While we are still in the midst of winter, some of us are turning our attention to planning holidays in spring. Although the majority of people go on holiday in summer, it's often cheaper to get away during the cooler spring months. Many people don't like the idea of getting "baked" under the sun during summertime. Spring is akin to the summer months but cooler and milder. And, more tolerable for people that aren't fans of scorching hot weather!

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Growing numbers of people plan road trip adventures during spring. After all; it's often cheaper to drive to your destination than to fly! Those people also prefer to explore more of what their home countries have to offer instead of having a holiday abroad. Are you thinking of planning your own ultimate spring break road trip adventure? Read on to learn more about the planning process. By the end of this article, you will be ready to plan a memorable road trip for you and your travelling companions!

Who is going with you?

The first thing you need to do is determine who you want to take with you on your road trip adventure. Some motorists prefer to take to the open road alone. Whereas others will make it an occasion to share with their families or friends. You might be wondering why it's important to confirm who's coming with you. In a nutshell, you will need to take into account the requirements of your passengers. For example, what they can and cannot eat. Where they would like to go, and so forth. Another thing you need to do is ensure that your passengers pack the right clothing for the places you all want to visit. Let's say your road trip will take in the sights from a colder part of the country. You will want to ensure everyone has packed suitable clothing to keep them warm outdoors.

Taking the best car for the job

Once you have an idea of who's coming with you, the next step is to think about which car you want to take. If there is more than one car in your household, it makes sense to take the biggest one for comfort and storage purposes. But what happens if you don't have a suitable car for your road trip? One option is to hire a car. There are a few caveats to hire cars though. First, you don't know what make and model of car you're going to get. And let's say that you want an estate car. You could end up getting an SUV instead if they don't have any estate cars in stock at the time. Insurance excesses are also another problem. Enterprise, for instance, now charge at least 1,000 for even the cheapest class of car. If you have an accident, can you afford to pay such a high excess? Those of you planning to make this an annual occasion would do better to buy a suitable car instead. As an example, you could get yourself an affordable used Kia from a dealer like the GK Group. Although buying a car is dearer than hiring one, it makes sense if you often travel places as a family by road. The last thing you want to do is cram your family members into a small hatchback car! Hiring a car or campervan can be the best solution as it allows you to travel further afield. You can take a flight abroad to somewhere like Iceland and hire a campervan once you arrive there. This removes the hassle of trying to take your vehicle with you. Of course, be sure to check the rules of driving in another country before you leave! You can click here now to see how to drive in Iceland as an example.

Planning your itinerary

Now that you've got your wheels sorted out, it's time to turn your attention to your trip itinerary. In essence, this is a plan of the places you and your passengers want to visit during your adventures on the road. Some people prefer to choose their destinations while on the road. But this is usually a bad idea. Why? Because of several reasons. First, the places you want to go to might have closed. Second, your party might not be able to visit the destinations if you haven't pre-booked.

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It's a good idea to sit down with your passengers and decide on places you all want to see before you hit the road. That way, you can plot the best route to take in all the sights. When planning road trip itineraries, it helps to use mapping software. The obvious choice would be to use the brilliant, and free, Google Maps website. You can find out how long it takes to get to each destination. And you can even learn how much it will cost you in fuel! By planning your road trip itinerary, you can guarantee a fun and memorable trip for you and your passengers.

Don't forget to plan for accommodation too!

Even those on a marathon road trip adventure need places to stay overnight! You should split your itinerary across several days and plan where you are all going to stay. Some folks might want to brave camping during the spring months. But if you're anything like me, you will wish to sleep on a comfortable bed in a warm hotel room! Accommodation need not cost you a small fortune. Often, it can make financial sense to go down the self-catering route and hire a cottage or apartment. Such accommodation usually offers more space too - perfect for a growing family! Be sure to do some online research before booking places to stay. You can often find websites that offer discounted rates on hotels and B&Bs.

Packing stuff for the journey

When you're ready to head off to your road trip adventure, it pays to pack things needed for your journey. For example, a cool box full of people's favourite food and drink is useful. Electronic gadgets like tablets can keep children entertained on the road. You should also take your favourite music CDs to listen to in the car. If you're a gadget geek, consider using a streaming audio service like Spotify. If you are camping overnight, you can take a camping tent along with you. Moreover, you can use a sleeping pad or a pillow for support and comfort. You may also pack comfortable footwear if you are going for hiking. Additionally, a solar panel kit (such as those available at rayneautomotive.co.uk) can help you charge your gadgets in case there is no power supply.

Check your car before you drive

As with any major road trip, make sure your car is roadworthy. Whenever I go on such trips, I do the following:

• Wash the car, ensuring the windows and exterior lights are clean;
• Check vital fluids like oil, coolant and screen wash;
• Check the tyres are in good condition.

Now you're ready to go on your road trip!