost or stole???? You might not remember all those numbers in a crisis!

Credit Cards: Contact your credit card company and let them know that you will be traveling, and give the approx states that you will be in. We did not do this on our first one and they froze our account because they thought it could be fraud. Took a while to get straighten out! Also again sounds silly but, write down your CC purchases just like you would a checkbook balance. We had an issue were our card got stole and we were able to tell them every purchase made on the trip, every day ect… Really made things go a lot quicker and easier in the recovery process!

Cash: I would carry some cash, it does come in handy and hey not all parking garages/lots take CC’s. I would also suggest some traveler’s checks, write the numbers down, same as cash and well if they are lost or stolen they can be replaced. Never hurts. Also make sure the cash is split, do not have one person carry ALL of it. You never know and you never can be too safe!

Car: Get everything checkout! Tell the mechanic that you are going on a cross country trip; they will do a mini inspection. Have your oil changed, fluids topped off, tires checked and make sure you check the spare and everything needed to change it. Don’t want to get stuck with out the proper tools. We made sure to have our oil changed on the trip, of course if you do not go 5, 00 miles roundtrip this will not be an issue. If you are driving through the desert, do not run your AC the whole time. Make sure you turn it on and off or else the car might over heat.

Emergency and First Aid Kit: This is a must! Always be prepared just like the Boy Scouts say. Make sure you have and emergency kit, with flashlights, extra batteries, extra fuses, a blanket, a few basic tools like a screwdriver and even Fix It Flat. I might also recommend bringing extra water, a help sign and roadside flares or maybe a safety vest in case you have to change your tire. We want people to see you! First Aid Kit…we don’t want any accidents to happen but, in case one does you want to be prepared. You can buy them pre-made or you can make one up yourself if you have some of these supplies. You should have band Aids, Cotton, Gauze, Medical Tape, Aspirin, Hot and Cold packs, scissors, burn cream, and antiseptic cream. I might also recommend some cold/sinus meds if you have issues with this and maybe something like Tums or Rolaids and also matches or a lighter.

Maps: Make sure you have the most updated maps! I also recommend checking out the states websites that you are going to and seeing what construction and road closures there are. It just makes traveling way easier!!! Look over them before you go and write anything important near the places that they are located. Also a lot of states have a place on their website where you can look up rest stops. Does take a little research to find, but I have done it and it helps a lot!!!

Documents: Make sure you take your insurance card and a copy of it. That way if one gets lost you have a back up; put the backup in your luggage. I also take a copy of my driver’s licenses and again put it in my luggage. If you are traveling from Canada, or Mexico, I don’t know what the changes in coming across the boarder are. However I would bring a copy of my birth certificate and another form of ID. Again just to be safe. If you have a medical condition, take meds (put the dose), or are allergic to anything write/type this out and keep it in your wallet, purse ect…If a crisis happens this is very helpful! Again we don’t want anything to happen better to be over prepared. Also bring your medical, dental and prescription insurance cards. Make copies of these and keep them in your luggage. Make sure you copy the front and back of the card.

Cooler/Food/Drinks: This serves 2 purposes, first it save a ton of money. Second well in case you get stuck or stranded you have food and drinks. I don’t know if you are concerned about your budget but, there are plenty of places to stop and have a picnic. There are several roadside parks and most of the rest stops have at the very least picnic tables. We make it a point to eat at least one “cooler” meal a day. You might have to stock up from time to time, still cheaper than eating out all the time and gives you more money to spend.

State Information: Each state has their own visitor’s website if you contact them they will send you out a visitor’s packet for FREE! This comes with tons of information, maps and COUPONS!! I love coupons saves you a lot of money on the trip. If you know some of the cities you are going to contact their chamber of commerce they have visitors packets as well. I do this for every trip we take and it is so helpful. You can even email them and ask more questions!! They are like free travel agents!

I can tell you that my FAVORITE road trip is Route 66! There is still a ton of the original route that you can still drive. A lot of people say that you cannot drive Route 66, but they are wrong. There is a ton of roadside attractions on 66 and some of the greatest parks in the US are off of 66. There are plenty of places to camp or little cheap motels to stay in. There are just soo many wonderful sites. We find something new each time we travel it. You do have to do some research on 66; it is not on maps anymore so you have to search for directions:

www.historic66.com

This site has the best directions around and list attractions as well. It does not list all of them just the ones the author liked. Route 66 starts in IL and goes all the way to CA. What a great way to see the country!!! Do some internet searches or if you decide to take a 66 road trip post the question and I will be happy to lay out attractions in each state for you.

Another great trip is always the Pacific Coast Highway. Starts in WA and ends in CA! This trip is amazing as it twists and turns down the coast. Again wonderful places to see, both roadside attractions and some great parks. This is a great trip to camp on because it is always cool up north! You get to see most of the major cities of each state. Just a wonderful breath taking drive. The coast really changes all the way. Again just do some research and you will find great places to see or post your question and we can help you!

Another thing we do is make a list of all the cities we want to see, get out a map and just plot our own course. This works great, we have "stumbled" upon to many things this way! Try to take smaller back highways rather than the interstates. You really get to see more and experience more. These little highways run through towns that you might not have gone to but, are well worth your time when you find them.

www.bygonebyways.com

You are already doing the best thing you can do for your trip, planning in advance! I cannot stress enough that in order to go on the trip you need to plan and be organized! I know sometimes is hard to do, be sure to OVER budget. Better to over than under! You all might want to also think about throwing a tent in the car and camping a night here and there. Campsites are cheap and can save you money! Also contact the chamber of commerce for the cities you will be going to have them send you their FREE visitors packet. These are great come with COUPONS, maps and information. You can also email them for suggestions if you need more help. I do this for every trip that I am planning and it really helps. Takes time but, I have found so many places like this that well just didn't show up on a websearch.

As for doing it all you need is a car, money, and some good preparation.

For another cheap housing option I might also suggest checking out Youth Hostels. They usually are cheaper, you can meet some really cool people from all over the world, and they almost never care about your age. Start saving now, it will be a trip of a life time!

Well I hope this helps you I just love roadtrips. Be sure to make your "travel" CD's with some great road songs. I would also bring a book or something else for myself to do. Trust me you will not be talking to the other person 24/7! Bring an extra memory card for your camera; you will take a ton of pictures. Have fun, stay young, and enjoy your trip!

Make sure everyone who is coming has their license, or you'll end up being pissed at the one who doesn't help out with driving.

Get a really good road atlas. Map out your route. Mark out your goals for each day so you have an idea of about where you want to end up. If you'll be staying in hotels/hostels, you should research the prices and get phone numbers.

Make sure you have an adequate amount of SPACE, a car or van or whatever in good repair (check the fluids before you leave... break downs on road trips SUCK), and food and water in the car.

Figure out how long you want to go for. Think about how much driving you feel is reasonable each day. Do you want to take breaks to see the scenery? Do you want to stay a few days in a few towns? Or do you just want to DRIVE and say you did it?

Have fun!

Drive up Hwy sixty one from Duluth, Minnesota to the Canadian border. You can hike the rivers and notice a few impressive falls and rapids. Partying in Duluth and Superior, WI is a laugh too. Definitely Mt. Rushmore too.