With the weather we’ve had this week you might not feel very summery.
But with the kids breaking up from school this month thousands of families from Thame and the surrounding area will be looking forward to a holiday, and a percentage of those will be driving either around Britain or to Europe.
Some of my happiest memories of family holidays are those of map reading (our Ford Mondeo didn't have sat nav), picnics at the side of the road and asking Dad "isn't that the Eiffel Tower....again" as we can't work out how to get off the Periferique in Paris
Flying may well be faster, but driving to your holiday destination is fun and a mini-adventure in itself as long as you are prepared.
I've put a little to do list together that my parent's used with me and my sister and I now use with my children.
Planning
The first thing is to make sure you have as much planned as possible.
Even if you don’t end up sticking to it 100%, having a plan of where you’re going will remove 99% of the stress of driving in a foreign country.
When you know your route, you can start to plan where you’re going to stop off for breaks; local towns you can visit along the way so you see more of the country than just your final destination.
Hard to do that when you’re in an airplane!
Pack a picnic
Pack a picnic so you’re not at the mercy of the motorway service station lottery.
If your kids, like mine, are fussy eaters, those over-priced M&S sandwiches you bought because ‘there was nothing else’ are going straight in the bin & you’ll be faced with more cries of ‘I’m hungry’ minutes after getting back on the road.
In-Car Entertainment
You don’t want your holiday turning into more of an endurance test, with kids demanding to know how much further when you haven’t even left your driveway.
Portable DVD players and hand held games consoles may be frowned upon by some, but in the words of Michael McKintyre, frisbee the little darlings an iPad to buy yourself a few hours of peaceful driving.
You can always read them a book or show them some fascinating architecture when you get there to balance things out.
We did a post last year on other car entertainment such as ‘The Three Things Game’.
Although it won’t get you all the way to the Dordogne, it’ll pass a bit of time and is suitable for all ages.
Do Your Basic Checks
The last thing you want on a long drive on unfamiliar roads is car trouble, especially if it could have been avoidable.
Do your drills well before you leave so you have time to rectify any issues.
Your car needs sufficient fluid levels, including engine oil, windscreen washer fluid, coolant and of course fuel.
Check your tyres for wear, including on the inside edge which is the bit most of us miss with a cursory glance.
I don’t know what the fines are like in other European countries, but if you’re caught in the UK with worn tyres it’s up to £2500 per tyre, as well as points on your license.
That’s going to make for an expensive holiday!
Pack your emergency kit
This is an essential tip for long car journeys, as no matter how old or new your car is, it could breakdown at any time.
Your emergency kit should consist of a breakdown triangle, a blanket, a torch, high visibility jackets (legal requirement in France), a mobile phone, a map, and most importantly breakdown cover details.
Pack the car well
I know when it comes to car packing it is an art form in its self, and often is repacked by my wife!! Take the stress out of your journey by packing the night before.
Make sure you can easily reach things like CD’s, tissues, snacks, map, pillows and warm clothes. Everything else should be packed in the order you will need them.
As a family we’ve made many trips into Europe in the car and if there’s one last piece of advice I’d give........ make it fun.
It really can be a part of the adventure, and as long as you’re prepared you’ll have a great time.
Happy driving,
Nick Allen
Thame Cars Sales Director
P.S. If you’re unsure about the exact checks you should be making on your car this summer regardless of whether you’re driving abroad or not, drop us a line and book it in for a free Vehicle Health Check.
We’ll have one of our professional mechanics give it the once over and tell you exactly what you need to to get it road-ready for a safe journey.
Call us on 01844 390560 and we’ll get you before you go
