Staycation advice: 4 tips for making the most of your road trip

Now that the weather is cheering up a little, your mind may be turning to a summer holiday. Although most restrictions on international travel have now lifted, many holidaymakers are, it seems, happily planning for 2022 to be the Year of the Staycation.

There are several virtuous reasons to take a staycation — they're good for the wallet, good for the planet, and good for the economy. But let's face it, the most compelling reason to stay in Britain this year is to take advantage of the extraordinary beauty on offer.

From Land's End to John O'Groats, the British Isles teem with breath-taking scenery, inspiring museums and galleries, and gorgeous local produce – and it's all there on your doorstep, ready to be explored and enjoyed. Just make sure you pack an emergency umbrella…

Part of the appeal of the staycation, as opposed to the traditional holiday abroad, is that it can combine a city or country break with the excitement of a road trip. Sure, there are some jaw-dropping sights to be seen from a train window, but many travellers prefer the buzz of a journey by car.

So whether you've set your sights on a week of sunbathing on the beach, or are hungry to explore museums and galleries, you're going to want a road trip that's as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

Here, then, are some tips for achieving just that – the thrill of the open road with as few of its stresses as possible.

1. Be your own route planner

For most of us, gone are the days of reading out directions from an A-Z. The wonders of GPS technology are available to anyone with a smartphone or satnav, and it's a doddle to simply punch in your destination and let the satellites do the heavy lifting.

That said, there's something to be said for checking your route in advance. It's better to know there are roadworks ahead – and have a detour up your sleeve – than to have them rudely shatter your mobile idyll. The same goes for unpredictable disruptions such as road accidents.

Knowing available detours also has a positive effect on petrol efficiency, and means you can stay within your gas budget. (Side tip: if you're budgeting for petrol usage on your road trip, make it a little higher than it would be on a smooth journey to factor in these unexpected obstacles.)

Planning your route also means you can schedule service station breaks, something that will benefit both the driver and passengers. Having a detailed itinerary means you have an answer to any disgruntled passengers, young or old.

2. Write a checklist of road trip essentials

Before hitting the road, it pays to have a handy list of road trip essentials – some obvious (driver's licence, insurance, and so on), some less so. (Condiment sachets to perk up a service station sandwich? Well, it's worth a try!)

You will of course have your fingers crossed for a blissfully incident-free break, but it's still in your interest to pack for the less attractive eventualities – a roadside emergency kit, for instance, and a first aid kit for any cuts and bruises.

As mentioned above, most of us now rely on GPS technology to be our personal navigator, which is all well and good until your phone or Satnav dies. In this situation, you'll be thanking your lucky stars that you kept that dogeared paper map in the boot.

If you want to save a bit of cash on your road trip, a travel mug or refillable water bottle is ideal. And while you're at it, why not pack some snacks? It won't make the difference between a budget holiday and a luxury one, but it will free up some cash for you to splash when you arrive at your destination.

Oh, and you've packed your umbrella, right? This is a staycation in Britain, you know…

3. Lay on some in-car entertainment

We'll hazard a guess you'll be packing phones and tablets for the ride, especially if there are little ones in tow. So make sure you pack headphones to allow for a bit of private downtime, and chargers to avoid any battery-powered wobblies!

Whether you get your music on streaming services or are still packing an old CD player, a playlist or mixtape for the journey can be a godsend. Putting together a mix that caters to everyone will do wonders for morale, as will a suitable podcast or audiobook to keep people's minds off the number of miles to the next pit stop.

And, of course, there are always old-fashioned singalongs, word games, and window gazing to keep you occupied as you reach your destination.

4. Get insured

You might think that taking a break in your home country means you don't need to bother with travel insurance. Certainly, the UK's free healthcare means you don't have to worry about health insurance, but there are other good reasons to insure yourself and anyone joining you.

If you're taking any valuables with you, like smartphones or tablets, you should make sure these are covered before you ride. Some contents insurance policies have an "away from home" extra, but if yours doesn't, make sure you take out travel insurance. You don't want your holiday memories to be sullied by the loss of a favourite gadget, after all.

Similarly, many unforeseen circumstances can throw a spanner in the works and stop you from taking the road trip you planned. If you suddenly find yourself unable to take your holiday because of illness or car troubles, then travel insurance is indispensable when trying to recoup holiday costs.

Car hire in the North East

So there you have it – four handy tips to help maximise your chances of having an enjoyable road trip.

But before you drive off into the sunset, have you considered hiring a car? At Metro Vehicle Hire, we have a fleet of cars that would be perfect for your summer road trip. Just zip on over to our list of cars for hire and do a spot of window shopping.