If you’re saving for a much-deserved holiday this year, you’ll want to make sure you can enjoy every moment of it. One way to do that is to make sure that you are well covered by travel insurance and have peace of mind before and during your trip. No one wants to think about what can go wrong on holiday, and let’s face it you won’t have to once you’ve bought your insurance.
1. Get a Roadside Assistance package before you set off
If you’re planning on driving to your holiday destination it makes sense to check whether or not you are entitled to roadside assistance. Leaving aside the possibility of a puncture which can be dealt with relatively easily, there are many simple mechanical faults which can put paid to your onward journey. This can be particularly difficult if it happens at night, or on a weekend where garages and parts are unavailable. The last thing you would want is to have to abandon your vehicle and hire another one to continue your onward journey. Imagine the luggage and baggage you’d have to transfer never mind the dog and the extended family which you’ve managed to squeeze into your Tardis on wheels! Roadside assistance can be a vital service and whilst you may not ever need to call upon it, it certainly provides peace of mind and valuable help.
2. Check and Bring your Insurance documents
It’s all very well being insured, but unless you’re prepared to memorise every detail of your insurance policy it’s often difficult to remember what’s covered. Moreover, in the eventuality of an incident or being asked to present your documents to the police or a third party, having copies of your insurance will help you deal with situations much more quickly and efficiently. You’ll also have your insurance certificate number and the telephone number of your company should you need to make an urgent call. Packing hard copies of important documents, or indeed emailing these to your own email account is a very useful way of storing them regardless of where you are in the world.
3. Pack a Map!
It’s easy to place your trust in your sat nav or handy phone maps. However, batteries can fail and if the terrain is mountainous you may find you’re completely out of range and are out of ideas as to where on earth you are! This is where accidents are more likely on unfamiliar roads where you’re more likely to get in to difficulties and stray onto narrow winding roads. When your passengers are tired and hungry you’ll be glad if you’ve got a contingency plan and can rely on old fashioned reliable mapping technology and even a foolproof compass to help you navigate to your luxury hotel accommodation. Failing that asking for directions is one way to get to know the locals!
4. Bring Medications
If any of your party have medical conditions, and are taking medication, it’s important to ensure that you take a list of the names of medication and a spare prescription should you need to get replacement drugs. Having a spare set of meds is very important if the patients health can be adversely affected as a result of not having them. You may be travelling over Public or Bank holiday sand it may be difficult to get access to a doctor who can prescribe such medication urgently. Moreover, having general pharmaceuticals on standby such as painkillers and a well stocked medical kit in your car is good practice and can really help in the event of someone becoming ill or injuring themselves.
5. Safe driving
A good torch which can be set up at the roadside can prove invaluable if you have to stop and change a wheel. Moreover, making sure that you have the correct tools and wheel locks to change your wheels is going to save a lot of heartache and get you back on the road faster. Packing a reflective jacket and a safety triangle may be a very useful safety kit to have. Moreover ensuring that your spare wheel is in good order is something you shouldn’t’ set off without doing. When going on holiday, always think safety first. Putting safety first will keep your passengers and other road users safer and lead to a restful and enjoyable onward journey. Brushing up on your highway code and refreshing your knowledge can also help you to be a more confident and safer motorist. If you want to brush up on your knowledge of roundabouts check out this great ‘How To’ guide from AXA Insurance.
6. Distract the passengers not the driver!
If you’re planning a long road trip and have young children in the car life will be much easier if you can bring with you some gadgets and gizmos to keep them occupied. Bored children can end up becoming naughty children just because they are seeking attention and when you’re driving that’s the last thing you want to have to worry about. Plan your stop off points and don’t be too rigid about sticking to them if you feel it’s necessary to stop off sooner or later. Flexibility will help you and your passengers enjoy the trip and will also help you to feel fresher when you arrive at your destination. So, try and swap driving duties also if you have a competent co-driver as motorway driving can be monotonous and monotony can also lead to dangerous lapses in concentration. Above all, enjoy your holiday and make sure you get plenty of rest on stopovers!
