By Rawan AlZubaidi
Here’s a guide to surviving the bumpy ride
After spending the 24 hours of road trip in the middle of nowhere, my car decided to die just 300 meters short of home. I spent the next few hours sans human connection (and WiFi), berating myself for the stuff I left back home. That’s when I made a list of must-haves that every human, especially me, must pack while spending hours/days on road.
So, if like me, your vacation involves a long road trip, here’s a list of what you need:.
Essentials
- License, registration, ID, passport; are all very important.
- Pocket money: To fill up your car tank and to buy snacks to keep you busy.
- First-aid kit in case of emergency. Pack it in a separate bag, so that you don’t misplace it in the junk of your own handbag.
- Jumper cable: This is HIGHLY necessary. Take it from me and my personal experience. I almost burst into tears of happiness for carrying it after our car battery died in the middle of the desert.
- Phone/iPhone/tablet charger and power banks: to avoid apocalypse.
Comfort
To be honest, spending long hours in the car can be pretty boring. Here are a few things you might require to maintain the same level of comfort and happiness as your life off the road.
- Cozy blanket for your back-seat road trip companions. (A must if you have children, otherwise, don’t complain for having to stop at every single gas station for a wee-wee)
- Backseat organizer: to hold essentials and protect seat backs from kicking so everything is within arm’s reach, not leg’s reach.
- A comfortable neck pillow: for long drives or for sleeping while sitting up.
- A car mount for your phone: for easy navigation…
Entertainment
Ever get bored on those long road trips? Make sure your next one is fun with these:
- Headphones
- iPad/tablet
- Magazines/books
Beauty on the road
It’s tricky to take care of your health while traveling, but bringing these can make all the difference:
- Makeup
- Deodorant
- Hair tie/brush
- Dry shampoo
- Lotion (hand & face)
- Wipes
- Mini toothbrush
- Hand sanitizer
Traveling with kids
Did you just give an involuntarily shudder at the thought? Welcome to the club. The combination of a car full of kids and a distant destination is painstaking.. But no worries, you can survive this trip by keeping them busy with:
- DIY activities
- Downloading their favorite songs and games in an iPod
- Portable DVD with children movies is a lifesaver too.
- Toys: Choose them wisely
- Snacks: as adults, we know that eating gives you something to do.