How To Plan For A Safe And Stress-Free Pandemic Road Trip

Traveling since the onset of the pandemic has taken a toll. Airports were closed, and governments put all public transports on hold. Many tourism businesses have closed. But because of vaccination and other government measures, the risk of COVID-19 infection has been reduced significantly.

Despite the existing health perils, industries involved in transportation have looked for ways to normalize traveling. These attempts have led to many canceled road trips, and people were kept in their residential spaces for a lengthy time.

If you haven’t traveled for a while, you may want to roam around different places that you’ve meant to go to. For that purpose, here’s an article that could help you to plan out your first ever road trip in this pandemic.

1. Choose Your Car

Driving a reliable car like Subaru XV or a motorhome is necessary for moving forward to your destination. The former will help you reach your goal earlier and hassle-free. It’s ideal for quick point-to-point travel. On the other hand, the latter could allow a slow yet more complete kind of travel because of its amenities.

If you choose to stay in lodges or hotels, you may prefer driving an SUV or sedan. If you want to stay in the plain or the middle of nature, you may choose an RV. In choosing between the two, consider your budget, the car’s efficiency, the overall benefits you’ll get from the vehicle, and its ease of troubleshooting.

2. Check Your Vehicle If It’s Road-Ready

Before you set for the road, you need to assess your car’s condition. Look for damages that may affect its performance. If it needs fixing, you better bring it to a mechanic. If you could do the simple repairs it requires, you better fix it the soonest possible time.

If you want to know more about what to check, here are the usual parts that need a deep examination to ensure a better ride:

• Brakes: The brakes need to be controllable and are thick enough to function.
• Lights: All lights—signal, brake, head—should work.
• Oil: The oil must have been recently replaced and free from dirt and residue.
• Water: There should be a gallon of water to cool down any car portion that overheats.
• Battery: This must have the needed electricity to power the car’s electrical needs.
• Air: The tires should be filled enough.
• Gas: There should be enough fuel for long rides.
• Engine: The engine should have undergone a maintenance checkup before the trip.
• Tire: The tires should have enough air and pressure.

3. Examine Your Condition

Before the ride, ensure that you’re physically ready to maneuver your car. See to it that you don’t feel drowsy or feverish. If you show symptoms of any illness, you may choose to postpone your trip or ask a family member to take the wheels for you.

If you feel tired while driving, you may also ask for a replacement driver from your friends. So, before the trip, ensure that there’s another person who has dependable driving skills other than you. To prepare for this, you may need to take a long sleep before the trip. In addition, avoid stressing out your arms and your body in general, so they’re completely fresh when your ride starts.

4. Prepare The Essentials

Since the pandemic has multiplied the risk on the road, you should also double your protection against the potential threats. To do that, here are the things you may need to prepare to bring during the trip:

• Facemask
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable gloves
• Multivitamins
• Snack bars/ready-to-eat meals
• Bottles of drinkable water (1L and 6L)
• Tire replacement tools such as air pumps and puncture gums
• Basic car troubleshooting tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, minor replaceable parts, and pliers
• Debit/credit cards
• IDs
• Sunscreen lotion
• Smartphones or similar devices
• Foldable chairs and tables
• Dining utensils
• Baby wipes and tissue
• Clean towel
• Toiletries
• Outdoor gear such as safety knives and other camping tools
• Maps

5. Plan Out Your Destination Points

Planning where to go helps you identify the places you visit quickly. In mapping out your destinations, you may locate the establishments such as stores, hospitals, gas stations, and other essential buildings. In addition, whether you book or not, you may only visit the places where people don’t crowd. It’ll significantly reduce the risk of infection. Lastly, follow the health protocol each city implements.

Wrapping Up

The pandemic trip provides a gush of excitement as well as fear. To ensure safety in this kind of travel, you may want to refer to this article whenever you’re short of ideas on what to do before your trip. You may even buy a new car for this trip or apply for a car loan to suit your desired trip. Above all, check your health at all times.