Top 10 Essentials You Need For a Road Trip

Road trips are a great way to spend quality time with those you love. But to make sure it is as comfortable as possible, there are a few things you need to have. Here are some of them:

1. A Reliable Vehicle

The last thing you want is to get stranded on a highway in an unknown part of the country with no mechanic or access to help in the middle of the night. With a sound vehicle, you can eliminate the major concern of being stranded on a road trip. Also, carry your drivers’ licences, car registration papers, water for the engine, brake and transmission fluid, car air freshener, spare tire, car emergency kit, and any other thing FRSC may ask of you when they flag you down or when you reach a security roadblock.

2. Personal Care Kit

Being stuck up in a car for long hours takes its toll after a while. To make the trip comfortable, you need a few items for your personal care. Such as hand sanitisers, baby wipes, tissues, torch lights, travel pillow, breath mints, blankets, towel, and toiletries.

3. Navigation Gear

Most cars and android phones these days have inbuilt GPS units but since most places in Nigeria aren’t logged into Google Maps, they may not be 100% effective. Get a detailed, updated map of Nigeria to act as a guide. If you know people who have lived in the cities you will pass through, ask them what the best travel routes through those cities are. 

4. Clothing To Wear

Choose clothes that are light and breathable, dark-coloured clothes preferably. Wear flip-flops or slip-on shoes easy to get on when you stop at a location where you need to relieve yourself or get a meal. If you take your road trip during the August break, make provisions for a change in weather. Carry Cardigans, Umbrellas or Rain Ponchos, scarves and anything to keep you warm and dry. Also, keep a pair of sunglasses close by in case the sun’s rays obstruct your view. Keep a change of clothes handy.

5. Snacks For The Road

Sometimes, you might get hungry before the next stop. As with all travelling tips, you need to have some snacks to keep your belly full and drinks to stay hydrated. Having a home-made Zobo and a refill bottle of water is better than carrying sachets of water around. Also, having a Gala, cookies, kpekere, biscuits, nuts (like groundnut, almonds or walnut) etc. are also good choices. Just make sure the snacks are healthy, light and crunchy.

6. Entertainment Kit

Having electronic games and books to read is good for being on your own. But when you want an activity that includes others on a road trip, go for non-electronic games. Quizzes, sing-along songs, stories or history lessons about the landmarks you encounter will suffice. Also, you can play music, something upbeat to keep the driver awake. The less repetitive the songs and the longer the play-list, the better.

7. Electronic Devices

If you plan to carry your Phones, Kindle, WiFi Modems, Tablets or any electronic with you for entertainment and connectivity on a road trip, make sure you have a plan to keep it charged. You can get chargers with multiple USB ports to charge more than one device using the car as you go. Don’t forget to take a WiFi device in case you run out of mobile network in some places.

8. Cash

Keep pocket change at hand because you never know when you might need to pay a toll gate fee or sort Awon boys something on the road. It is also good to have cash on hand to buy travel snacks from roadside sellers.

9. Bags

You do not need a lot of clothes for a road trip. Two tops and trousers in a duffel should be okay. But if you intend to stay more than a week, then a small suitcase should be perfect. To stack your personal effects in the boot and keep necessary accessories in a tote bag near you in the car. For a family, a soft, wheeled suitcase will do the trick. Or you can order a trunk organiser from eBay or Amazon Also make sure you have a trash bag in the car. In a place like Lagos, throwing food or items out the window can get you in trouble with the law. So bag your trash during the journey and empty it our properly at a restaurant or petrol station when you make a top.

10. A Plan

This may not be a tangible thing but it is very important.  It is good you know before you set out where you will be visiting during the trip before arriving at your destination. Also, figure out where you might spend the night – in your car or at a hotel? If in a hotel, how much per night are you willing to spend? Determine how many days you want to be on the road and what to do if your plans get derailed.

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Ann Esievoadje is a freelance writer who is passionate about encouraging a reading culture and personal development. She has authored two books, The Quilt (fiction) and Being Mummy and Me (non-fiction). She manages Pulchra Publishing which offers a content creation/editing, transcription, different forms of writing (including Ghostwriting) service and her blog, Life Love and Anything Goes at annesievoadje.blogspot.com.ng. You can reach her at annesievoadje@gmail.com

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