Arriving months after the holiday season and right around the end of winter, spring break comes at the perfect time for families and students. A winter spent largely indoors can excite anyone about the prospect of soaking up some sun from the comforts of a sandy beach, and millions will do whatever it takes to make such a trip possible.
Many spring breakers may fly to their destination, but that can be costly for families paying for multiple flights. Indeed, spring break can be one of the more costly times to travel by air, as it’s considered a peak travel period. Families who want to get away but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on flights alone can take to the road and drive to their destinations. If a road trip is in the cards, families can consider these strategies to ensure a safe and fun excursion.
• Have your vehicle fully serviced before your trip. Winter can be hard on a vehicle, particularly when a car is parked outside in locations where harsh weather is the standard between December and March. A full checkup that tops off fluids, tests the brakes (and replaces them, if necessary), inflates the tires (and again, replaces them, if necessary), tests the battery, and checks headlights and wiper blades to ensure they’re operating at peak capacity can prepare a vehicle for the journey to your spring break destination.
• Make some pit stops along the way. If it’s an especially long trip to your destination, extend your travels by a day or two and make an extra stop along your way to your destination and on your return home. Find a fun activity along the way, such as a trip to a local indoor water park or a must-see hiking spot, so everyone can spend a day moving around before getting back in the car.
• Don’t be a motorized martyr. When your ultimate destination is a warm, sun-soaked beach, it can be tempting to make the trip in a single day. But fatigued drivers are dangerous drivers, so it’s best to build in some time to take a break and even share driving duty with another licensed driver. Moms and dads can switch halfway through the trip. If you already know the trip will take multiple days on the road, then stop driving no later than sundown to ensure you and your fellow drivers get a good night’s rest.
• Line up some in-vehicle entertainment. A long road trip with young children will require some in-vehicle entertainment. Load up a tablet with movies to keep the kids occupied during the drive but also arrange for some non-device game play as well. A book of puzzles, a family singalong, a round or two of I spy, the license plate game, and even some kid-friendly trivia can provide some fun distractions on the way to your destination.
The cost of air travel can be prohibitive for families looking to get away this spring break. Some simple strategies can make road trips a safe, fun and costeffective means to getting away when school lets out this spring.
