5 Driving Essentials for your Summer Getaway
With the weather seeming a bit more summery of the last few days and so many people on my timeline talking about holidays, I thought about now was a good time to talk about driving essentials for your summer getaway. Which no matter if you are heading off in your old banger or slipping into a brand new VW Golf, they will help you get from A-Z with ease.
5 Driving Essentials for your Summer Getaway
First Aid Kit
You never know when someone might get hurt. Especially when you are on your summer frolics, climbing rocks at the sea, and hiking up hills and while plasters are great in your handbag something a little more substantial is always good to have in the car. Think about things like gloves, wipes, gauze and even a Revive‑Aid resuscitation face shield could all be things you pop into your kit and with all the space in a Volkswagen Golf, you won’t find it hard to slip it in.
Something to Eat and Drink
It’s likely to get hot (OK this is the UK, but it still might happen) and you are definitely going to get stuck in a traffic jam. So making sure you have drinks and something to eat close to hand are a must. I also keep a tub of sugar-free gum in my car, just in case things really get bad and I run out of water on a long trip (so far though, it hasn’t been needed).
Road Map
OK, we all love our satnavs, but one thing every care should include, including VW Cars, is a roadmap. After all, you never know when you might need one and hey we all know technology isn’t always the best thing to completely rely upon.
Phone Charger
So you should never be on your phone and drive. That said you should also make sure you have something to top it up with should the battery run low. After all, if you do break down and need to phone someone you’re going to want to know your phone won’t fail you.
High-Vis jacket
Again another for if the worst happens and you break down, a high-vis jacket can make sure you are visible to other road users. While a reflective triangle can give some warning to oncoming traffic that you are there.
Of course, these are just a few of the essentials you may find yourself in need of, if things are really bad and you’re in need of some quick pennies the people over at Cash Lady have some great ideas on how to bring a bit extra in, quickly – check out the post here.
So there you have 5 driving essentials for your summer getaway, but what about you, what items do you make sure you pack into your car before you head away?
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All I need is my mobile to be honest it keeps me occupied, and some water ??
Sounds like you are an easy passenger!
Definitely agree with you list! Such great reminders of things to bring on upcoming road trips.
I hope you have some awesome road trips planned ahead of you!
We love road trips especially the ones where we are allowed to take our fur babies! It’s the best and it’s really important that you’re ready and have everything that you need. These are all a must have.
Sal loves a good car trip! Though not quite so much now she’s old probably shakes her poor bones a bit.
Some great tips, especially the one about having a hi-vis jacket in the car. It would be an idea for everyone travelling in the car to have one available just in case they need to leave the vehicle for any reason. I actually like reading road maps and we always take one when we travel anywhere!
I think in many countries it is law they have to have one, seems strange we don’t have something similar.
Good list, we never go anywhere without a first aid kit or a bottle of water!! We’ve had to use the first aid kit a few times so it’s definitely an essential.
Most definitely, I must check mine and check out if I need to replace anything.
These are some great tips! My car has the phone charger broken so I always have to rely on bringing an extra power bank with me. I like to use my phone as a gps and that drains a lot of the battery.
It is well worth always having a power bank on you I think.
Can’t ever leave for a road trip without bringing snacks with you especially when you have kids! I think this pretty much sums up all the things that you need for a hassle free road trip!
Hopefully it helps some people be a bit more ready for hitting the road.
Yes, all of the above is on our checklist for a fun road trip!
You need to make sure you are ready don’t you.
These are great list of essentials to have in the car! I always have a torch as well as my AA card with me too in case of emergency oh and a hair bubble..just in case me or my daughter needs one especially in Summer time.
Your details for your breakdown company are a must aren’t they!
We never seem to have the road map when we need it! Our SatNav is off for repair at the moment and we’ve had to resort to map reading. I’d forgotten how much I like choosing routes myself!
It is awful when you need one and you don’t have one isn’t it!
Some great essentials here – I find so many people forget about the first aid kits and the high vis jackets but they truly are essentials especially if you break down!
I think it is so easy to just head out and not think about the what if isn’t it.
I used to have a bright orange VW Golf many moons ago and it was built like a tank. By far the most solid and safe car I’ve ever owned, although my Skoda isn’t far off. With kids I’d add sick bags and plenty of MAOAMs – and we’re looking to get a dashcam too.
Hah there is nothing quite like a MAOAM is there.
Always great to be prepared – once you’ve been left stranded you understand the importance
Most definitely it is an awful situation to end up in!
Really useful tips – can never 100% rely on GPS!
Most definitely, technology is great until it stops working.
YES to all of these!! I always have my Google Maps, plenty of water and snacks and a phone charger!!
It really is a must to make sure you are ready for anything that may happen.
These are all perfect! We are planning a summer road trip so I’ll make sure we don’t forget anything.
Ekk good luck I hope your road trip goes really well for you!
My sister just came out to our place today and since they were coming from a different direction they tried to use their phones to get directions. Well, there is often no cell service out here in the middle of nowhere. An old fashioned map is a must.
Oh no what a nightmare! Most definitely I think it something everyone should have in their car.
I totally need to start preparing better … even if it is not for long road trips. I tend to get hungry and a couple of hours on the road without stopping for food and drink is quite impossible for me.
I think where ever you are going having something to eat and drink just in case is a must.
A phone charger is so easy to forget it’s unreal. You’d think it would be one of the first things to pack – unfortunately not.
Your helpful tips are great ??
It is awful isn’t it – we try and bring battery chargers where ever we go now.
I just saved this post! Yes to all these – My phone charger comes with my everywhere!
They are such an important thing aren’t they, especially as batteries just don’t last that long now.
Entertainment for the kids, especially if you get stuck in traffic. A grumpy, bored toddler stuck in a car seat makes traffic jams 29878623 times worse haha!! So, books, toys, colouring books, iPads, whatever it may be to keep them entertained on long road trips is essential 🙂
Haha I can only imagine what that is like!
I’m a snacks and drinks kind of mimi so that’s the first thing I pack in the car when we’re going anywhere. Saves on lots of stops. I have a trip coming up and I plum forgot to grab a map.
Now Ash has been diagnosed type 1 diabetic we have snacks all over the place just for that if nothing else lol.
Check, check, check, down the board. You’ve done a great job of highlighting the needed driving essentials. Thanks for providing this info to us readers 🙂
No problem at all – hopefully I have helped a couple of people as well.
I always have a bottle of water and some snacks in my car!Great tips for everyone.
Water is a must isn’t it – my Dad always keeps a case of bottles which I think is a great idea.
Forgetting a phone charger can be a real nightmare. I also like to have an atlas with me; that is how my parents did a trip!
It is a must isn’t it – phone batteries drain so quickly these days!
I love this guide. It really gave me a reason to look forward to road trips this summer!
Ekk I hope you have some absolutely AMAZING trips ahead of you.
Totally agree with the First Aid Kit! Thanks for sharing this reminder! 🙂
That seems to be the one a lot of people are think oh yes about!
These are great ideas. We have a long road trip planned at the end of May, I think I’ll pick up a map for a back up!
I hope you have an awesome road trip! Definitely worth having a map to hand as a backup!
I just got done putting a first aid kit and put it in our car. I will have to do the other four you’ve mentioned.
Great start, what sort of things did you put in? I really should refresh ours.
Great tips you have here. I always stock up on snack and drinks before a road trip.
It is a must isn’t it – you don’t know when you will need to refuel yourself.
Yes to having something to eat and drink while on a road trip. I never leave home without a snack!
It really is such an important thing to make sure you have on yourself.
We always make sure we have a source of music. Once, before satellite radio, we had a regular radio that wouldn’t pick up out side of our own state. Made for some long trips for the driver.
Oh this is such a good idea, I have to admit we use my phone which means it’s always charged as well as it’s plugged in all the time we are driving.
I agree with you. Thank you for sharing the tips. I need to ensure that i have these before going out.
I am glad people think I am on the right track as well 😉
That’s the top five for sure and the most important. I will add a couple of torch and rain ponchos as well and suncream.
Oh good thinking! We have a couple of rain ponchos in the boot all the time, but hadn’t thought about a torch or suncream!
Phone chargers can really be important as its not only a communication device but can also be a navigation apps. Maps can be helpful when we get lost.
That is so true, phones really do, do so much these days now.
They are things that I normally forget
Oh no! Hopefully, this post will help you remember in future!
now u got me really excited to do a road trip! great tips and will keep this mind!
Ekkk do you have one planned, or is there anywhere you would love to go?
Very helpful, thank you. These are such important things to remember.
I am glad people are finding them useful, I think we all need to make sure we have a safe trip.
This is definitely a great list. We always make sure the car is stock when taking a road trip. Another thing I like to keep in the car is extra blankets.
Blankets are such a good idea, definitely something you need when it gets cold!
I surely agree. This list is essential, safety first. Everybody needs this for sure!
Most definitely you need to make sure you have all your safety checks in place.
I NEVER go on a road trip without a phone charger and snacks! So important!
Most definitely you need to keep yourself fueled as well.
We always had a map in the car back in the day. We don’t usually pack tons of drinks because we prefer them freshly hot or cold but we always pack snacks for a road trip.
It is definitely nice to pick up something fresh on the road.
Summer is a perfect time for getaways and holidays as I’ve come to note! So, perfect driving must be a total consideration for anyone who’ll be on the road. Well, having the first aid kid is definitely amust to avoid issues with nausea and fatigue while on the journey. Also, eateries and that charger are just essentials.
It can be so hard travelling it’s such an energy zapping thing for everyone I think.
So many people I know never take first aid kits with them anywhere, thank you for putting this on the top of your list. Also the Hivis jacket is a good idea
It amazes me as you never know when you might need one.
I think is worth to mention that your high vis jacket should be kept next to your seat and be easy accessible.
I hadn’t thought of that, thank you for sharing.
I always have a bottle of water and some snacks in my car! Can’t wait for those fun and exciting summer trips. xx
Summer is always an exciting time to see all the places you will end up.
Yup, I usually have all of these when we go on a road trip! Food especially. I get hungry often. And books. I always must have books. We’ll be on a road trip this summer.
I hope you have an amazing road trip, any idea where you are going yet?
I love the idea of having a roadmap as a backup. I also make sure I stock up on drinks and snacks before a road trip. Great tips!
It is well worth having as you never know when technology will let you down!
We are heading out next week on a road trip so I read this with interest. Will be making a list and making sure we have everything on it for our road trip.
Good luck! I hope you have an amazing time and your road trip goes smoothly.
I couldn’t agree more about the idea of having a roadmap as our GPS suddenly stopped working and we was in an unfamiliar location. Having a roadmap could have made the experience must less stressful.
Oh no what a nightmare! Good job you had your map to hand.