3 Tips to Make the Most of Your Next Road Trip

If you’re a free spirit who likes to live spontaneously and go where the wind takes you, a road trip could be the perfect travel adventure for you and is an ideal way to travel given the current international travel restrictions in place that are limiting or deterring air travel.

Road trips offer liberating freedom that gives you the chance to learn, grow, and discover new experiences at your own pace, putting you quite literally in the driver’s seat. And after all, isn’t that what travel is all about?

Of course, ensuring an enjoyable road trip starts with choosing a comfortable and reliable vehicle. Whether you’re planning to drive a motorcycle, sedan, hatchback, campervan, or luxurious medium SUV like an Alfa Romeo Stelvio which makes an exceptional road trip car speaking from personal experience, it’s vital to make sure you get a check-up before your road trip in order to make sure everything is mechanically sound.

Scheduling a full-service preventative maintenance check-up will allow your mechanic the time necessary to order any necessary Alfa Romeo’s Accessories, whether they’re in need of replacing or you’re simply wanting to upgrade your vehicle with certain parts to make your road trip more comfortable or trouble-free.

Whether you’re a road trip regular or a highway novice, and whether you’ve packed the car or packed your motorbike (a reminder that it only takes a few minutes to find a good motorbike insurance policy), you can always find new ways to make the most of your trip. These three creative ideas will help you get more out of your next on-the-road adventure.

Grab a Book

Let’s be honest, road trips are great but there are often long periods of driving where not a whole lot is happening. If you’re lucky enough to be in the passenger seat, why waste this precious downtime scrolling through social media? Bring along a few good books and let your imagination take you beyond the mundane confines of the road ahead of you.

Many of us have forgotten what books are and think that scanning Facebook posts counts as reading. Whether you’re into fantasy novels or historical non-fiction, take it upon yourself to actually enhance your knowledge and creativity or at least look to books as an escape from the fake news and trash posted daily online.

Of course, if you’re the designated driver on your trip, then you’ll need to keep your eyes on the road. That is where an audiobook or podcast can come in handy. You may have a bit more freedom choosing an audio book you’re interested in when travelling solo, but may need to reach a compromise when riding with friends or family.

If you’re not much of a reader, then bring a travel guidebook to gain knowledge about sights and attractions you may pass along the way. Knowing what lies ahead of you and actually understanding the history and importance of places and landmarks makes experiencing them far more rewarding.

Study

We often think of road trips as a break from work and school, but the downtime may be a great way to keep up your learning without being stuck at home. The flexibility of online learning means you can choose when and where you study.

There are now plenty of remote learning opportunities that will allow you to work towards undergraduate or postgraduate degree courses while travelling. ARU Distance Learning are professionals in the field of offering online qualifications for a range of subjects. Their courses can be accessed anytime and anywhere with just a device and an internet connection, enabling you to gain knowledge and new skills while on the road.

Use your road trip break to reflect on what you want out of life and actually work towards achieving your goal, whether that’s changing your career or trying to move up in your field. You can learn the skills to excel in digital marketing, get a career in healthcare, or even become a football coach through online learning.

Make Connections

Stopping off for a pub lunch somewhere? Don’t be afraid to say hello to the locals! Many travellers have become so glued to their smartphones that they rarely ever look up, let alone engage with locals.

Whether it’s a chat with the resident bartender or the local regulars, you’ll find that many people are perfectly friendly and happy to chat with out-of-towners. Some of them may even be willing to show you around, or at the very least point you in the direction of some of the best and most frequently missed but must-visit hotspots off the beaten track.

If you’re not a naturally outgoing person, interacting with locals while travelling is great practice to putting yourself out there and boosting your confidence. Because you are likely to never meet people you encounter while travelling again, shy people actually often find it easier to engage with people when travelling as they lose some of the fear about worrying what people think. That being said, making friends while travelling is easier than you think and can also lead to lifelong relationships.