Although it’s fun to take an unplanned road trip, que sera
sera, it’s important to consider issues about safety, budget, time and
destination to enjoy the trip smoothly. Lots of things might happen in a road
trip and being prepared is your back up to any circumstances.
What you need to
consider when taking road trips depend on the purpose of you trip. Purpose?
Yes. Either will it be an aimless journey or a mapped out destination.
WHERE TO GO
It may be the place
where you are born or where your parents grew up. A trip home gives one a recollection
of their past. So, why not make a schedule of a trip going back to your roots.
Visit a relative or childhood friends.
- Festivals or Fiesta Season
 |
| Sinulog Festival in Cebu |
We Filipinos celebrate different festivals as an honor to patron saints. Each
hometown and provinces held festivities every year. Why not research festival
schedule from nearby provinces and plan a trip from town to town. Tip: Avoid a
road trip during Flores de Mayo season as you’ll get stuck on heavy traffic due
to processions and parades. Or, if you’re ready to get stuck on traffic, and
get a glimpse of the beauty of the floats and santacruzan, might as well go and
join the parade.
It is everyone’s
favorite reason for making a trip. Who would not want to try new menus from the
other side of the country? Like, the Sisig of Pampanga or the spicy Laing of
Bicol. Just make sure to eat moderately, you’re on the road remember…. public
comfort rooms are not always comfortable neither always accessible.
Have you been in
Baluarte Zoo in Vigan? Or in Banna, Ilocos Norte and tried the new Zipline
adventure? Visiting new places you’ve never been and discovering what it has to
offer is another perfect reason to plan a road trip. You wouldn’t want to be
left behind of the new talk of the town, anyways.
- Spiritual or Religious Quest
 |
| Kamay ni Hesus Shrine |
Every year before or
during summertime we observe Holy Week as Catholics. It is a regular holiday in
the country as a tradition and a perfect time for busy people to go on
vacation. It’s a great time also to plan a trip relevant to the occasion like a
visit to holy places or do a retreat or a pilgrim. Why not try Kamay ni Hesus
shrine in Lucban, Quezon, or a visit to Mt. Banahaw
in Dolores also in Quezon. This kind of trip offers one a reconnection to
spirituality not just plainly looking for fun.
Among these reasons,
there are other things to consider in choosing a road trip destination. Such
as;
Budget
Of course, what are
you going to spend on food, accommodation, toll and entrance fees, “toilet
fee”, and most importantly, Gas? Whether you’re driving your own wheels or
rented a vehicle for your trip, everything will depend on your budget. Be it a
lavish expedition or a frugal journey, it is quite important to have enough
funds to spend especially on emergencies.
Weather
Although it is not a
common practice for every “Juan” to check on weather conditions, why not try
practicing it every time you plan a trip. We all know that this country
experiences heavy rainfall that causes floods and landslide, so be prepared and
advance in knowing where to go to avoid such calamities while on the road. You
wouldn’t want to get trapped or stranded on a flooded road and ruined your
vacation.
WHAT YOU NEED
After confirming
your destination, budget and the weather condition, what’s next is making a
list of what to bring along in your journey. It will save time and effort if
you think you’ve packed all the necessary things.
Your Car – is
it perfectly conditioned for a long drive? Spare tire, air, breaks, tools, and
Gas? Bringing your own car maybe fun as you’ll be able to practice your driving
skills on a long less traffic roads, but do you know what to do in case of flat
tires and over-heats?
Food for snacks – bringing your own baon for the trips saves you some penny. Foods that
can be bought on the road most of the time are pricey and parking sometimes
takes time and cause delays. So enjoy sightseeing and some chatting while
dipping on snacks and drinks you brought along. Just be a responsible citizen
and don’t litter especially on the road..
Emergency Kit
– being prepared beats the odds. Whatever circumstances may occur, always have
something to pull out of your compartment. Tool box, first aid kit,
communication gadgets, map or a compass (google map is the best if you have
wifi), and emergency contact numbers are some of the most important to have in
your journey.
Itinerary or Route Plan – it’s a road trip, there’s plenty of stop over, roads and streets to
take, towns to pass by, bridges to cross and crossroads to choose. Map the trip
by listing down possible places to stop by and distances of every destination.
Make a list of possible activities and objectives you’d encounter along the
way. That way, you won’t have to miss anything or worst, get lost.
Although, to some
people getting lost might be fun to discover new places, routes and
destination, if you’re not that resourceful and can’t read maps... it’s a waste of
time.
Pack your things
days ahead, this way, you can have an ample time to check all the necessary supplies
and stuffs. As the day draw near, you might also think of other things to bring
or another place to go for the coming trip.
On the contrary, it’s
an adventure! And could be more exciting and more awesome if it became spontaneous
and unanticipated..
The best thing…? Don’t
forget to take pictures (obviously), so you can document every steps you’ve
left and footprints you’ve planted on places you’ve been.. (and something to
post on your Facebook as well)..
Have a safe trip.
