Plan Ahead
I am definitely a planner… So before any road trip, I like to plan my itinerary: gas stations, rest stops and sometimes even the cleanest restrooms along the way are good things to save on your map. I like to create google maps and just drop pins along the way, then I just need to program the navigation to each pin and voilà! Make sure you have a good navigation app on your phone (one that avoids traffic if possible) as well as a paper map for those remote areas where your GPS invariably stops working.
Check Your Car
Before you leave, make sure you check tyre pressure, oil and water levels. Fill up with gas (duh) and perhaps give your car a little clean too! I know I prefer it when my car is squeaky clean inside and out when I hit the road.
Good Hands Rescue®
If like me you aren’t a pro-mechanic, download AllState’s Good Hands Rescue® free app before you even think of driving away… The Goods Hands Rescue® service is an on-demand, pay-per-use roadside assistance service accessible both online and via the free mobile app. They can pinpoint your exact location using GPS so you never have to worry about giving your location (sometimes you just don’t know!) and then dispatch a service provider to help you out. Once help is dispatched, you receive a service confirmation with the service provider’s ETA and you can use your smartphone to track his status. So whether you have a flat or need to jump-start your battery, get towed or if you locked yourself out of your car you can get immediate mobile access to convenient roadside services and pay for them only when you need them. The good news is, this Wednesday Nov. 23rd, Allstate is running a promotion where you can receive roadside rescues for $2 for standard vehicles (no RV’s, commercial trucks).
Pack Your Snacks
Imagine a world where you end up stranded in traffic and starving. Nothing worse than being hangry behind the wheel. Believe me I tried… So pack some tasty snacks for you, your family, your pets and anyone that will be travelling with you. Don’t pack any perishables unless you have a cooler in your trunk though. Pack plenty of water as well (but make sure you know where the restrooms are – see point 1).
Mind Your Pets
Pets are part of the family. I have a cat and a dog and if I go for any length of time, the dog will come along. The cat generally stays home with a friend, although technically he could come too, but he doesn’t like the car. My dog loves travelling in the car though! He just snoozes until we get to our destination, then he stretches his legs, has a little drink and snoozes some more. I know it isn’t the case with every dog though, so if yours doesn’t like car travel, pack some toys and think of how you can keep him safe during your travels. I use a dog safety belt (attached on his harness and then slots in where you would normally click your own belt). If you do travel with a cat, make sure he is in a comfortable carrier and that the carrier is safely fastened as well.
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.