Making Memories As The Miles Go By: Planning A Family Road Trip To Remember (Photo by JESHOOTS.com from Pexels)
Indian families are changing the way they travel; in a recent survey of 2,000 people, 24% were willing to spend more on better quality breaks, and more of them. Having a young family can sometimes make long distance travel seem daunting; for such small travelling companions, children certainly do need a lot of luggage! That’s where road trips come into their own, offering flexibility, space and the possibility for a lot of fun. You may have already experienced the joy of road trips with friends; now it’s time to hit the road with your nearest and dearest.
Perfect for parents
With so many stunning parts of India to visit, a road trip is a great way to take your family on a new adventure. Of course, the huge advantage of driving is that you can load the car with everything that you might need for your family. Road trips also give you the flexibility to stop when you feel that you need a break.
Getting started
Bangalore is currently one of the most congested cities in India, second only to Delhi in terms of hours spent on the daily commute. A successful road trip therefore takes careful planning; time your trip to avoid rush hour and ideally to coincide with nap time so that you can make good progress while the children sleep. Plan your route in advance, and ensure that your phone or sat nav is fully charged. Because safety is a priority, you should also check that your car has had its basic maintenance and servicing carried out, and that you are insured with the right level of cover for your family, based on the activities or places you want to travel to. Add a basic car repair kit, first aid kit and torch, and you should be able to travel with confidence.
Family fun
Once you know that the basics are covered, it’s time to have fun. Pack food for the journey which you know everyone will enjoy, and think about how you’d like to keep the kids entertained on the road. For some people, the answer is an iPad and headphones, but for others traditional games such as I-Spy can be good fun. Older children might enjoy being given a camera to take pictures as they go. Story CDs are also a great way to share a story together while covering the miles. Finally, compile a playlist of songs that you all enjoy. Studies have shown that music is powerfully linked to our memories, so the songs that you choose now may remind your children of their travels with you when they are married and planning family road trips of their own.
Planning a road trip for the family is a great way to see the country together while still enjoying the convenience of having everything you need with you. Travelling by car also means that you can set the pace in terms of when and where you stop. Make sure that your car is up to the task, and then you can plan the all important snacks and entertainment. Enjoy making memories on the open road.
Disclaimer: The above is a guest post
