Top Things to Consider Before you go On a Road Trip

If you want to go on a road trip then you will probably be very excited about your upcoming venture. That being said, you do have to make sure that you prepare. If you don’t prepare then you may find it even more difficult to have the experience you are looking for.

Automatic or Stick Shift?

Automatic cars are very common in the US, but they aren’t as widely available in other countries. First of all, it is wise for you to make sure that you are renting a car you can drive. If the website isn’t showing you the information you need then be sure to talk with customer services before you decide to commit. There are a lot of sites out there that allow you to compare car rental deals and sometimes this can be the best way for you to find what you are looking for.

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Plan your Itinerary

Another thing you need to do is plan your journey and your itinerary. You can do this by mapping points of interest, but at the same time, you need to make sure that you stay flexible. It may be that you want to drive down Route 66 in Kansas, or that you want to view the 12 Apostles in Australia. Either way, if you plan your route based on your top highlights then you can trace a rough route, and this will work wonders for your planning and organization. If you are traveling to a cold country or if you intend on spending a lot of your time outdoors, then pack accordingly and choose a car with a lot of boot space. Pack things like the warmest mens thermal socks too, as this can be an easy thing to overlook.

Right or Left?

In the US, people drive on the right, but 55 countries in the world drive on the left. When you drive on the left, you may notice that your car rental has a steering wheel on the right. Everything here will be reversed, including your wipers and turn signals. The only thing that will stay the same would be the pedals. They are in the same order regardless. Driving on the other side of the road can be a bit of an adjustment but if you ease yourself into it then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to have the best experience.

Your License

You have to make sure that your driving license is going to be accepted. If you are going to a non-English speaking country then you may need to get an IDP, which is an International Driving Permit. This is a paper that contains your driving information, but it is translated into 10 different languages. This is widely accepted in more than 150 countries, so you should explore this if you can as it is a fantastic investment that could save you a lot of trouble when you do make the decision to travel to a new country.