Thinking about taking a road trip? So check out this post for 7 essential tips to get this adventure off the ground, as well as suggestions on how to put together your itinerary and the best destinations to hit the road!
I never thought I'd say this, but I amo travel by car.
What used to seem like an endless waste of time (especially when it was possible to take a plane) now makes me super excited and I start putting together the playlist as soon as the idea of the trip comes up.
The same goes for most of my friends and family.
I don’t know exactly what the magic of this type of adventure is: whether it’s the hours spent with the group, the scenery along the way, the music, the feeling of arriving somewhere… I just know that it’s talking “roadtrip” that everyone already says they are in and starts making plans.
But to be honest, despite all this excitement, most of the road trips I plan don't get off the ground. That's because, despite being a lot of fun, these adventures require a bit of planning, especially if you're still flying somewhere to after take the car.
You need to define a itinerary, rent the vehicle, check the documentation, worry about insurance, find out where to stop... Details that aren't that difficult, but that seem to be so much work that most people end up giving up and just letting the trip go. .
But enough about this!
In this post, I gave all the tips you need to know for a successful road trip. I detailed all the steps, what you should know beforehand, documents, insurance, gasoline, snacks and I even gave some tips on how to set up the route and the best destinations for this type of trip. Everything is well chewed so you don't have any doubts.
want to take the roadtrip of paper? So keep reading this post!
7 Essential tips for a peaceful car trip
Maintain your car in advance
First of all, if you are going to use your own car on the trip, you need to maintain it and ensure that it is ready to hit the road.
A good starting point is to check the tires – see if they are inflated and in good condition, as well as making sure the wheels are aligned. Also, check that the water and oil are at the correct level, after all you will probably be driving for hours and this is not the time to run out of water on the windshield.
If your trip is close to the car's inspection period, the suggestion is to have the inspection done before the trip, this way you avoid having any unpleasant surprises in the middle of the road.
Are you going to rent a car? This is what you need to know
First of all, make sure you can rent a car for your route. Depending on your plans – such as crossing the border of two countries – you may not be able to use a vehicle that you do not own.
Then check whether the reservation includes unlimited mileage or whether there is a total amount per day, usually 200km. Usually unlimited kilometer offers are a little more expensive, but depending on how much you drive you may need to opt for this type of rental. Remembering that the limitation per day is calculated for the total period, that is, if you are going to keep the car for 10 days you have 2000km to drive.
When choosing your vehicle, pay attention to important details such as Safety – such as airbags and ABS brakes, and the size of suitcases. If you are with five people, for example, you will probably need a larger trunk than if there are just two, as in this case the suitcases can even go in the back seat.
Lastly, book your car in advance so you can get the best price. I recommend doing it with Rentcars, a partner company of the blog that works with the best insurance companies in the world. With Rentcars you can compare the price of several cars in the category, and you can choose the one that offers the best benefits. Furthermore, even for international trips, you can pay in reais, without the IOF fee and even in installments! A helping hand, right?
Don't forget insurance
If you are going to travel by car with your own vehicle, you probably already have valid insurance and don't need to worry about this part. Just remember to bring your details and have your phone number handy to contact the company in case of an emergency.
If you are renting a car, however, you will likely be able to choose between several types of insurance. The ideal is to always take out full insurance, as most rental companies find something wrong when returning the car, and this way you avoid unpleasant surprises as practically everything will be covered. If you don't want to pay so much, at least take out third-party insurance. If you are traveling to a not so safe area, I also suggest theft insurance.
Check the necessary documentation
When renting a car, share your itinerary with the rental company to check if any extra documents are needed.. They usually already take care of all the paperwork and you just need to keep it with you during your trip.
If you are going to use your own car, do some research to see if you need to take anything other than your car document. If you are going to travel through different countries, for example, you will probably need a green card, which is issued by the insurance company to ensure that you have the necessary coverage in case of accidents. A green card is required to drive to Uruguay, for example, and between most countries in Europe.
Furthermore, if the car is not in your name, you may need a statement from the owner stating that he lent you the vehicle and that you have permission to take it out of the country.
In some places, tourists also need a PID – international driving permit. This document certifies in English that you are fit to drive, and can be purchased at the DETRAN in your city. If it is mandatory, some companies won't even let you rent the car without it. It is worth remembering that the PID not replaces the driver's license, you need to present both together!
Prepare for tolls
In general, countries like the United States or places like Europe have websites indicating where There are tolls, so you can know in advance how much you will need to pay. Some sites that can help:
If you are unable to calculate the amount before your trip, the ideal is to set aside money for this purpose.
Also research how tolls are paid at your destination. There are places currently that only accept payment by card – so be prepared to have an international credit card or travel money – while others only accept cash, so the ideal is to leave some notes and coins in the car.
There are also electronic tolls, where the only possibility is to pay through services equivalent to “nonstop". If you have rented your car, normally the rental company itself explains how it works and offers the service. If you have your own vehicle, you can usually pay the bill at places with the post office or at specific points at the traffic department.
Discover how gas stations work
If you are going on a national trip, you can ignore this part and just worry about the price of gasoline at your destination.
Now, if you are traveling abroad, the gas stations may be different from what you are used to in Brazil, as in many places there are no gas station attendants, you are responsible for filling the tank. Locals usually pay directly at the pump using a card, but in my experience most stations do not accept international cards.. If this happens to you, just go to the convenience store, explain which pump you have, pay the amount you want and then the machine will release the supply.
It may seem difficult, especially for those who are not used to traveling by car, but after the first time you will get the hang of it!
Prepare a playlist and don't forget snacks and water!
Finally, a tip for survival for long hours on the road: don't forget the essentials.
You, your friends or family will feel hungry during the trip. Try to pack snacks that are easy to eat with your hands – I'm a particular fan of salt and vinegar potato chips – and that won't make a lot of mess in the car. Also don't forget to bring plenty of water, especially in the warmer months.
And, of course, don't forget to make a playlist that pleases everyone (or at least the majority, lol). If you can't decide on a musical style, it's worth choosing a ready-made playlist on Spotify. I really like the list Road Trip Songs do Hostelgeeks, but I also always add some of my favorites to the queue like A Thousand Thousands (It’s essential to sing this one in the car, right!).
How to plan your car trip
The tips above are great, but they won't help if you don't know where it's going. Here are some suggestions for plotting the route of your trip:
Plan your itinerary in advance
Currently, most people who are going to an unfamiliar place just get in the car, turn on a navigation app and drive away. And, although it's a possibility, I don't recommend you do this on your car trip. This is because these apps has the habit of choosing the fastest route between one point and another, without worrying about stops or the scenery.
And why does this matter? Firstly, if it is a long trip, you will need to stop to stretch your legs or even spend the night somewhere, and this is only possible if exist places for this purpose on your route. Knowing the route in advance will help you figure out where to stop.
Furthermore, the fastest path is not always the desired one. When talking about a roadtrip through California, for example, we are talking about traveling the golden state through the road that skirts the ocean, with its breathtaking views. This road is not always the fastest option, however, and some apps suggest other routes. Knowing this in advance, you can adjust the route and make sure you don't miss an incredible part of the trip.
To plan your itinerary, my suggestion is to open Google Maps and add your origin and destination on the map.. After that, add some extra places as stops and adjust the map according to your preferred routes. Here on the blog there is already a complete post about how to use Google Maps when traveling.
Long trip? Decide where to sleep each day
If you need to drive for several days, the ideal is to plan where you will sleep in advance. This way, you can calculate how many kilometers you will need to travel each day, and know your final destination in each of them.
Another advantage is that this way you can book your hotel before you arrive, ensuring that you will get a room. In high season, cities that are usually stopping points are often crowded.
To find the best price when choosing hosting, I recommend using Booking.com! If you are not used to using this platform, Here on the blog there is a post teaching everything you need to know and with tips for finding the lowest prices for each hotel!
Use apps during the trip so as not to get lost
Signs are great, but even better are the apps that guide you throughout the route. They tell you where to turn, inform you about speed cameras and accidents and even indicate traffic conditions. There really is nothing like technology when traveling.
My favorites to use at these times are Waze and Google Maps. I usually use the first one as it reacts faster when I make a mistake (which, to be honest, happens often, lol). Google Maps, however, uses less battery power – at least in my experience – and you can load the map you created earlier when planning your route.
Also don't forget that you will need to charge your cell phone during the trip. Keep the cable handy, and check if there is a native USB port or adapter on the car dashboard. Worst case scenario, take an extra battery for these moments to make sure you don't end up without a map to guide you.
Save on GPS while traveling
I know… using apps on your cell phone seems like a great idea for domestic trips, but how can you do the same abroad? Normally the rental company offers the GPS service at an additional cost per day, and there aren't many alternatives left... is that so?
Well, I have a tip for not spending money on GPS during international trips: use a travel chip. With it, you have internet the entire time you are abroad, and you can use navigation applications, social networks, Whatsapp, surf the internet and more. You have access to all these features and, as the price is fixed (unlike GPS, which you pay per day), it is much cheaper!
Best destinations for a road trip
Ok, now that you're more than ready to take the trip, all that's left to do is decide where to go. Here are some suggestions based on my latest adventures and tips from friends:
Portugal
One of the easiest places to drive abroad, after all, besides the country being small and the roads being great, the signs are also in Portuguese! I've driven here (I'm currently living in Lisbon) countless times, and the highways are really well signposted and easy to navigate.
Most itineraries around Portugal involve driving, this is because there are countless possible turns and turns leaving from Lisbon and Porto, and there are several small towns and tourist attractions that are on the side of the roads. Furthermore, for those who enjoy the beach, using a car is the best way to get to know the Algarve, one of the most beautiful regions in the country.
Soon there will be a driving itinerary through Portugal here on the blog! 🙂
Spain
The same thing I wrote about Portugal can be said about Spain: great roads, easy to navigate and countless interesting stops. In 12 to 15 days you can get to know a large part of the country by driving, passing through the main cities and spending some time in each of them.
If you start with Madrid, you can enjoy the day trips in the region, and then go down to Seville and make your way along the coast to Barcelona, through Malaga, Valencia (Here on the blog there is an itinerary around the city) and other places. From there, you can head north to San Sebastián ou Bilbao or return to Madrid if that's where you're catching your return flight.
California
How can you talk about car trips and not mention California? The state is the dream destination of most roadtrips and it's no coincidence: the roads are like cinema, with breathtaking views that make you want to stop at each viewpoint to enjoy the scenery.
I'm not going to talk too much about the script because here on the blog there is a super complete post about a 15-day car trip to California, with tips on cities, what to do on the way, where to stay and even passing through Las Vegas! If this is your trip, read the post which has ALL the possible tips!
Uruguay
A destination in South America that is super accessible for Brazilians to go by car, as you just need to cross the country's border with Rio Grande do Sul. I took this family trip in 2017 and I only have good memories, as the roads are good and quiet, and out of season there are very few cars passing by.
For the itinerary, I suggest Punta del Diablo, Punta del Este, Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento, in that order. Set aside a day or two for the most famous Punta – the blog Foco no Mundo has an incredible itinerary with what to do in Punta del Este in 2 days, four or more to enjoy the capital and, if you have time, leave your car in a parking lot in Colonia and take the BuqueBus to Buenos Aires, and spend a day or two.
It's worth remembering that to cross the border between Brazil and Uruguay you need a green card, as I mentioned above. Don't forget to print it on green paper, or it will not be accepted (I swear!).
South Africa
A destination you accurate by car to see the best places, since outside of big cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, points of interest are on the road or require a vehicle (hello, safari!).
Here there are two cool itinerary options. You can start in Cape Town and then do the Garden Route, passing through Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, George and other points. You will find incredible beaches and even the largest Bungy Jumping bridge in the world.
Or, you can also depart from Johannesburg, drive to Kruger Park for an unforgettable safari and on the way back, take the Panoramic Route, in Blyde River Canyon. I did this second route and loved it, and without a doubt the points of the panoramic route They were one of the best parts of the trip.
It's worth remembering that in South Africa you drive the British way, that is, on the left, and the steering wheel is on the right of the car. Get ready for high emotions, lol.
And these were all the tips for having a successful car trip! Now just plan and hit the road!
Do you have any questions? Do you think something was missing? Tell me in the comments!
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