With summer just around the corner now, it’s only natural that you have started to give thought to your summer family holiday plans. Whether you’re looking to get away for just a couple of days or a couple of weeks, summer is notorious for escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoying the great weather.
One of the more popular ways to holiday with a family is road-tripping. Road trips give you the opportunity to learn more about surrounding cities, towns, and villages, take in some sightseeing and indulge in some fabulous food along the way. Of course, if you plan on taking a road trip with the whole family – kids and family pet included – you will probably want to take some extra steps when it comes to planning and then tackling the time on the road. This will just help to make it a more enjoyable and comfortable vacation for all.
We’ve gone ahead and put together five invaluable tips that will make life on the road a whole lot easier during your holiday.
Plan the Itinerary in Advance
Unlike if you were travelling on your own, with a friend, or significant other, just winging the itinerary and taking things as they come probably isn’t the best plan when you’ve got kids and the family pet with you. They will only be able to sit in the car for a couple of hours before needing a little break, and probably can’t handle long days of driving. What this means is that you want to map out your journey in advance, taking a look at where you can stop along the way.
If the driving portion of your holiday will consist of several days, you’ll also need to plan out accommodations along the way making sure the places you choose are pet-friendly.
Make Frequent Stops
As mentioned above, it’s also a good idea to make frequent stops, typically every 2-3 hours. At this point, there is a good chance the kids and the pets will need to make a bathroom break and have a chance to stretch their legs. These frequent stops will obviously slow you down, but at the same time, they will make all the passengers in the vehicle much more comfortable, which means more content.
Have Snacks and Water On-Hand
It’s also a good idea to be prepared and have snacks and water on-hand in the car, so that when you do make those stops you’ve got what you need. There are a number of road-trip friendly snacks that are easy to pack, don’t spoil in the car, and offer plenty of fuel for re-energising.
Don’t forget to also pack your dog or cat’s bowls for food and water.
Be Prepared for the Unexpected with Your Pet
Whether you bring the family dog or cat with you, even those in the best of health can have an unexpected injury, accident, or illness while on holidays. This is why you want to be sure your pet insurance is all up-to-date and has you fully covered.
Insurance for pets, including dog insurance and cat insurance, is meant to cover those unexpected vet bills that could just as easily pop up while on the road as at home. Providers such as https://www.everypaw.com/ can get you set up with pet insurance for cats or pet insurance for dogs. It allows you to claim up to a maximum amount each year and can even cover long-term conditions as well as unexpected issues. Because it is lifetime insurance, ideally, you’d want to look into kitten insurance and puppy insurance from the moment you adopt the family pet.
Bring Along Activities
Pretty much every parent who has ever travelled with kids will tell you that it really doesn’t take long before they start complaining they are bored. If you’ve got a long journey ahead of you, the constant “I’m bored” will drive you mad in no time. That’s why you will want to think ahead, be prepared, and bring activities that will keep them busy.
Some examples include colouring books and crayons, a journal, hand-held gaming devices, a tablet pre-loaded with a couple of movies, reading books (if they are old enough to read), a deck of playing cards, and any travel-sized board games that will keep them entertained. Rather than give them everything at once, it can be a good idea to rotate the item every hour or so. This will help to keep things fresh and interesting.
A Road Trip the Whole Family Will Enjoy
By keeping these tips and suggestions in mind, you’ll be able to put together a road trip that is a huge success and that will provide lasting memories for the whole family – pets included.
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