Deciding on a holiday travel destination
Its almost time to pack the car and round up the family for that long awaited break. Just remember to be prepared.
The forthcoming Easter holidays are the perfect time to whisk the family away on that road trip to the coast or capitalise on the bank holiday weekend to travel with friends.
Would-be travellers have many options, both locally and outside South Africa’s borders, to choose from.
In order to help you make the most of the holiday, the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) provides a number of tools on its website to help users choose and prepare for the trip to their ideal holiday destination, whether this trip takes the form of a self-drive trip ‘round South Africa, a cross-border adventure with your family, or an exciting holiday overseas. These tools will help you be prepared, assist you in planning in advance and also help make sure that you and your travelling companions are covered.
Road warriors can help ensure a smooth travelling experience by employing tools such as the AA’s TomTom-powered Route Planner to chart the quickest path to their destination and back, the AA’s Road Conditions Report to get the most up-to-date info on road works and road conditions, as well as the AA’s Quality Assurance Accommodation (AAQA) website, which offers travellers access to a variety of guest houses, B&Bs, hotels, game lodges, as well as self-catering accommodation.
If your road trip extends beyond the borders of the country, you will also find the section on vehicle stickers, travel insurance, border post hours, Carnet de Passages en Douane, and cross border information quite helpful.
Tips to help you get there and home, safely
In order to ensure a pleasant journey, you need to plan a little ahead of time to avoid or minimise trip spoilers such as the heavy traffic that is a staple of South Africa’s major road routes and border posts during this time. The AA has put together some useful advice designed to make your trip easier and safer. Any journey with a thousand smiles begins with the first step of packing right:
1. First aid – You need to be prepared for any eventuality on your trip, including the possibility that someone may get injured. Don’t get caught off-guard, pack a first aid kit.
2. Sunblock – Just like biltong, the Big 5, and the weekend braai, South Africa is well known as a sun tanner’s paradise, making sunblock an essential item on any traveller’s packing list.
3. Torch – Unfortunately, loadshedding has become a part of life and you do not want to be left in the dark.
4. Camera – Nowadays, sharing your special holiday memories with your loved ones and close friends is just a click away thanks to apps such as Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. Ensure you capture those moments in the best detail by packing a camera as mobile devices do not always pack the most capable snappers.
5. Warm clothing – Despite winter being some time away still, the local weather can be as predictable as the outcome of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Make sure you have something warm for those chilly days.
6. Umbrella – As highlighted above, the weather can change in an instant and you do not want to be trapped in an African thunderstorm without an umbrella.
7. Bottled water – Avoid swapping scenic holiday vistas for a view of the loo as a result of drinking unclean tap water. Make sure you pack your own bottled water.
8. Snacks – Snacking passengers are quiet passengers. In addition, snacks also come in handy when you are hungry and there isn’t a restaurant, garage or take-away in sight.
Besides packing the perfect travelling bag, ensuring that you are prepared for any eventuality with regard to your car (or hired vehicle for the trip) can help make the difference between memorable trip and forgettable travelling nightmare.
You should keep in mind that many breakdowns are caused by minor problems that can be solved, that is – if you have the right equipment with you.
By keeping the following items handy, you can save yourself a lot of trouble and expense:
1. Fire extinguisher.
2. Aerosol tyre inflator – contains gas and latex to seal tyre punctures.
3. Jump leads.
4. Tow rope.
5. Spare ignition keys – preferably stored in a magnetic case somewhere on the outside of the car such as behind a bumper or inside a hubcap for instance.
6. Warning triangle.
7. Strong adhesive tape.
8. Jack.
9. Wheel spanner.
10. Compact tool box.
11. Vehicle technical handbook.
In addition to these tips, you may also find tips on travelling with pets and driving abroad, handy when planning and preparing for your trip, along with the AA’s checklists for camping and home security.
Hopefully all of these tips will help you and your passengers decide on the perfect destination, plan the route there and back, and arrive safely home after a joyful, fun-filled Easter holiday trip.
