If you’re planning a road trip, a little pre-planning goes a long way toward making your journey pleasant and safe. Before you head out on the road, take the time to go through this travel checklist to be sure you’ve covered all the bases.
A. Car Safety Checklist
a. Check the fluids.
- Check the oil, and top up if necessary. Better yet, have an oil change if you’re traveling any long distances. When adding oil, always use the weight recommended for your vehicle.
b. Check all your belts for wear, cracking or tears. Have any that show signs of wear replaced.
c. Check the wiper blades. If it’s been a year or more since they’ve been replaced, do it. Trying to peer through smeared raindrops is a recipe for disaster.
d. Check your tires. Make sure that they’re inflated to recommended PSI, and that the tread isn’t dangerously worn.
B. Emergency Kit
Being prepared in an emergency can spell the difference between inconvenience and tragedy. You can purchase a roadside emergency kit with most of these items in it then add to it, or put together one of your own from scratch. In either case, keep all the items together and easily accessible so that you’ll be able to get to them if you need them.
- A flashlight is a must – most experts suggest two. Do yourself a favor and opt for the best LED flashlight you can find. LED lights tend to be far more durable and can take being knocked around in the boot of your car. They draw less power from the battery, so are less likely to run out of juice just when you need them most. A handheld torch and a lantern are both good ideas. Tossing a couple of inexpensive LED penlight flashlights in the glove can prove handy for map reading and lighting the way to the john if needed.
- A first aid kit is another must. A prepackaged one with bandages, gauze, tape, antibiotic, antiseptic and other basic first aid necessities should be fine.
- Emergency roadside flares can save your life by making you easy to see from a distance. Standard roadside flares can fail to work if they’re damp, and can be dangerous. A number of companies make LED safety lights and roadside LED safety flares that can mark your position on the road shoulder, or serve as an emergency beacon if you’re lost.
- A multi-tool or utility knife will come in handy. A fixed blade hunting knife and pocket knife will give you all the cutting edges you need for most emergency situations.
- Aerosol tire sealant can get you to the next service station in the event of a tire puncture.
- A blanket to wrap up in if need be.
- Jumper cables
- Bottled water
- An extra gallon of engine coolant. While you’re at it, tuck away an extra quart of oil and a pint of transmission fluid.
C. First Aid Kit
- Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin tablets
- Antihistamine
- Anti-nausea/motion sickness medication
D. Health and Comfort
a. Pack a cooler of healthy snacks, juices and water and keep it stocked.
There are several things that you can do to get the best airfares available. If you are planning a trip, you should plan to spend at least some of your time researching the airfare options that you have. You may be floored by the overall cost of them, but in the end, you can often find a deal if you know where to look. So, get up, get some paper and pen and find the right airfares to make your smile come back.
Finding airfare prices is easy as they are available throughout the web. But, that is not to say that the first one you find is going to be the lowest. Here are some tips to help you to find the best options when it comes to tickets.
• Be as open as possible. Simply, if you can fly virtually anytime of the day or night as well as any day of the week, you’ll be able to find a better deal than if you are restricted. Often, the least expensive times to fly are early morning hours and late night hours. Flying during the week, Tuesday through Thursday is less expensive than flying on Friday or Sunday evening.
• Add a stop. If you add in a stop along the way, you can also add a little cash back into your pocket. Again, the more options that you are okay with the less it will cost you. Look for all options that will take you to your destination.
• Use services. Yes, it is true that you can go to the airlines and book your airfare right through them. But, the very honest truth of the matter is that you will likely pay more to do just that. Airlines provide excellent prices to companies who can sell their tickets. And, because there are several companies available, they are competing and will offer you a lower rate. They are online which means it will only take you seconds to compare rates between them.
The best airfares are those that do not cost you too much. You’ll save a good amount of money by simply paying attention to what is out there. The good news is that you can find it all right online.
Article Source: http://gestbiz.com/articles
