Whenever you are about to embark on a longer trip, or if you haven’t been away for awhile, there is always so much to do before you go. If you are like us then you are probably working as well as trying to get everything organised. Follow these 5 Trip Planning Tips and you will be organised and ready to go in no time.
1. PLAN YOUR DESTINATION
Deciding on where you want to go is a big part of trip planning. If you only have two weeks holidays, you won’t want to spend the whole two weeks travelling. So choosing a destination that is not to far away may be important.
We try and cover the longest distance on our first day. Then if we are travelling to different areas we try and spend two to three days in one spot before we move onto the next place. I also like to have an idea of some places to stay. There is nothing worse than arriving at your intended destination and finding that everywhere is booked out. Of course we don’t mind changing plans if we see something of interest along the way. It is also great to be flexible if you decide that you really like a spot and want to stay longer.
To help me decide what to see and do in an area I grab some Visitor Guides. You can pick these up at camping shows and most Visitor Information Centres have a good range of information. I also use our Camps Australia Wide book and WikiCamps to help find free and low-cost campsites.
2. REVIEW YOUR NEEDS
Now I know that what everybody takes camping or caravanning is a very personal choice. We have had our camper trailer for six years now and what’s in it hasn’t really changed much in that time. However, now that the kids are older they don’t travel with us very often so I have taken out their camp stretchers, camp chairs and extra towels.
It’s always a good idea to check out the contents of your trailer or van before a trip. That way you can remove things that you won’t need or stock up on things that you will need. It’s also a good time to make up a shopping list or raid the pantry for essentials like flour, sugar, tea, coffee etc.
3. MAINTENANCE
If you haven’t done a trip for a while or you have only been on short trips now is the time for some good old fashioned maintenance. A full vehicle service is probably a good idea if you are planning a really big trip. If it’s more of a shorter trip you can probably check your vehicle out yourself. Check things like water and oil levels, tyre pressure and make sure all your lights and indicators are in working order. Don’t forget to check that your spare tyre is in good condition as well.
4. MEAL PLAN
Planning what meals you are going to have whilst you are away can save you a heap of money when you are on the road. It also means that you won’t waste any food, as you have taken the right amount with you. We tend to keep our camping meals fairly simple. Barbecues and salads are easy and healthy but we don’t mind the occasional Camp Oven Roast either. You can download a copy of Camping Meal Planner to help you out with planning your meals.
5.PACKING
The temptation to over-pack is always present. I know I am guilty of throwing in an extra pair of shoes or a pair of jeans for ‘just in case’. But the more things you take means more weight to tow. This then means higher fuel consumption for your tow vehicle as the extra load is placed on the engine. I try to limit my packing to five sets of clothes. If we are just in the car travelling I will often wear the same set for two days in a row. Of course it is much easier packing for summer travel than for winter travel. I don’t like being cold so warm clothes are essential for me.
When you do start packing, don’t forget things like your camera, charger leads and any medication you might need to take. This is also a good time to check that your First Aid Kit is stocked and up to date. Don’t forget that some things like alcohol wipes, eye drops etc have an expiry date.
I’m still using the same set of four plastic drawers to store food, cooking stuff and odds and ends and I can fit everything I need in them. If I can’t fit it in those drawers, it doesn’t go!
See you on the road!
Listen in to their podcast episode https://allaroundoz.com.au/podcasts/travelling-and-working-around-australia/
Hey, Mel. Awesome tips! I would say that the top priority should be vehicle maintenance. That’s one thing we cannot risk to forget. Even the tools and accessories we need for our vehicle shouldn’t be missed. I always visit my mechanic before a trip to make sure everything is good. Then the first aid kit would be the next on the priority list.