A long car ride at the beginning or end of your vacation. Few vacationers look forward to this but it must be done. Therefore, in this article we have put down all the tips for a long car ride. That way you’ll keep up the long car ride and it may even become pleasant.
Content of this blog:
What to do before and during a long road trip as a driver
When you are driving the car, it is obviously important that you stay alert. You have responsibility for yourself and the passengers. These tips will help you prepare optimally and stay well-rested.
- Rest well the night before
The last night on vacation you probably want to party or do fun things one very last time. Still, it is wise not to make it too late and drink little or no alcohol. You want to get into the car well rested to be as alert as possible. Even if you only drink a few glasses of alcohol the night before, it still makes you feel a lot more dull. Therefore, make sure you rest well and go easy on alcohol the night before you go on a long car ride. This is the number one tip for a long car ride.
- Take a break every 2 hours
The golden car rule: don’t drive more than 2 hours at a time. This rule was established for a reason: after extensive research, it was found that after 2 hours of consecutive driving, your attention span slackens. So to avoid this, you will have to take a break after 2 hours of driving (and maybe by then it will be time for a pee break or refueling break anyway).
- Exercise during the break
During this break, it is wise not to stay in the car but to get out. That way you get fresh air right away. Go for a walk, get your legs loosened up. This helps to regain focus later.
- Do not set the air conditioner to turbo setting
When it’s hot outside, it naturally feels great to turn the air conditioner up nice and cold. Yet this is exactly something you should not do. Too big a temperature difference can cause your body to get upset. You may become dizzy and nauseous or even faint. If it’s 30 degrees outside, sure you can turn on your air conditioner but do so at 22 degrees. This is not only better for yourself but also for the environment and your fuel economy.
- Prefer to drive during the day
At night, you can drive great miles without being in traffic jams. Yet driving at night is also the most dangerous. Your body and brain are not used to driving in the dark, as are your eyes. You will tire faster and overlook things while driving at night.
- Keep water handy
Drinking plenty of water is important to keep you fresh while driving a long car ride. Your body needs a lot of water in this case. When all the passengers are asleep you may not want to wake them up when you are thirsty. Therefore, always have a filled water bottle in your porter.
What to do during a long car ride as a passenger
There seems to be no end in sight. You have been on the road for so long and are extremely bored. With these tips, you will have a better time during the long car ride and the time will go a lot faster.
- Netflix download
One of Netflix’s best inventions is downloading series or movies. You can download your favorite series or movie in advance when you have internet and then watch it on the go. So you won’t have to be bored for the time being.
- A good book
Only on vacation do many people find the peace to read. Have a nice book handy (or your e-reader). That way you can already read some pages from that exciting book. Some people get nauseous when they read in the car. You won’t know this until you’ve tried it.
- Card games
You won’t be able to play many games in a moving car but a simple card game is always possible. For example, do you choose Uno or Skip-bo?
- Podcast listening
Various platforms allow you to listen to podcasts easily through your phone these days. Download a few interesting podcasts before departure and dream away while staring out the window.
- Audiobook listening
Here the same thing actually applies as with podcasts. It is also possibly fun to listen to this together through the speaker in the car or a box set.
Snacks for a long car ride
In addition, of course, it is important to eat and drink well during a long car ride. Snacks are handy to have on hand for this. Listed below are the best and most nutritious snacks for a long car ride.
- Apples
- Bananas
- Raw vegetables (carrot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes)
- Unroasted nuts
- Homemade banana bread
- Homemade healthy muffins
Long car ride with a toddler
When taking a long car ride with your baby or toddler, it is important to pay attention to his/her signals. Do they keep crying during the ride and you really can’t get them to stop? Then park the car and go for a walk with them in the baby carriage or by hand. This will tire them out and then hopefully put them to sleep.
Also, make sure you have enough food and drink with you that your child can take. In addition, it is still important to go outside together for a short walk, play or run at each stop. Here they can expend their energy making the rest of the long car ride easier to sustain.
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