ROAD TRIPS: PROS AND CONS

September 1, 2019 /

Written by: Caroline Meyer

While air travel may seem to be the most convenient form of travel when it comes to taking a vacation with the family, this doesn’t mean it is the only way. A road trip, although not suitable for overseas trips, can actually make a vacation a lot more fun for everyone. While this may not be the travel choice for everyone, it can be quite magic to spend a few hours in the car with the family and make lasting memories together.   

THE PROS OF ROAD TRIPS 

  • A lot more bonding time as a family 
  • Freedom of choice 
  • Less Boredom 
  • Saves money 
  • You can pack extra luggage 

With the advent of the internet and smart toys, most kids forget their parents exist unless they need money for something.  Siblings largely ignore each other and family times may consist of one meal a day. Road trips bring the whole family together in one place for an extended period of time.  Parents and kids work together to make the trip fun and memorable for everyone, which can be a great bonding experience. Learning new things and overcoming challenges along the way could be the perfect vacation experience for the whole family. 

When you go on a road trip, you are not bound by airplane schedules and check-ins. You can change your mind along the way without much inconvenience. You don’t have to stress about the kids annoying other passengers. You have the freedom to decide where you go and where you stay without the rigidity of planned long distance travel. This means you can also stay longer in some places if the mood strikes or leave sooner if the place is just too boring. You also don’t have to plan long in advance or set a rigid schedule when you travel. You can just pack up the car, phone ahead to book rooms and off you go. 

The changing scenery and things to see along the way helps to reduce boredom.  You are not hampered by going to one place and having to stay there for your whole vacation. If the place you stay out doesn’t have as much to offer as you thought it would, you can move on to the next one. You can plan your own sightseeing and change your mind depending on how you feel or the mood the kids are in that day.  Less boredom for the kids means a happier vacation for everyone. 

Depending on the size of your car, you should be able to pack a lot more luggage that what would usually be allowed on a plane. You also don’t have to worry about how much shampoo is in your carry on or that you packed a scissors in your handbag. You can stash as much as you can pack in to your vehicle and take all your sporting gear, toys and books along too. What is even better is that there is no extra cost! 

Road trips save you money. There is no denying the expense of air travel and then having to hire transportation wherever you might go.  You are usually also limited by where you stay as you need to be close to the airport for arrival and departure. Road trips allow for staying at lower cost hotels and motels and your other main travel expense will probably be food and not the cost of your flight. This allows you to go on vacation more often if you want or even take longer vacations since you will be spending less. Or you can use the extra for spending money or to do some extra sightseeing. 

CONS OF ROAD TRIPS 

  • It takes longer 
  • Everyone is stuck in a car together for hours 

A road trip will take a lot longer to reach a similar destination than if you flew. Road trips are better designed for shorter journeys. This may restrict you to where you go if you travel based on how long it will take to get to a destination.  A road trip is better for when you want to enjoy the journey.  Most road trips can see you spending 2 to 5 hours on the road, repeated daily if you don’t stay in the same place for long. This also means a lot of driving for one or two people. This could mean daily driving for up to 10 days or more depending on how long you planned the road trip to last. You can chose to do most of the driving during the evening so that the kids sleep, allowing for one partner to sleep while the other one drives as well and switching halfway. This can result in one partner or both needing to recharge a bit the next day. 

If you choose to travel in the daylight to allow for sightseeing, you can expect whining and frustration and complaints of boredom. You will all be trapped together in the car for extended periods of time. This can be difficult with small children and babies. It isn’t always possible to stop to let everyone stretch their legs safely as well. Make sure you plan well to allow for stops in safe places along the journey to make it more pleasant for everyone. You will also want to make sure you bring along distractions such as books and games for when there is nothing to see along the road. 

Road trips are not as common now as they once were, but it is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to spend some quality time together. Even if you only do it once, this is something you should try with your family, simply for the experience. You may decide it isn’t for you and you prefer something faster moving and more structured and that’s okay too, but you might really enjoy it and make it a common vacation plan. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU PACK? 

  • Warm socks, cuddle toys and a small blanket for nap time 
  • Window curtains for naps during the drive 
  • Power Inverter for charging phones and tablets in the car 
  • Kettle that can be operated from the car’s lighter 
  • Small snack boxes per person 
  • Cooler box to keep drinks cold and food fresh 
  • Travelling toilet seat / potty if needed 
  • Nappies and wipes for little ones if needed 
  • 5L of water at a minimum if you are not stopping regularly 
  • Garbage bags to put all the debris of travel in to 
  • First aid kit, medications, motion sickness tablets 
  • Good condition spare wheel and full tool kit 
  • Travel pillow and blanky for non-driving adult if needed 

Change things up during the drive. Point out interesting scenery, play a variety of car games and stop often along the way. This will help reduce boredom and diffuse quarrels. Prepare adequately for potential motion sickness and make sure everyone stays well hydrated.  With minimal planning and a little forethought, you can be ready to hop in the car and take the family on a road trip at any time!