There’s nothing better than spending time with your partner. With this in mind, no matter how good exploring the open roads with them may sound, it can also be a recipe for disaster if you haven’t given it proper planning and thought, even if you are the best drivers in the UK.
Embarking on a UK road trip can be equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. Visiting new destinations, perhaps some that have been on your travel bucket list for a while and making memories with the person who is closest to you can be an unforgettable experience. However, spending hours on end sitting next to each other in the car can lead to tension, particularly if you had different things in mind.
Monica from the personal development blog Monica Vaklinova shared: “I love planning with my boyfriend. We sit and talk about the place, how much time we can spend there, what kind of transport we need (we prefer to travel by car, so that means petrol money, money for toll roads and how far we’re likely to go), which places we want to visit and how much money we need.”
Before you hop in the car and purchase your cheap weekly car insurance, you’ll need to think about the type of trip you’re planning to take, as well as how long you’re going for and where you’re heading. If you’re planning a road trip with your partner, find out how to make it one you’ll never forget in this guide.
Planning a road trip with your partner
Claire from “What Claire did” said: “We’ve usually had a base somewhere and then planned out in advance where we want to go to make the most of our time somewhere.”
The most important step in arranging a road trip with your partner is establishing what you’re both hoping to get out of the experience. If you both have the same intentions, it minimises the opportunity for miscommunication to occur. Set guidelines for things that you’d like to do, as well as places that you’d like to drive to so you can avoid disappointment. This also allows you to be realistic about your expectations. “Remember to plan who is doing the driving”, shares Jessica from the blog By Jessica. “To make this fair, planning pit stops that are equal distances apart and swapping once you’ve arrived can come in useful”.
This is something that Ashley from From My World: indorses “My best advice for road trips with partners: plan the route together so everyone gets to see something they want to see”. Sitting down and spending a couple of hours together putting towards an initial plan means that you can both make recommendations for things to do, but also work out the best route. Maja from Away with Maja has been on quite a few in both the UK and the US. When asked what her top tip for planning a road trip was, she shared: “we always try to research the places we want to see but stay flexible, so we can allow for new things we find along the way”.
Flexibility when planning a road trip is also important in case unplanned events pop up, such as road closures, breaking down or simply getting lost. Deviating from the route slightly can also allow you to see things that you might have not thought about visiting. However, it is important that you keep an eye on how far off-track you’re going, especially if you have a set end destination in mind.
Ruth from Craft with Cartwright shared with us to: “Have a few options available for weather-dependent days. Don’t be so rigid with your plan, it’ll only lead to stress”.
Essentials for your road trip
If you’re embarking on a long road trip, you should have everything that you need with you. Unplanned stops to pick up items that you already had at home can turn out to be costly, particularly if you’re needing to stop at service stations where the prices are inflated. Packing snacks in the car lowers the likelihood of grumbling stomachs and also means that you can last longer between stops. Other essentials such as phone chargers – both portable and in-car – can help keep your mobile topped up, something which is especially helpful if you’re using it as a satnav or to play music.
READ MORE: The most popular songs for driving playlists
We spoke to Rachel from Rachel Nicole, who advises you to: “plan the best route which involves stop-offs at good food places or attractions and also have a top playlist!” Background noise in the form of a playlist or a podcast is great for those quieter moments. Although a road trip with your partner means that you’re likely to have many stimulating conversations, you’ll likely need to take a break every now and again. Collaborate on a playlist before you leave so that you can listen to a mixture of music. Or, start a podcast together, downloading the episodes onto your phone before you leave to preserve your 4G.
Malikah who is behind the blog Malikah Kelly has one main piece of advice to offer those who are planning a road trip with their partner: “Don’t let him convince you to share a suitcase!” Being responsible for your own things means that you can be sure you’ve got everything that you need with you – something which is important if you’re travelling for a long time. Although you need to be comfortable in the car, it is equally important that you feel prepared. So, make sure you both pack a bag that is a manageable size.
