Taking a week-end get-away? Here are the simplest tips to prepare for it.
1. Pack lightly: You don't have to pack your entire wardrobe or library of books or large computer screen--just the bare minimum. Take a single pair of jeans you can wear all week-end. A couple of shirts, maybe a sweater, a change of undergarments per day. Some toiletries. Voila--vacation time!
2. Eat before you leave: Nothing worse than getting on the road and the kids are hungry. Eat before you leave, and take a few snacks in the car with you to munch on.
3. The logic of #2 applies to...well...#2: Use the bathroom before you leave. If you have kids, make sure they've all gone too--especially the little ones who can slip through legs and make it out to the car or van before anyone else.
4. No stopping: Whoever said It's all about the journey is lying. You want to get to your destination in as little as time as possible--maybe even break your previous record. So with full bellies and empty bladders, simply state to your occupants your main objective and punctuate it with this fundamental rule: No stopping until we get there.
5. Drive safely: You may not like speed limits but you've got your contingency "No stopping" rule. It's important to drive as if you have all the time in the world: you'll get to your destination safer and less bedraggled than you would swerving in and out of cars like a maniac.
6. If you have to stop, stop once: So there are always exceptions to a rule, and a kid screaming in the back that he has to go pee means abandoning rule #4 and stopping somewhere. The best place to pull over is a) the closest one, and b) the place where you can take car of the most needs at once: you or your partner need a coffee? The kids need another snack? You need some napkins to wipe up spills in the back? A place like Tim Hortons will meet those needs and more.
7. Don't stop at the first gas pump you see: It's a habit: get gas in town. But how many times are you driving down a two-lane highway off the 401 and see gas 5 to 10 cents cheaper? If you don't really need gas before you leave, best to wait until you get a little farther out and take advantage of the gas saving.
8. Pack warm stuff: Even if you plan to stay at a hotel resort for the weekend, it's always good to pack your big boots and gloves and hat during the winter months, in the event you have to pull over on the side of the road, or need a boost.
9. Pack your survival kit: Make sure you've got jumper cables, extra windshield wiper fluid, and a multi-tool--for starters. You can have more gear on-hand, but those are the basics.
10. Audiobooks: Whether you have children or you're traveling with your partner, audiobooks are a great way to pass the time and learn something as well. It's easy to put the in-car TV on, but audiobooks for your kids are a much better way to stimulate the brain.
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