Prepare yourself

When preparing for road trips people often forget about the most important factor. You will probably shift your focus towards your vehicle and its needs, but what you should really be doing is looking at your own. Preparing yourself is the most important part of going on the road.

Road trips are much longer than you think. Most of the trip won’t be you driving while surrounded by beautiful coastlines and interesting locations. The great majority of your time spent on the road is going to be you and your family surrounded by nothing but open road and barren terrain. If you’re lucky, you might even run into some unplanned fun times. Still, you will need to find something to keep you all occupied while heading toward your next destination. Start by preparing a lot of snacks for the road. There’s nothing like a bag of chips to quench your hunger when you’re on a break.

You’ll need to prepare for the drive itself. A good night’s sleep is imperative if you want to function. Not getting enough shut-eye is one of the most dangerous things you can do before you get behind the wheel. Keep that in mind the night before you decide to head out.

Be smart with gas

Everyone knows that road trips aren’t exactly free. Getting someplace is going to cost you a pretty penny in terms of fuel. You want to be environmentally conscious during your trip and spend as little as possible. This can mean planning ahead a little bit. Predict where your trip will take you and find the most efficient way to get there. Maps won’t do you much good because they don’t show things like elevation. If you’re driving on flat terrain, it’s going to save you a lot of fuel and headaches in the organization. Rough roads aren’t fun to tread on and they don’t help you conserve fuel.

The way you drive is almost as important as where your road takes you. Acceleration takes up a large chunk of your fuel. Obviously, you can’t go anywhere if your car doesn’t accelerate, but you can mitigate the fuel loss by accelerating slower.

Be smart about what you bring on the trip. Having things that are a bit too heavy will slow you down significantly. Think of anything you put in your car as an additional cost in terms of fuel. If it’s more efficient to buy something elsewhere instead of bringing it with you, that might be your best bet.

Stay safe and alert

Road safety is one of those things nobody should take for granted. Travelling by car is no joke. It might be extremely widespread and ubiquitous at this point, but it’s still dangerous at its core. You’re driving at very large speeds in a humongous death machine that weighs literal tons. Staying safe should be your priority.

Start by checking the functionalities of your car. All the lights that signal other drivers should be in tip-top shape. When that’s taken care of, you shouldn’t forget a first aid kit. They can be particularly useful if you’re stuck somewhere where people can’t get to you in time.

Make sure your car is ready

Something like a road trip isn’t going to be like a regular drive with your car. Normally, you might drive a couple of miles to a destination before leaving your vehicle. This doesn’t put a lot of stress on your car. You usually have a lot of stops in-between due to things like traffic lights and traffic jams. However, going on a road trip is a whole different story. You’re not just putting a huge amount of stress on your car; you’re also doing it to your car’s tires.

You don’t want your vehicle to break down in the middle of nowhere. It has to be prepared before you head out towards your desired location. It might be wise to take it for a spin to your local auto repair shop in order to check if everything is working fine. It’s easy to take a risk when the nearest car shop is down the block. When you’re out there in the wilderness, you might not want to get stranded.

Check hotels and make reservations

If your trip is long enough, you’re going to want to have a place to stay for the night. When you’re travelling alone, the uncomfortable car backseat could be a viable alternative. However, travelling with your family makes this impossible. You will want to have a nice clean bed for all of you to lay down and rest.

Booking hotels can get quite tricky. This is especially true when you’re on a road trip. You might not have planned out the entirety of your trip before leaving. Some people like a little bit of spontaneity. So how will you know which hotels to book? The best idea is to take a tiny risk with this. You don’t have to book the hotels in advance, but you might want to check if the hotels along the way have a ton of available rooms during the time you’re travelling. This way, you can check in and they will likely still have some rooms left.

No matter where you’re headed, car trips are some of the most fun activities you can partake in. When you find yourself on the open road, you’re going to be glad you made this decision. Just make sure you’ve taken the right steps to prepare for this kind of trip.

The post Top 5 tips that will make your family road trip easier appeared first on Derek Time.

Taking a break from today’s exhausting work schedule is essential for every individual to rejuvenate and enhance productivity. However, most people in India refrain from vacationing due to various reasons, the major one funding. Be it for a peaceful stay or an adventurous voyage, a sufficient fund is required for flight bookings, accommodation, shopping, food, and miscellaneous expenses.

A large number of Indians save up funds over time to finally take their dream vacation. Yet, they still have to limit their itinerary and plans to the funds accumulated.

If you are planning for a vacation with your friends or family, you should plan for finance in advance including hotel accommodation, ticket bookings, food, shopping, activities, etc. during a holiday.

Evaluating the budget is the first step to plan a successful vacation. Consider your preferred destination, flight, accommodation, food, and miscellaneous costs. These help in deciding the loan amount which can precisely fund your expenses during a trip.

Check out the 8 best places in India to visit this holiday season.

1. Ladakh: Jammu and Kashmir

Take a break from your monotonous lifestyle and live like a nomad in Ladakh. Pleasure your eyes with indigenous festivals of Indo-Tibetans. Let the barren panorama mesmerize you with its beauty. Ladakh is a top travel destination for numerous travelers especially for motorcycle aficionados. For the normal traveler, expenses will be around Rs. 40,000 for a single person (6 nights 5 days).

Don’t let the expense bother you because you have the option to avail a travel loan. Apply for one and cherish the journey without any financial constraints.

2. Majuli: Assam

Visit Majuli, the largest river island in the world. India’s only island district, it can be the perfect getaway to enjoy the evergreen charm of Assam. Consider staying in the bamboo cottages and experiencing nature up close and personal.

Assam is one of the tea capitals of India. But don’t forget to explore the Kaziranga Wildlife and Manas National Park to experience pristine wildlife. Entertain yourself with activities like mountain biking, boat racing, camping, rafting and more.

You can opt for tour packages which range between from Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 60,000 per person.

3. Valley of Flowers: Uttarakhand

The Valley of Flowers is an unforgettable experience for every reveler who has traveled to this exotic vale of rare flora and fauna. It is easily accessible via a flight from Jolly Grant Airport. Average packages start from Rs. 25,000 to 40,000 per person.

Although the phenomenal varieties of wildflowers are the main attractions, keep an eye out for rare sights such as the Himalayan black bear langur, flying squirrel, etc.

4. Karnimata temple: Rajasthan

Karnimata, a manifestation of Durga, is believed to protect the rats as her lost sons! This is the USP of this temple, one of its own in the whole world, where devotees care for as many as 20 thousand rodents for devotion.

However, Rajasthan is the land of royals. You must add Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Bikaner to your travel itinerary. A trip to this south-western desert state will obviously require a lump sum of funds.

5. Silk route: Sikkim

An ancient trade route connecting India to far-flung places of south-western Europe, a silk route tour is for travelers who wish to take a trip into the past. The zig-zag roads are picturesque beyond words with snowy mountains in the background and rare orchids jutting out from the corners. Make sure you add Aritar Lake and Rishikhola to your trip.

6. Gir National Park – Gujarat

The Gir National Park is the nation’s pride. It is the last sanctuary for the regal Asiatic lion and an obvious must-visit. The protected forest area and wildlife sanctuary are perfect for a safari tour.

Other than trying to spot a lion, keep an eye out for more than 300 species of birds, antelopes, reptiles and other fauna. Consider a trip to Gir the closest you can get to experience wildlife in the wild other than the African savannah!

7. Lakshadweep Island

The cluster of 36 exotic islands is a must visit if you want the crystal blue waters, sandy beaches and your privacy to yourself. Travelers throughout the world flock to the Lakshadweep to make memories of its sun-kissed beaches.

Avail a travel loan to make even your last-minute vacation plans perfect. Know how to calculate travel loan EMI online and manage your finances accordingly to easily pay off the EMIs after the vacation.

Do not let finances come between you and your dream vacation. Apply for such loans from lenders who offer instant approval. Learn the loan amount as well as the repayment options they can offer. Plan your loan repayment accordingly and enjoy the vacation without any afterthought.

The post 7 Unique Places to Visit in India appeared first on Derek Time.