Travel tips for women

Have you ever contemplated embarking on a road trip to a place that you’d always wanted to see, but then elected not to take the trip because you weren’t able to convince anyone else to be your traveling companion? Have you always wanted to drive along the coast in a convertible, with the scent of the ocean filling your head? There’s no reason that a single woman can’t head out on the open road alone, so long as some basic precautions are observed. Follow these simple guidelines, and you’ll be well on your way to a memorable and safe automobile travel experience.

*Where do you want to go? – The first thing to do is select a destination. Do you want to take a day trip to a historical landmark, or do you want to take a leisurely trip across the country? Is there a relative living in another state that you’d like to visit? Once you have a location selected, you can begin contemplating your travel route and time schedule.

*Do you know repair basics? – If you don’t know how to perform simple maintenance on your car, you need to educate yourself prior to your trip. Quite simply, there’s no reason to wait for road service or a tow truck and delay your trip if you can handle the small stuff. At the very least, you should be able to check all your fluids, change your own tire, jump start your vehicle, tighten your windshield wipers and replace burnt out fuses. It’s even better if you can change your own headlamp. These few basics can save you hours if you have problems on the road.

*Do you need to join a road service club? – If you think that road travel is going to be a part of your life, then joining a club is often a smart idea. Not only can you obtain free or discounted towing service from a club, but most will give your free maps and travel guides, and give you up-to-date information about construction and road conditions. Between the peace of mind that a club offers and the tremendous information that clubs make available, most road travelers find clubs to be a great deal.

*Which way should you go? – For most trips, there will be one major route that will stand out as the obvious choice. However, on some trips, you may have more options. Think about your travel objectives. Do you want to get somewhere as quickly as possible? Take mostly interstates. Do you want to meander through beautiful countryside? Look for smaller highways to travel on. Get a detailed map and consider your options. Calculate mileage, and the estimated time that it will take you to get from milestone to milestone. If your trip will last more than a day, think about where you want to end up when night falls. You don’t want to find yourself exhausted and the end of a long day, with several hours to go before you’ll reach a hotel.

*Do you know your route? As your departure day approaches, it’s a good idea to have your trip itinerary cemented firmly in your mind. You don’t want to fumble with a map while cruising down the highway, or end up several miles off course due to a wrong turn. You should know exactly which roads you’ll be traveling on, and where you can stop for gasoline, food or lodging. It’s also a good idea to have a back-up plan. If you decide to spend longer than planned at a stop along the way, is there a closer city where you can spend the night? If you make better time than you anticipated, is there a place further along the road where you can find a hotel?

*Does someone know your itinerary? – When traveling alone, it’s a very good idea to make sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you should arrive. Once your trip is mapped out, give a travel schedule to someone close to you. Set approximate scheduled times that you’ll make a phone call, so that everyone knows that you’re doing well and having a safe voyage.

What do you need to bring? – In addition to clothes, cameras and anything else that you’d like to bring on your trip, here are some things that you should make sure that you have in the car before hitting the road.

In the trunk:

Jumper Cables

Tool kit, with tools for basic repairs

Large Container of Water

Umbrella

Coat

Blanket

Large Flashlight

When packing the trunk, try to pack everything into a few cases. If you end up having to change a tire, you won’t want to have your belonging strewn alongside the road, particularly if the weather is bad.

In the car:

Small flashlight

Proper insurance and registration information

Identification and money

Snacks

Water

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Maps & Itinerary

Important Phone Numbers

Anything else that you want easy access to

Keep in mind that you don’t want to have valuables visible in the passenger area of your car. You don’t want to have your car broken into while you’re stopped somewhere on the road. If possible, you may want to utilize the latch on the trunk that prevents people from opening it from the interior of the vehicle.

If you decide to travel with a phone, don’t make the mistake of relying on it for any obstacle that may arise. Your phone may not work if you’re in a remote area. If your car breaks down, your phone will only get help out to you if you know exactly where you’re located. And if you’re using the trip as a means to get away from it all, travel with the phone off. You can’t get away from everything if you’re bombarded with calls.

What do you need to know while on the road? – When the day comes to hit the road, dress for comfort. If something does happen to your car, you may find yourself kneeling in the dirt loosening lug nuts, or walking a few miles to get help. Be sure that you’re dressed appropriately for walking in possibly nasty weather conditions. If your car does break down, use common sense when taking offers of help from other motorists. Don’t get into the car of an unknown person. If possible, choose the person who you’d like help from, instead of allowing someone to choose you. While driving, if you notice someone suspicious that seems to be following you, pull off to a crowded public area until you feel safe to return to the highway. As you drive along the highway, always be conscious of where you are and what you’ve passed recently. If you do need to walk for help, you want to be certain which direction is the most expedient for obtaining assistance.

How do you keep yourself entertained? – There is no need for you to ever get bored while taking a road trip. If you want to stick with the familiar, bring along your favorite music. A long drive is a great way to hear an entire opera recording in its entirety. If you like audiobooks, a long trip is a good way to experience the long unabridged versions. If you’re traveling far from home, it’s often interesting to tune into local radio stations. You may find out about local news, or catch the play by play of a baseball game. To keep up on national news, you may want to seek out the regional National Public Radio affiliate. If you keep a journal, you may want to bring along a mini-cassette recorder. You can describe the things that you see along the trip, and later transcribe it into your written journal. The recorder is also a good way to note anything that you’d like to take a closer look at on your return trip.

With a bit of preparation and planning, you can hit the road safely, and have a memorable and pleasant trip. Just pick a place, and you can be there. The Florida Keys? The continental divide? Yellowstone? Anyplace that you want to see is just some planning and a few miles away!