How to Prepare your Car for Long Road Trips

Most of us love days out and holidays as a family, but there are probably only a few of us who enjoy the long car journeys that these can involve. But with so many places to visit in the UK and further afield, it’s almost always worth the travel. And thankfully, there are a few ways we can prepare ourselves (and our cars) for these long trips!

Organisation
For any trip organisation is key, and this is especially true when it comes to packing your car. With clever packing, a long car journey could become a straightforward process! A spacious, reliable car will heighten comfort for everyone who’s travelling too. Luckily specialists like the AA can guarantee both qualities for customers, so you can keep children entertained and create comfort at the same time.

If you're worried about mess, make sure your children only bring small to medium sized items. This way they can easily be slotted in the side holders of each passenger door, or in the back pockets of the front seats. If you don't have either of these, it's definitely worth investing in a car seat organiser, as these save so much space!

Entertainment
Toys can be great entertainment devices, but only for a certain amount of time. Eventually, little ones are likely to want something else to focus on, so it may help to have a back-up plan. Consider your children’s hobbies. Do they like reading for example? If so, why not buy an audiobook of a story by their favourite author. Or if they like a certain film, then why not buy the soundtrack to listen to during the trip. You can even play simple road games as a family. Whatever it is, make sure to mix it up during the trip, to prevent anyone from getting bored.

Dining

A lot of people may prefer to avoid eating in the car at all costs. But when you’re stuck in a vehicle with children on a motorway, this can be tricky to sustain. Especially if you want to avoid hungry, grumpy passengers! If you prepare food wisely you can help to prevent most of the mess - opt for dry foods and lidded cups, and avoid anything crumbly or sticky at all costs. Better still, factor in a stop at a services - that way you can eat outside of the car, and everyone can stretch their legs too!

With a bit of forward planning, long car journeys can be just as fun as the destination we are driving too. Just remember to pack everything you need, plan your route properly, and stop regularly for food and toilet breaks!

This is a collaborative post.