Advice

23 things to know before going on a road trip

1. Establish a budget to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Before leaving on a road trip, it is best to have a small extra envelope for emergencies and unforeseen events.

2. Carry out a complete check of your vehicle before leaving.

Checking your vehicle before leaving on a road trip is an essential step to reduce the risk of breakdowns on the road and avoid unforeseen events and interruptions during the trip .

You can also save money by avoiding emergency repairs or even towing on the road , which could ruin your road trip (this happened to us…)!

And if you rent a vehicle, it is also important to know the vehicle, the breakdown number and where the spare wheel and jack are located…

3. Avoid overloading your vehicle.

I am often the first to want to take my home with me in my suitcases because the famous phrase “you never know” sometimes resonates a little too often in my head.

And with experience, you realize that you spend time tidying up and (re)organizing all your things in your van .

We also recommend leaving a few cupboards empty (or not very full) which could potentially be useful to you during your trip and allow you to be a little disorganized.

If you want to know more, we have written a blog article for you on this subject:

▶ Blog post: Accessories to optimize space.

4. Do not over-equip and under-equip your vehicle.

When you go on a road trip , don't overload the interior of your vehicle . Carry only your essential and necessary equipment according to your plans for the trip . You'll be surprised how quickly the space fills up.

If you want to know more, we have written several blog articles on this subject:

▶ Blog posts:

5. Download useful applications for your road trips.

With the rise of Vanlife , many applications have been developed to simplify logistics during our road trips : whether to find the right route or the ideal location , know where to refill with water or easily locate a service station e.

Before leaving on a road trip, don't hesitate to download any applications that may be useful to you.

We have selected our 15 best applications for you, specifying our favorites and our essentials .

If you want to know more, we have written a blog article for you on this subject:

6. Plan for a longer travel time than indicated.

To avoid unnecessary stress on the road, we tend to allow more time than expected for journeys . For what ?

Some roads may be narrow and unsuitable for our van . We will then drive much slower than the indicated speed.

7. Plan an itinerary that is flexible but not too detailed.

Sometimes you want to plan your road trip in detail and know your itinerary perfectly. However, our advice is quite different!

Road trips are also made for adventure and discovery , so yes, it is important to have a general idea of ​​your destination , but we suggest that you do not impose strict constraints on yourself, whether in terms of distance to go through each day or by planning your sleep stops two weeks in advance.

8. Don't miss the opportunity to refuel.

Refueling regularly helps minimize the risk of running out of fuel . On the road, gas stations can sometimes be distant from each other, especially in more isolated areas.

By keeping a sufficient fuel level , you ensure that you can reach the next gas station without problem (and with complete peace of mind), give yourself more flexibility regarding the journey and your route and avoid last minute stops. .

9. Always have a first aid kit on hand.

We don't want anything bad to happen to you during your road trips , but it is always preferable to have essential safety equipment on hand during your road trips , such as a first aid/emergency kit and fire extinguisher .

• Basic medications: Painkillers, anti-inflammatories, etc.
• Medicines specific to your needs
• Disinfectants and disposable gloves
• Bandages and dressings
• Scissors and tweezers
• Thermometer
• Tick ​​removers

10. Plan a backup meal(s) in case of unforeseen circumstances.

We have the habit of always having one or more “emergency meals” (cans, pasta and tomato sauces, etc.) for unforeseen circumstances.

11. Carry a sufficient supply of water.

Who has ever found themselves short of drinking water during a road trip in a van ? WE !

After a few situations where we were (very) thirsty, we decided to always have 2 emergency bottles of water to make sure we were well hydrated and able to cope with unforeseen events.

We also bought a filter bottle which allows us to drink water from rivers , lakes , fountains , even when we were not convinced of the cleanliness of the water (thanks to the super efficient filter).

12. Keep a headlamp in your vehicle.

This little piece of advice, seemingly harmless, was very useful to Marie (our apprentice) and her dad during their first road trip .

Whether it is to inspect/repair your vehicle , take evening walks (or bathroom breaks), walk along a road at night, it is important to be visible to others (and to see where you are going).

13. Have a paper road map in case your GPS fails.

We find it particularly fun to have a paper map with us and to trace the route we are taking with a Sharpie (indelible marker) and to be able to see the kilometers already traveled .

14. Get a portable battery to charge your electronic devices.

All it takes is for your vehicle to run out of battery for your phone to drain quickly.

15. Plan activities in rainy weather.

That's why we always take a deck of cards , board games , books , something to watch a movie , and of course our Omnia Oven to prepare delicious, warm cakes!

If you like to watch movies in your van, consider downloading them in advance in case the network is not very good at your location.

If you want to know more, we have written a blog article for you on this subject:

16. Keep your vehicle clean (and tidy!).

If you go as a couple or family, or even solo, you will live in a living space of around 5m2. And to avoid any frustration, we advise you to tidy up / clean your vehicle a little each day.

If you want to know more, we have written a blog article for you on this subject:

17. Divide tasks among members of your group.

During our 5-month road trip in the Scandinavian countries , we had to take care of Mini-Léonie (who was still just a baby at the time) and daily household chores.

For this, we found a rhythm that suited us with Aurel, that is to say that everyone knew what they had to do . That way, there’s no reason to step on each other or ask the other “can you do that please?” (and therefore to avoid possible tensions).

We don't necessarily suggest creating a schedule, but rather dividing up tasks fairly . For example, one does the dishes while the other takes care of the laundry or performs a vehicle cleaning task.

18. Ask locals for recommendations for the best places.

If you have the opportunity to stop in a town or small village, do not hesitate to ask the locals for good addresses, whether for restaurants , places to visit , spots , hikes , tourist visits , etc.

19. Have multiple payment methods available.

It's important to have different payment methods on a road trip for flexibility and security. Indeed, some stores, restaurants, etc. may have limited payment options.

In addition, if your credit card is lost or stolen, it is reassuring to have another means of payment such as cash or another bank card.

20. Arrive at your destination before dark.

When you plan to stop at a spot , we advise you to arrive before nightfall.

Setting up your camp in broad daylight is much more pleasant and also allows you to evaluate your spot more effectively, particularly in terms of safety, neighborhood and location.

You will be able to sit quietly and perhaps enjoy the sunset .

We advise you to choose your spot in the morning or the day before in order to spend a quiet day and evening.

If you want to know more, we have written a blog article for you on this subject:

21. Respect the environment and leave no trace on the places you visit.

To leave no trace in your wake, we have listed the essential zero-waste accessories on our blog and have put together some tips for an eco-responsible road trip .

If you want to know more, we have written several blog articles on this subject:

22. Keep a reasonable distance between your vehicle and others once installed on your spot.

Although you may sometimes want to get closer to others to enjoy a breathtaking view , we recommend that you maintain a reasonable distance between your vehicle and other vans and vans .

23. Have the right accessories to (simply) cook good meals.

It is important to cook good meals during your road trips, and it is essential to have the right accessories with you!