Road Trip Planning

ROAD TRIP 101 An extended road trip is a brilliant travel experience and one that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Best Routes to Travel Best for Mountain Highs: Blue Ridge Parkway - USA 154 km (469 miles) from Cherokee, North Carolina to Front Royal, Virginia - skimming over the Appalachian Mountains, which flank America's east coast. E Details Highlights * Connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia * Stunning views, abundant hiking trails, picnic areas, campsites, and interpretative exhibits * Ample recreational opportunities for all ages and abilities Natural beauty featuring one of the world's most diverse display of flora and fauna Best for an Epic Adventure: Ruta 40 - Argentina RUTA 40 4828 km (3000 miles), spanning the length of the country, from the Atlantic coast north to Bolivia, skimming the Andes mountains along the way. Details Highlights One of the longest roads in the world It's also one of the most remote. It skirts lakes, crosses rivers and traverses salt flats. Some of it goes through vineyards Best for Waterfalls: Røldal to Haugesund - Finland 141 km (87 miles), 2.5 hours. Highway E134 continues to Jøsendal and hugs the southern shore of the pristine Åkrafjord. Details Highlights * Wonderfully scenic fjord * Another attraction is Langfossen, a broad waterfall right by the road. Best for Island Experiences: The Outer Hebrides - Scotland Route is 240 km (149 miles). Drive off the ferry into Stornoway, the Outer Hebrides' main town. E Details Highlights A winding, single-track road all the way, but one of Britain's great travel experiences. Worth heading across Lewis' vast, flat, treeless machair landscape to see Stevenson's lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis, and Port of Ness fishing village. Drive south via the impressive Callanish standing stones for a sense of prehistory. A sequence of islands, with great views of mountains, sea, lochs and glorious white-sand beaches. Best for History: The Romantic Road - Germany Details 410 km stretch of road located in the German southern provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, beginning in Würzburg. Highlights * It combines the historic cities of Würzburg and Augsburg with the three medieval walled towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen. Finishes off with the tourist highlights of Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps. Tips for Hiring the Car No matter what time of year you go, try to start and finish in the same place, thereby avoiding drop-off fees. Small, city centre car-hire companies charge less than those at airport locations, especially when you factor in surcharges. Be aware of added costs you can expect at airport companies include anything from "concession fees" to "facility charges" sometimes both, adding up to £12 (€15) per day to any rental. Insurance:Your existing policies may already offer you some cover, especially for potential liability, and your credit card may cover some collision or damage costs. Look into all of these possibilities before you get to the car-hire counter. Road Trip Essentials Identification & Money Photo ID (driver's licence, passport, birth certificate) • Credit cards, travellers cheques, cash (including change for tolls) O Hotel reservation confirmations Car Stuff STUFF Proof of insurance Spare tire and jack Navigation Road maps, guidebooks, phrasebooks O GPS • Compass Health & Welfare • Prescription medications, vitamins, motion-sickness pills, allergy medications • Glasses/contact lenses (plus a back-up pair), contact lens solution O Sunscreen, insect repellent • Toilet paper Moist towelettes, antibacterial lotion Clothing & Clothing Supplies Sunglasses One set of dressy clothes (you never know when you might get to go someplace nice) Season-specific clothing (gloves, scarves, parka, snowboots, etc.) Raincoat and umbrella Travel sewing kit Plastic bags (for wet or dirty clothes and rubbish) Sheets and blankets Towel Food & Beverages Travel cooler Bottled water Nutritious snacks Electronics Mixed CDs, iPod (plus charger and car-stereo adapter), headphones Digital camera and charger Amusements & Diversions Books and magazines Travel games and playing cards Address book, stamps and envelopes Safety Gear Cell phone and charger Flashlight and batteries Pocketknife First-aid kit Road Trip Safety Tips Don't advertise your travels O Avoid leaving road maps in plain sight. O Park where you can see the vehicle. O At night, take everything that is in plain view with you into your accommodation. Look like you know where you're going O To prevent being a target for thieves Use the truck stops O Travel and truck centers are some of the safest places to stop and rest. They have 24-hour security and professional drivers who are used to staying aware and protective of their vehicles Chat up the locals O Get local information whenever you can O Being aware of local current events will not only help you have more fun, it can also keep you safe. Do your research O Read about your route before travelling so that you are well informed 10 Great Songs for a Road Trip A AC/DC- Highway to Hell E Bon Jovi- Wanted Dead Or Alive Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody A The Eagles- Take It Easy A The Beatles- Drive My Car T Bruce Springsteen- Thunder Road En Tom Petty- Free Falling Don Mclean- American Pie U2 - Beautiful Day Journey- Don't Stop Believing First Aid WHEELS Alloy Wheel Specalist www.fawheels.co.uk REFERENCES http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/apr/27/us-road-trips-car-hire-essentials http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/10greatplaces/2014/06/05/best-us-road-trips/9958951/ https://www.heathrowexpress.com/news/2014/04/14/the-luxury-traveller-five-of-the-best-road-trips http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg%3D7 http://www.ruta40.gov.ar/ http://www.caamagazine.ca/travel/road-trip-essentials-2/ http://www.fjordnorway.com/en/TOUR-SUGGESTIONS/Round-trips-by-car-/Short-trips/An-inland-route-to-the-fjords/ http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/feb/06/british-road-trips http://www.romanticroadgermany.com/ http://www.roadtripamerica.com/travelplanning/6-Tips-for-a-Safe-Road-Trip.htm