How To Go The Distance When You're TRAVELLING The World By Car

Travelling the world is an experience unlike any other. Firstly you get to see the sights and hear the sounds of the world in a totally different context. ​

Travelling through a city like Paris, you get the beautiful sounds of a foreign language (French is my favourite), the delicious and beautiful cuisine, and the feeling of another world. While people go on many experiences to broaden the mind, it can be quite expensive. So, what is the alternative? Going on a road trip. Some of my absolute favourite travel memory's have been from our road trips around Italy, France, Portugal and Spain And, it is a much cheaper way to get around than flying, but before you embark in your battered old car or your vintage alfa romeo giulia, what do you need to travel effectively?


Make Sure Your Car Is Up To The Job
If you're going on an epic road trip, you need to make sure that your car is going to be able to sustain the hundreds, if not thousands, of miles. This means making sure that your car is a checked over by a mechanic and if it's not up to the task, you might have to ask yourselves if you need to purchase a new one. It may feel like a massive expense, but when you compare this to the costs of flights, you are going to cover a lot more ground for a far cheaper cost.And the last thing you want is to have your lifetime adventure ruined by an unreliable car

​Make The Car Comfy (And Practical)
Comfort while driving, but also while in layovers, is going to be a considerable lifesaver. Many people embarking on road trips end up staying in campsites, so they can save money on hotels. So, if you are going down this route, making sure that there are enough of the essentials to keep you warm and comfy. Because you're going to be living in your car to a certain extent, it's important to make it as home-like as possible. Retractable awnings are one of the simple ways to give yourself a bit of shelter if you are feeling cooped up in the car, and you want to get out and stretch your legs, but the weather isn't letting you. Numerous websites provide these awnings, and you can click for more suggestions here. But, when it comes to the car itself, there are other things that are vital to ensure that you make this a home away from home. Duvets, pillows, are the little items that can make a trip more comfortable will stop you going stir crazy on little sleep. Foldaway camp chairs are also a great idea, 
And lastly, make sure you have a fantastic playlist going in the car. Try to theme it to the county/ country's your visiting to get you in the mood. For example, we listened to the "a good life sound track" while driving around the South of France. Its now our favourite album to listen to while in France and I know In years to come, it will continue to conjurer up the most beautiful memory's. 

Make Sure You Are Nutritionally Sustained
Of course, you can stop somewhere to eat if you are hungry, but what about those long stretches where you can't stop because there's nothing around? Making sure that you are fed, but also healthy, is vital for you to survive the expedition. I find that protein powder is a good idea, as it's practical, you can carry it in bulk, and its nutritionally diverse ( personally I find its great for helping me to stick to my diet). In addition to this, healthy snacks like dried fruit and nuts will help you go the distance. And water... dont forget the water.

On top of this, making sure that you know what you're in for, such as by the rules of the road in a specific country. Driving around the Amalfi coast in Italy for example is an experience unlike any other. Narrow winding roads, bus loads of tourists and motorcycles everywhere  (driving while they take selfies no less) Thankfully we had done our research and knew it would get  a little hairy at points.
Its so important to ensure that you will get the most out of your road trip. You don't want to look back and think that instead of having a life experience and enjoying the culture, you were instead stressed out by the small stuff ! Get practical (something I really have to force myself to do) , and you will go the distance and have the most incredible time!

​Belle
Xoxo