ROAD TRIP 101: Top Ten Items

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to do such a big focus on the road trip on this blog was because I struggled to find good blogs about road trips before I left. There were a couple, but they were patchy, lacking detail, and would generally drop off half way through (something that I can completely understand - managing this blog on a daily basis while on the road was a big job, and very time consuming).

So that's why I've tried to be as comprehensive, and informative as possible - which I guess can make for a boring read for those with no interest in road tripping, but shame, just skip those ones. If you include yourself in that group, you might want to skip this one too, but I do feel this stuff is necessary.

So here are my top ten items to take on a road trip:

1. A Car
Obvs. Wanna rent? And you're not an American? Use carhire3000.com and save a lot of money. S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y
Great things to note while you're renting/buying? Air-con, cruise control, radio, audio input jack, spare tyre and full tyre changing kit. This stuff is important to make your journey more pleasant. And it is all about the journey right?

2. A GPS
Also kinda obvious. This place is big. And has lots of twisty roads. Don't fool yourself.

3. A Cooler Bag
And really great things to put in it. Like lots of water, a couple of bottles of wine, and jelly babies. We also chucked tons of salt&pepper sachets, serviettes, plastic glasses and cutlery in there. Organised.

4. A 3G/4G Card.
This is America, there is wi-fi everywhere. Even the most unexpected tiny hole-in-the-wall bar in-the-middle-of-nowhere has a website. But you need to have 3G in the car, on a device to do research as you drive to find that tiny hole-in-the-wall bar in-the-middle-of-nowhere.

5. A Travel Companion
To do said research. Don't drive and research. It's dangerous.
Also good for taking over the driving when you're falling asleep behind the wheel. Way important.

6. A Local Phone
Once said research is done, you're gonna want to make reservations - hotels, restaurants, shows. There's a lot of people in America, this stuff books up fast. Don't think you can get away with just rocking up. If you're coming from overseas make sure you're phone is unlocked by your local service provider before you leave. We used AT&T, who had pretty good coverage across America, except in the Grand Canyon and Death Valley (which are kind of the most important places to have good coverage, in case of a break down), so always check coverage with the provider before you sign up.

7. Plastic Bags
Maybe a little random, but entirely useful - for rubbish, wet clothes, extra carrying etc etc.

8. In-Car Entertainment
You're going to spend a lot of time in the car, so you might as well make it fun. Music, audio books, puzzle and crossword books, as well as your favourite form of technology is great for this. We also found out about the licence plate game just as we began our journey. It basically involves spotting, and keeping a log of, all the States of America licence plates. The far off and small ones can be particularly tricky (like Hawaii and Rhode Island), but it's a fun game for the driver and car occupants. Big hint: the Grand Canyon is the best place to go to round up this game. Everyone visits the Grand Canyon it would seem.

9. Cash
Quickest and easiest way to get through tolls is to pay cash. And as I've mentioned previously, everyone wants a tip. Carry cash.

10. Wet Wipes
All that food, all that dirt, all that life-happening-in-a-car, and wet wipes will save the day. They always do.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog, and in this post are purely that - views and opinions. What worked for us may not work for you, this is just the knowledge we gained along the way.

ROAD TRIP 101: On The Road

So now you've planned your trip, and are ready to hit the road. Here are our top ten things to keep in mind on your journey:

1. Road Runner
Speed limits are different in every state, and drop and rise along the road quite unexpectantly. We were told that there generally is a 5mph leeway on the limits, though most cars seem to go at least 10mph over, especially on the interstates. Cruise control is your best friend here, especially when you travel through small towns and the limit drops to a mean 25mph. Our gps was the biggest help with this, as it always displays the speed limit, so even if you miss the sign you'll know. Just don't risk it with the cops around here - they take this stuff very seriously. We saw a cop car pull out of a side street and chase down a speeding motorcyclists in the coastal town of Tampa - just like in the movies. He was going way over the 25mph limit - and when we caught up with them, he was in cuffs on the side of the road.

2. Roll With It
Check your spare tyre before you leave, and that you have the full tyre changing kit. Also, check tyre pressure every few states or so as it can change with altitude and sudden temperature differences.

3. Got A Car?
You'll be paying to park it. Everywhere. Even some hotels charge you to park your car, and if they have a valet service you'll be spending even more bucks tipping the valet! Always check with the hotel before you book as this can add as much as an extra $35 per day to your fee.

4. Paying For Tolls
Don't be surprised to find lots of tolls around big cities, and on some of the interstates. Cash is king at these places. Also, check with your car rental company, or look into getting a toll pass, which let's you drive straight through without queueing up to pay - something that can save you lots of time in the busy season. Watch out when driving into busy cities as well - they often have express lanes, which are fun, fast ways to get straight to your destination, but if you don't have a toll pass can cost you a fine of up to $100!

5. Road Kill
We saw road kill everywhere. Keep your eyes open, even on the big interstates. In New England there's moose; all along the East coast, and the Mid-west there are deer. In the desert there are horses and cows. And everywhere, everywhere there are raccoons, skunks, squirrels, buzzards and possums. Jay, our Silver Spur ranch manager, said skunks are the worst - if you drive over a skunk, you'll need to get your car deep cleaned. And all your clothes, your hair, and your skin. He recommends using tomatoes.

6. The Road Less Traveled
While the interstates are definitely the fastest way from A to B, they often aren't very interesting, and offer only fast food chains, and dodge motels for food and lodging. If you have time, get off the main roads, and take the road less traveled. Your gps will help with this - just program it to avoid highways.

7. Gas Stations
Prices for gas are different at each station, not like back home. Check the prices before you pull in - you can save a good chunk of change this way.

8. Listen To The Radio
You can listen to your own music back home, but tuning into the radio state by state gives you a great feel of the music and views of this very vast and differing country.

9. Pick Up Tourist Maps
Just arrived? Ask the hotel or nearby tourist office for a tourist map - they're usually pocket size, and have all the best places to visit highlighted. It's a great way to quickly and easily get used to a new area.

10. Action!
Have your camera ready. The landscape changes dramatically, and very very quickly in some cases. There are strange road signs, peculiar sights and amazing shots to capture all along the way.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog, and in this post are purely that - views and opinions. What worked for us may not work for you, this is just the knowledge we gained along the way.

ROAD TRIP 101: Planning The Big Drive

There are so many different ways to do a road trip - different routes, different schedules, different modes of transport. This is just the way we chose to do it, and the things we learnt along the way.

The planning and organisation that went into our road trip was intense - we knew we had a limited time frame to work with, and a limited budget, so planning ahead and scheduling prevented disappointment and hassle along the way.

We spent a good few days locked up in the apartment in New York, with calendars, Google maps, and the internet.

This is what we learnt:

1. Planning VS Spontaneity 

Planning ahead does save you money, and allows you opportunites - a lot of the places we wanted to visit would have been booked up if we'd left it to chance (eg Disney World, Grand Canyon etc). We're not saying you have to book everything, we just found that booking things meant we didn't have to waste time once we arrived in a town driving from hotel to hotel trying to find reasonable accommodation, and then end up paying through the nose for a room because there was nothing else available.

2. Consider the time of travel.
Choose your season - we travelled in fall, which meant we got to experience some exceedingly beautiful scenery, and avoid the brutal heat of summer (it was still boiling in most places though!). Prices were lower, places were less crowded, and roads were quieter. Also check event calendars - plan your stops around holidays, festivals and parties.

3. Cities VS Towns
If possible, visit the big cities on the weekend - there's always more stuff going on. During the week do the traveling, or stay at smaller, more relaxing places.

4. Price of accommodation.
We averaged about $165 a night for accommodation. Yes, you can get cheaper - a lot of inns offer rooms for $60 a night, and then there's the exceedingly dodgy-looking motels which have rooms for $30 a night, but then you're in Dodgeville, next to a highway, miles from the city centre. Which means you'll end up paying shitloads for taxis into town, or paying shitloads for parking in town. Either way, paying a little extra for a spot right in the middle of the action, and then being able to walk everywhere is ace. We mixed it up as well, and got to stay in hotels, inns, ranches, B&Bs and resorts. We tried to keep the price of accommodation around $140 a night, and then splurged on a few spots every now and then.

5. You're not in Kansas anymore.
You can't always rely on being able to stop just anywhere - a lot of the small towns along the way may not really be places that you want to spend the night. Trust me on this one.

6. Breathing space.
When planning, we left a few days unbooked (about every ten days or so), which ended up serving us well, allowing a bit of flexibility to extend a stay if necessary, or switch to a completely new location. They also allow for any unforeseen emergencies along the way.

7. Get on your wheels.
It's a road trip - your car is number one in this relationship! Are you renting, or buying? Is your car economical? Are you going off-road? We rented a Toyota Camri, which served us exceedingly well, and gave us about 29 miles to the gallon  - but we had to stay on top of it, making sure the car stayed healthy all the way across. I've drawn up a list of our top ten road trip items which will be up in a couple of weeks.

8. It's a marathon not a sprint.
Allow for rest days - especially towards the end of the road trip. The longer you go the tired-er you get. We started off with short stretches, but as we got more travel-fit we pushed for longer ones. These allow you to spend more time in one place, resting up for the next long drive. And nothing beats a little R&R.

9. Speak to the locals.
Americans are some of the friendliest and most helpful people we've met. Everyone we've met along the way has wanted to chat about where we're from, and where we're going - and a lot of them have provided us with great tips, lists of restaurants, places to stay and things to do. The more they know about the region the better.

10. Take care of yourself.
A long road trip away from home does take its toll after a while, and medical treatment can be very expensive. Make sure you have travel insurance, a full first aid kit, and some basic medications with you.

To conclude, yes there was a lot of admin involved, and it cost a fair amount of money, but it was BRILLIANT. We can't wait to do another road trip! It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that even most Americans marvel at. And once you're on the road it's really easy - the roads are easy to navigate, the people are super friendly, and the sights are out of this world. My brain feels like it might explode from all the prettiness.

Save up, rent out your house, take out a loan, sell your organs online, leave your kids with grandma (they'll be fine!) - do whatever it takes, and then do this. You will not regret it.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog, and in this post are purely that - views and opinions. What worked for us may not work for you, this is just the knowledge we gained along the way.

[Last image from the internet, all other images from me]

Road Trip 101

This post is the first in a series - a guide to the ultimate cross country road trip. Having found the internet to be somewhat lacking in a fully comprehensive USA road trip blog, I couldn't help but do it myself. Besides, it was such a great way to document an incredible journey, and to be able to share it with friends and family back home.

So for the next few Mondays I'll be sharing the planning and organisation behind this trip, the things that we learnt along the way, the items we could not have done without, and what to expect once you're on the road.

We drove across 25 states, covered 6700 miles (10782 kilometres), stayed in countless motels, hotels and lodges, and burned up a whole lotta gas. This journey was an adventure - an exploration of a whole different world, and a discovery of so so much.

Some of our best tips? 

Look out for special offers and deals, especially if you're not traveling in the peak season. Traveling out of season actually worked out so well for us - we missed the middle of summer, the crowds and the heat! Traveling in October was bliss - cooler, less crowded (and still pretty friggin hot, and insanely busy). I shudder at the thought of what peak times must be like!

Don't under-budget. Things cost more here than back home! Especially food and alcohol.

Carry your ID with you everywhere - it gets you in, lets you use your credit card, and simplifies your life.

This is a big continent, it can be snowing up north, and sweating down south. Take everything you need. Or buy it along the way, if your budget allows.

This roadtrip was a mammoth undertaking. We dragged ourselves across numerous states, straight through our bank accounts, and were spat out the other side. But there are absolutely no regrets.

For the next few weeks I'm going to go through all the semantics of it - the planning, what to do once you're on the road and what to take with you.

This is a mad mad journey to go on, but the most incredible. Our best tip of all? Do it. Do it now!

Now we just need to do the other 25 states!

The views and opinions expressed on this blog, and in this post are purely that - views and opinions. What worked for us may not work for you, this is just the knowledge we gained along the way.

[All images by me, map from Google Maps]