Many people make the decision to pack up and live on the road to experience a new way of life. This can be a huge adjustment to a new way of living, but also an exciting one! With the opportunity to experience different cultures and meet new people along the way, it can make a person more open-minded and independent.
To help you plan for an epic and smooth experience, we’ve put together our best tips for living on the road to make the most of your travel experience.
1) Plan your travels
Of course, travelling on the road is full of spontaneity and excitement of ‘where next?’ however, we do encourage that you brainstorm a rough plan of where you’re travelling to by pinpointing on a map locations you’d like to see as well as places to stopover.
Plan a rough agenda based on locations you’ve narrowed down to visit and find out details about accommodation and food prices so that you know what to expect when you arrive to the destination.
Part of living on the road is doing the unexpected, so be open to recommendations made by locals, that way you will experience the best bits of that country and meet new people along the way. Engaging with people from a different way of life and a variety of places will expand your knowledge on the world and cultures, so embrace it!
2) Keep yourself and your vehicle safe
To keep yourself safe and your relatives at ease, we recommend that you keep someone in the loop about your whereabouts throughout your travels. Living relatively off-grid is exciting, however keeping in touch with your life back home when you’re travelling will mean someone has an idea of your location. It’s also good to arrange regular times to speak to friends and family, so they will know if something is potentially wrong if they haven’t heard from you.
Your vehicle is a priority when travelling on the open road, therefore you need to keep it healthy and in tip top condition- otherwise it could be a long walk! Give your vehicle regular oil, water and tyre checks to prevent a sudden unexpected breakdown. We would recommend you store car maintenance tools in a storage box such as; jump leads and spare water in the case of the dreaded breakdown.
For peace of mind and in times of an unfortunate emergency, our final top tip would be to create an emergency kit, including a first aid kit, a spare mobile phone, spare cash any other lifesavers to keep you from encountering any trouble
3) Entertainment is key when surviving long road trips
Travel well prepared with a sound playlist to keep you both, alert and occupied during long journeys. If travelling accompanied, ensure the playlist accounts for both your music tastes to prevent disagreements over music that is playing- sounds silly but it happens!
As well as music have a few entertainment options including downloaded podcasts and audiobooks. Also, to keep entertained during stopovers store a few books In a box and avoid social media- embrace the wilderness and nature when living on the road.
4) Money saving tips
Driving aimlessly can be a huge fuel burner, hence the importance of tip 1. Having a loose plan combined with safe economical driving will avoid using fuel up as quickly and means less money spent at gas stations.
Packing food from home (especially essentials) to lower spending on overpriced food elsewhere for the start of your travels is another top tip. Keep food well sealed by storing it in a storage box container to prolong the food’s life and reduce waste. You can even pack a cool box to keep food fresher for longer.
Non-perishable food is great to stock up on, including granola, crisps and crackers as energy fuelling snacks and easy to store in a storage box. Stocking up on foods like these from supermarkets is a great way to keep your diet healthy and save money rather than purchasing meals at fast food restaurants or eateries.
Finally, be cautious when using cash points to withdraw cash in different countries and be aware of fees placed on cash withdrawals. Instead, use cashback when you can and perhaps store some cash with you in a secure place in the event that you need it for an emergency or cannot access cash elsewhere.
5) Pack light and keep organised
As you will be downsizing your belongings considerably for the duration of your travels, it is important you pack only the essentials, with the exception of a few home comforts. This will maximise the space in your car for sleeping and minimise the feeling of claustrophobia when the car is filled to the brim with numerous unnecessary items you are unlikely to need!
Maintain a good habit of regularly removing rubbish from your car, such as receipts, food and gum wrappers. This will help you to keep the car clean and make additional space. This provides a more comfortable journey and allows for additional room for more storage of necessities.
Store your belongings in labelled storage boxes so you are aware of where your items are and to save time and hassle when looking for things in a hurry. Of course, you won’t be able to fit everything you own in the boot of your car, and you may not be able to leave everything behind at home, especially if you’re travelling for an extended period of time. If this is the case, keeping your items in a friend or family member’s garage is an option, or for extra security and flexibility, use self-storage for ease during the move and to ensure secure storage of your personal belongings.
Safe and happy travels!