Taking a road trip, especially to an unfamiliar destination, can elicit a myriad of feelings such as excitement, anxiety, and everything in between. Often, I experience all of these feelings at the same time. I call it “good stress” or a good problem to have, but make no mistake about it, road tripping with kids travelling can be super stressful. Today I’m sharing a few ways I’ve learned to reduce my travel-related stress.
Before the Trip
Make sure you know what kind of road hazard coverage you have through AAA or your auto insurance, and keep those numbers handy. A flat tire can derail a good time pretty quickly. Call your credit card company before you travel and let them know where you’re headed. We’ve had to deal with our credit card assuming our number had been stolen because of what they assumed were not legitimate purchases. They advised us it’s always appreciated to let them know ahead of time if you’ll be traveling.
Pay your bills before you go. Have your mail stopped. Ask someone to care for your pets and (and if you’re anything like me, water your plants and flowers). Get gas as you’re heading out and again when you stop to use the bathroom. No sense in waiting until you’re about to run out if you’re stopping anyway.
Ahead of time, think about what you’ll be doing on your trip and try to predict what might make things go smoother. For instance, have some small denominations of cash on hand for tour guide or bellhop tips so you don’t have to awkwardly apologize for not being prepared or hunt down an ATM. If you will be breaking up your trip with an overnight stay, pack one duffel bag or small suitcase with everything the family will need on that first night stay so that you don’t have to unpack and repack everything more than once.
During the Trip
Bring entertainment for the kids, and motion sickness medicine for anyone prone to getting sick on long car rides. I like to take a look at the map ahead of time. Do we need to break up the trip with an overnight stay somewhere along the way? If so, what areas have a variety of options for places to stay, food to eat, and things to see (if we have time) located near good stopping points on the map? Does the hotel have continental breakfast, free parking, and a pool? You definitely don’t want to get into a situation where the drivers are too tired to go on and there’s nowhere (or worse, nowhere safe) to stop.
Once You Get There
Oh gosh, we haven’t talked about once we GET to the destination yet. Well, because you’ve planned so well to this point, obviously you’ve done your research and scoped out the area you’ll be visiting. Read reviews. Look at Google Images. Make a list of activities or sights you absolutely CAN’T MISS, things you want to make time to see and do, and things that you’d like to do if you have the time. And then once you get there, talk to the locals and be prepared to scrap everything if they tell you otherwise. (HINT: If you’ve used a travel agent to book your trip, they will be able to help you with this part!) Needless to say – but to say it anyway – if your road trip takes you to Walt Disney World, you DEFINITELY want to have planned your time there well (and again, your travel agent is your single best help here)!
If this sounds like over-planning to you, you’re probably right and we might not make very good vacation buddies. For me, planning and anticipating is half the fun. It’s all worth it when our trips go smoothly and we are able to make amazing memories. Even when we hit a bump in the road, memories are made and sometimes these bumps make for the best stories later.
Remember when you get flustered, this is all part of it and even though it’s a stressful moment, it’s a great trip. You ARE still on vacation, after all. A little bit of a crazy day on vacation beats any decent day at work!
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Candice was raised in east Tennessee. While in college, her best friend dragged her to a Walt Disney World College Program recruiting session at the University of Tennessee and the rest is Disney history. In the Fall of 1999, Candice became a quick service food hostess for Sunset Ranch Market and Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios – or what is now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While soaking up her time as a cast member, she met Ryan, a neighbor and a fellow college programmer who worked as a custodial host at Epcot. Four years later, Candice moved to the Midwest and married that boy from across the hall. They now live in Greenwood, Indiana with their two little boys. The Disney-loving foursome took their first family trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2013 and Candice is eagerly planning their return. Candice also works full-time at a community mental health center and enjoys taking photographs and blogging at Mommy in the Midwest.
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