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10 more top travel tips for the holiday

<b>A LITTLE PREPARATION GOES A LONG WAY:</b> Taking the time to prepare for your holiday road trip will ensure you arrive at your destination safely and relaxed. <i>Image: Shutterstock</i>
<b>A LITTLE PREPARATION GOES A LONG WAY:</b> Taking the time to prepare for your holiday road trip will ensure you arrive at your destination safely and relaxed. <i>Image: Shutterstock</i>

Whether you look forward to travelling with the family or hyperventilate at the thought preparation is key to a successful holiday road trip.

Tiger Wheel & Tyre has strategies to help you arrive at your destination safely.

Group marketing executive Joe du Plooy told Wheels24: "If you’re travelling anywhere by car, why take a chance when a little preparation can save a lot of trepidation?"

TRIALS AND ADVENTURES

He added:"Who knows what trials or adventures your road trip will yield, but to help you, we asked our team for their top 10 travel tips."

And here are their answers...

1 Inspect your vehicle - Knowing that belts, hoses and tyres (including the spare) are intact and inflated, and fluid levels are optimal provides peace-of-mind.

2 Plan your route, including stops - There’s no greater stress than wondering if you have enough fuel to make it to your next stop. Consider passengers’ needs too as small children need frequent bathroom breaks and everyone benefits from a leg stretch and break.

3 Pack light - The bulk and weight of packing increases your discomfort and fuel consumption. You should also always check your tyre pressure before a long trip but make sure you haven’t driven too far so your tyres are cool enough to give an accurate result. This will help improve vehicle safety and maintain fuel efficiency.

4 Plan for emergencies - Check that you have a car-jack, spanner, special key if you have wheel locks, an emergency triangle and a torch. Pack a first aid kit for minor medical emergencies and if you have a roadside assistance plan, make sure you have contact details and your policy number nearby.

5 Pack a cooler - This will cut down on stops, save money and, let’s face it, snacks and cool drinks are a good distraction for bored passengers.

6 Occupy the kids - Prepare a bag of new books, toys and games, and dish these out as needed to save your sanity or incentivise good behaviour. The novelty factor alone is worth several hundred kilometers of smiles.

7 Travel on off-peak days - Why take the chance of being stuck in holiday traffic, when leaving a day earlier or later on an off-peak travel day can save you hours of frustration and hundreds of rands in petrol.

8 Stagger your journey - If you’re travelling from Garsfontein to Gansbaai remember there are no awards for getting it done in a day. Rather enjoy the scenery and plan to stop overnight, preferably in a place you haven’t been and would like to explore.

9 Pack car chargers for electronic items - Possibly the only thing worse than being stuck with a dead cellphone, is when the kids’ electronic games run out of juice.

10 Enjoy the ride - Before you leave, do a last-minute check to ensure you have everything, lay down the law for passengers, load your favourite CDs, then take a deep breath and enjoy the journey.

If you’re aiming for less stress and more fun this summer, then why take a chance? Head to your nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre for a free tyre check. For details and to find a store near you this holiday season, visit www.twt.to

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