Planning for a Road Trip: Tips, Requirements & More

Road trips become exciting due to several reasons and you get to make some priceless memories way before the destination arrives.

Regardless of how long your road trip is going to be, you need to make sure it is perfectly enjoyable for all. For that, you need to start planning for a road trip as early and thoroughly as possible. From scheduling to emergency backups, you need to prepare for everything you can predict and the events that are unpredictable.

Be it a road trip in UAE or a cross-country drive, this guide can help you prepare for a thoroughly enjoyable and hassle-free experience. Read on for some road trip tips:

PLANNING FOR A ROAD TRIP

Hatta Dam Lake in mountains enclave — Always prepare a checklist of things to take before you start your road trip

For longer trips, spontaneity may not be the safest or convenient option. A well-planned road trip may require mapping out your journey on paper. Here are a few things that need to be decided before you embark on the journey.

Decide day and time.
Set a budget for your road trip.
Search and explore travel destinations on the internet and on different social media platforms.
Reading travel blogs will also help you choose a destination.
Use hashtags to search for your preferred destination on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for example, #Dubairoadtrip or # UAEroadtrip
You may also get some good ideas from weekend road trip destinations from Dubai
Make sure the list also includes places for camping or overnight stay in a hotel/motel
Prepare a draft of the attractions you may come across during the trip

If you are planning for a road trip in the UAE, gather your friends and decide which Emirate you should choose. Besides, you will find many mountainous and adventurous spots as well as the best roads to drive in the UAE. There are some best cars for road trips and camping that you may consider worth buying. If you wish to buy a second-handle model, then here are a few options:

KEEPING TABS ON WEATHER FORECAST

When planning a road trip, don’t forget to check the weather forecasts. You never know about the bad storms or heavy fog coming your way. In such a scenario you can’t stay on the road and drive for long. Therefore, it is better that you check the weather before you start your road trip in the UAE, even if you don’t plan to camp outdoors.

GOOGLE MAP – A USEFUL ROAD TRIP PLANNER

app for road trip planning — Google Map is one of the best apps to plan your trip from the starting point to the destination

Since we all have easy access to on the go apps and technology, use them, when planning a road trip. For this purpose, Google Map is one of the best apps for drivers. Look up your destinations on the Google Map to get a rough idea of the time your trip will take. You can easily figure out the safest, shortest and longest route from the map. Moreover, you can add places from the map in your list that you may have not planned to visit but that fall in your route. Sometimes, you can find the best eateries, monuments or ideal snap spots on the Google Map. Rest ensure that you have planned your basic route from the starting location to the final destination.

Furthermore, you can also keep a hard copy of the road trip map for your respective destination.

TAKE ANOTHER DRIVER ALONG

When planning for a road trip, make sure you have someone in the group who can drive well and holds a valid UAE driving license. The crucial bit of the trip is to have more than one driver take turns.

Besides, if you plan to hire a driver for a road trip, be prepared to take over the steering yourself should the need arise.

CHOOSE THE BEST CAR

best cars for road trip and camping — Ensure that your car is the best fit for a road trip and can perform well on all types of terrains

Choose the car you can rely on for a road trip in the UAE. The car you need depends on the number of people, destination and nature of the trip. If you plan to rent a car, then make advance booking with a car rental service provider that offers unlimited mileage. Read the online reviews of the car rental company and go through all the policies before finalising them.

You may book a 4WD vehicle, given it’s designed to endure all types of roads. Also, it is spacious, has big wheels, and the engine or the mileage to take you to miles. Among the many 4WDs, experts or frequent travellers, suggest Jeep Wrangler for long road trips. If you are planning road trips for every weekend or you are an adventurous road traveller, you may opt for a used Jeep Wrangler in the UAE up for sale.

Whatever you decide, either to buy a used car or rent it, make sure to get the vehicle checked completely before taking it out on the roads – you wouldn’t want it to break down and spoil your plans.

GET YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED

Reiterating the previous point, it is mandatory to get your car inspected before the road trip by a professional technician, especially a week ahead. The fluid levels, brakes, tyres, the engine, and anything that needs checking should be checked by the car mechanic strictly per the requirements of a long road trip.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Checking for visa requirements and paperwork is next in importance to planning your trip. If you are going to travel across the borders of the UAE, you have to keep your visa in hand to avoid the waiting time at the gates. As a resident of UAE, your car insurance policy will no longer be applicable should you travel out of the UAE – so bring along the additional insurance.

MAKE BOOKINGS AHEAD

List down the main sights you want to visit and book hotels around it ahead of time. Some of the popular spots are booked in advance, months before. Therefore, make sure you have booked major attractions, hotels and everything that require booking prior to your trip.

OTHER TIPS WHEN PLANNING FOR A ROAD TRIP

road trip planning — Don’t forget to take along your favourite snacks and drinks to munch on your way

A few essential points worth considering:

Choose a route that includes attractions along the way
Make a list of fun things to do en route
Keep all essential documents like driving license, insurance and car registration documents well-organised
Pick a manageable distance to enjoy the attractions while heading towards your destination
Prepare a cool bag because you may not always spot a café or store to buy a drink on the way
Get one of the cool bags, store your favourite drinks and snacks, and drive through
Create a playlist on your smartphone and don’t forget to take a USB cable along.

This goes without saying but packing key accessories like a tote bag, sunblock, sunglasses, flashlights, USB cable, universal adaptor, toilet paper (a must!), and any other travel essentials you can think of, or even search on Google. Since you are not travelling by air, assigning one bag for all such accessories is a wise decision.

Road trips are always exciting, and planning for a road trip is even more fun. However, not all perfect road trips are pre-planned. Sometimes, the best memories are made spontaneously so make sure you are ready to embrace the worst (or best) that comes your way on the roads. Besides, sift through these car driving hacks to make your road trips more hassle-free.

Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more tips and guides, driving techniques, traffic rules and more.