Road travellers often drive standard cars or RVs during their trips. They should consider typical main cost factors, such as food, entertainment, accommodation, turnpike fees, car maintenance/repair and obviously, fuel. Here are common things we should do before embarking on a lengthy journey with our car:

1. Tune up the Car

We should tune up the car before leaving, because something unexpected may go really wrong with our car during a lengthy trip. We should also check turn signals, light, hoses, fan belt, fluid levels, tread wear, tire pressure, heater, air conditioner, windshield wipers, electrical wiring, spark plugs and spare tire. A local garage should charge us with reasonable fees for this service, but still cheaper than getting our car towed and brought to the nearest mechanics. We should also consider having emergency first aid kits, recent maps and extra car keys in the bag.

2. Bring enough Snacks, Food and Water

These are essential factors that travellers need to carry. We should bring enough snacks and food inside the car, instead of purchasing them at higher prices on the road or at the destination. Having enough food on hand should save us both money and time, while providing enough sustenance. Travellers could take occasional stop breaks during travels to restore blood circulation and use restrooms.

3. Ask for discounts

We could look for discounts by using lodging coupon booklets that are usually available at city or state information centers and highway rest areas. Travellers may save a lot of money by choosing lodging that includes breakfast as part of the deal. Similar discounts could be available in entertainment sites, museums, theme parks and major restaurant chains. Often, senior citizens are often eligible for discounts at specific areas.

4. Use GPS

Global positioning system device are available for less than $200 and these time-saving gadgets should provide us with much more accurate routes to specific destinations. They could help us find attractions, restaurants and lodging quickly by calculating the proper distance with our position.

5. Bring Laptops or Tablets

Internet connections should be available in most areas, both through WiFi hotspots and standard mobile data networks. Computers and tablets can aid us during the travel to get additional information about areas that we are about to explore. We could participate in travel forums to get information about discounts, basic costs and other facts. We may also obtain reviews on specific travel destination written by previous travellers.

6. Bring a few Air Mattresses

Although these may seem like a trivial thing, air mattresses are compact enough to fit a small area in our car trunk, but still usable enough in lodging rooms or during picnic. Sometimes, travellers need to sleep inside the car and fitting a small mattress at the back seat with two seats the front reclined forward could prove to be rather comfortable. Sleeping with the usual sitting/leaning position won’t make us feel restful in the morning and it is likely that we will feel sore and stiff for much of the day.