Get the car road trip ready before you take off! When you get busy, it’s easy to let your car spiral out of control with daily odds and ends. Whether you’re traveling with kids, friends, or all by yourself, it’s important to make room for creature comforts. With kids (or certain friends) it’s imperative to keep them comfortable to keep yourself happy. Pillows, blankets, portable gaming devices, and lots of music can be the difference between a road trip that will never end and one you won’t want to end.

Plan to take plenty of stops throughout your trip. There are no awards won for holding it in and driving until your ankles go numb. As they say, life is about the journey, not necessarily the destination. Keep yourself and your travel buddies comfortable, happy, and feeling more cultured by stopping to chat with the locals!

Safety Safety Safety should always be your first responsibility. Whether you’re driving down the block or across the country, every trip you take should be as safe and fun as possible! Bef0re voyaging out on your trek, it’s always a good idea to get your vehicle inspected from the inside out. While many people look back and wish they had their lights and fluids inspected before they left, there are very few who wish they hadn’t. You can save yourself an amazing amount of time, stress, and money by having preventative maintenance and inspections performed on your vehicle. Once you’re ready to go, always make sure everyone is buckled in; just because you’re the driver taking care of everyone doesn’t mean you are exempt from this rule! Safety belts can save your life, which is usually a nice thing to have happen when the worst occurs during a trip! Whether you’re just taking off or are half way through your trip and you notice some of your luggage is disrupting your view, pull over to move it. It may seem like a pain but it can actually be the safest, quickest solution.

Brain games can keep you alert and pass time if it starts to drag. Having a bad joke contest can be an amazing way to laugh the miles away. Pick up joke books at the dollar store, study up before you leave, or take turns with your favorites. If you deem one bad enough, that “lucky” person gets a point marked down. Really into road trip games? Keep a running ledger per person where their points are recorded, no matter the game. At the end, the winner gets a funky little prize or free meal! A spelling bee can be another way to rack up points and put the miles behind you. Toss a dictionary in the car and take turns quizzing each other on every word you never needed to learn.

Utilize multiple navigation tools during your trip. While a paper map may seem like the most ridiculous item you’d ever pack, it can be an enormous help in the event of an emergency. With smart phones, tablets, and GPS everything flourishing every vehicle on the road, paper maps are generally more useful as the trees they were before becoming paper. However, if your cell phone dies or your GPS malfunctions you will be so thankful! Expect the best and plan for the worst. Having said that, make sure you are using an up-to-date map that you understand how to read. Grabbing one of your parent’s maps from the 80s out of their glove box may seem like a smart move but it can actually lead to more confusion. Paper maps need to be upgraded similarly to how you need to upgrade your GPS system.

Winter is here again and you are planning your next vacation. There are lots of activities to enjoy at this time of the year including amazing indoor activities, hiking and skiing opportunities. If you surf the internet for packing tips, you will find millions of advice on the best things to pack when planning a winter vacation. You don’t need to pack too much stuff for a winter trip. Here are some simple, useful tips to help you figure out where to start rather than stuffing your luggage with unnecessary items.

HATS

Hats are very essential during winter season as they keep us warm. There are lots of concerts to attend at this time of the year and wearing a warm hat is all you need to ensure you don’t freeze out on a city street. They are also perfect for short morning walks and sprints. When buying a hat, choose the one that covers your ears, and the back of your neck. It should be made of thin, modern material to help you stay warm. When choosing one item carefully for your winter vacation, make it your hat

SHOES

One of the most essential item for a winter trip is a good pair of boots. Low-frills winter boots will keep your feet warm and dry regardless of the activities you may want to partake in. Opt for shoes with high quality leather for durability and comfort, weatherproof to keep your feet dry and warm, and dark colored so stains from mud won’t be so obvious. Your feet should be given adequate consideration when packing for winter vacation. There are loads of high quality, affordable boots on the market today that’s just perfect for any winter activity or event.

GLOVES

Gloves help keep the hand warm and dry. Having a great pair of breathable, waterproof gloves will not take up much space in your luggage. The waterproofing helps keep the hand dry even in the worst weather, and the breathability makes them wearable in varied temperature range.

CLOTHING

The best way to stay warm during winter is to dress in layers. But how do you layer yourself up? Here is a trick on how to dress in layers for winter. First, wear a light shirt or T-shirt, then put a long sleeve top over that. Afterwards, put a fleece or sweater over that and lastly wear a light wind and waterproof outer shell to keep you dry in the rain. With the right clothing, you are set to have a memorable winter vacation experience.

Whether you are planning a holiday trip to Cairns or travelling for a business trip to Sydney, a car hire in Australia can save you money since you do not have to worry about paying for expensive taxis and make transportation to different destinations extremely simple. One of the most overlooked aspects to securing a car hire in Brisbane or any other city in Australia is when to hire a car. The time you book your car can make a big difference in how much the rental costs. Here are a few things you should keep in mind before booking your rental with Car Hire Nation:

Is it best to rent early or wait for last minute deals?

In the past when tourism had seen a decline waiting until the last minute for a car hire could have resulted in slight savings. As local and international tourism continues to rise in Australia, though, the general guideline for your car hire in Sydney or any other Australian city is to place your booking as soon as you can.

The reasoning behind this is that car rental services base their prices around the number of vehicles they have available at that time. As inventory goes down and more reservations are made prices typically start to rise. Generally that means if you book your vehicle early you have a better chance of getting a cheaper rental.

How early in advance should you book?

On average booking your car hire at least 4 weeks in advance will help you secure cheaper rates but the dates of your travel are important. If you plan on travelling to a popular area and need a car hire in Melbourne during peak tourist season it may be best to place your reservation as early as 6 months prior. If you are travelling for a business trip during off-peak seasons you may not have to book as early—for most trips outside of the tourist season booking 4 weeks in advance is advisable.

Book With Car Hire Nation

The sooner you reserve your rental car, the more money you will save. To get the best deals possible book your car hire with Car Hire Nation. Featuring all of the leading car hire services (such as Hertz, AVIS, Enterprise, and more) you can quickly compare rates for your selected dates and save even more money.