The weather’s getting warmer and summer is just around the corner, which means that long weekend road trips are within sight! With a few extra days at your disposal it’s amazing what you can see and do, but three or four days doesn’t give you too much leeway for error - so to help you get the most out of your time, the team at AirportRentals.com have a few tips that will ensure the long weekend leaves you excited, refreshed and invigorated rather than stressed out and wishing you had time to recover from your vacation. Whether you’re planning to pick up a Vancouver car rental, hire a car from Toronto or leave from Montreal in your rental car, see below to ensure your next long weekend road trip is the best you’ve ever had.
Plan around traffic
One of the inconvenient things about long weekends is the fact that everyone else has the same days off that you do, and probably has similar plans for a weekend escape. Fortunately, it’s not hard to minimise the amount of traffic you run into - it just takes a little bit of forward planning. Taking an extra day off before the long weekend officially starts will not only give you four days off for the (annual leave) price of one but it’ll also mean that there won’t be many people on the road when you set out. If this isn’t feasible, try to leave early in the morning - getting up early on the weekend may not sound like a lot of fun but it will be more than worth it when you’re zipping along to your destination instead of being bogged down in traffic. It’s also a good idea to consider what time you’re driving back home at the end of the weekend, as this can also be prime traffic time.
Take breaks
This is an important one if you’re travelling for any extended period of time. There’s the safety aspect to this tip of course; a tired driver is not a safe driver. But there’s also something to be said for taking time to appreciate the sights along the way and proceeding at a relatively leisurely pace. This is especially important if you happen to be heading away with the family, as kids have a lower tolerance for long haul drives. Of course, this will mean that it will take a little longer to get to your destination but as long as you account for the extra time and don’t try to fit too much into three days (more on that later) it won’t be a problem. To make the most of these stops, plan a few in advance around attractions along the way - that way stopping won’t be a break from your holiday, but just a part of the experience.
Bring on-road entertainment
This is essential for any road trip. For adults, road trip entertainment normally means music. Load up your iPod with all your favourite travelling tunes or if you’re a bit old school, bring along your CD collection. Another option that’s growing in popularity is listening to podcasts while driving. There’s a podcast on just about every topic under the sun, so chances are you can find one that fascinates you. Just remember to download them to your phone or music player before you leave. If you’ve got children along for the ride, there are a few more entertainment options you’ll want to consider. Books are a fantastic easy option if your kids don’t get carsick from reading - tablets are also a good option as they can be preloaded with movies and games to keep them occupied and reduce the amount of times you have to hear “Are we there yet?”
Don’t overplan your weekend
It can be tempting to come up with epic plans for your long weekend - after all, this is a glorious ray of freedom; why would you not want to make the most of it? Of course there’s nothing wrong with having big dreams for your time away but you have to keep in mind that you only have three or four days at your disposal. Rather than trying to pack everything you can into this short space of time, try to leave yourself a little breathing space. Road trips are at their best when you can go with the flow a little bit and take unplanned detours, so in order to really enjoy your break it might be best to simplify your plans. Make sure you don’t have to travel too far as this will leave you with plenty of time to relax at your destination - and when it comes to scheduled activities, try to keep them to a minimum. This will take the stress out of your weekend, ensuring that time away proves restful and refreshing.
Book early
This is just common sense really, but it’s amazing how often people forget this crucial point. Getting in early to book your accommodation and transport is especially important over a long weekend as everyone will be looking to snap up the same deals. Waiting until the last minute could mean you miss out on your ideal car rental, and even if you do find an available motel/hotel or car rental, it’s probably going to cost you a lot more than if you’d booked early. With car rental in particular, the best deals tend to go quickly so don’t wait any longer than you have to before nailing down your travel plans. The other plus to booking early is that it will be one less thing hanging over your head. Preparing for a vacation can be fraught with little annoyances but this doesn’t have to be one of them.
To get your long weekend car rental sorted, start by checking out some of the amazing rental deals on offer at AirportRentals.com. Take the hassle out of prepping for your long weekend escape, and find the perfect rental car to suit your journey!
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Grab a car hire with Airport Rentals today and choose from international locations including an Australia Airport Car Rental with an Adelaide Airport Car hire, Launceston Airport car hire, car hire from Cairns Airport or a Melbourne Airport car hire. Popular locations in New Zealand for car rental include car hire from Christchurch Airport or an Auckland Airport car hire. Travelling to a different country? Rent a car in Dubai to discover UAE or explore the best of Europe with a UK Airport car rental.
