The Right Car For a Perfect Family Road Trip

A good car for a road trip should have enough room for everyone including the fun of the trip. The location and the type of roads you will drive on also matter when you rent a car for a road trip. Rental cars can be found everywhere in the country and offer any range of road trip pleasure from dusty road trips to speedy freeway thrill drives.

Cost.

When you rent a car, the charges involved are daily rent charges including taxes and insurance and fuel, when going for a very long trip say 2000 miles or more, the wear and tear on the car is just too much. The mileage increase is also bad for your car’s resale value, If you rent a car, these costs are covered by the rental company as long as you bring it back in good shape.

Road Support.

Rental companies will come in handy if you get trouble on your road trip. It is easier than looking for a mechanic in a new environment.

Space and speed.

A road trip may involve taking on some extra baggage. You may need a mid-size or full size SUV or a bigger van for a big family and friends trip. If you are out to feel the wind and view the landscape, sporty convertibles are available in many ranges at affordable prices for rent.

New Environment and fun.

Road trips are more fun in a new environment. The family may be too used to your family car environment and a change will make the trip more fun. The feeling of driving a new car is also different, keeps you more alert and excited.

One way trips.

You may not want to drive to and fro for a very long trip with your family. A single driver may get too tired for the return journey. A car rental can be booked in at the destination branch.You can then end your weekend with a light back home.

What to look out for:

Mileage Restrictions.
Before you select The car, you Should make sure that there are no mileage restrictions or if any, they should accommodate your whole trip within your budget.
Space.
Whatever you plan to bring along for a better trip should fit on your car. Your trip will be more expensive if you have to make unnecessary stops for food, water and warm clothing. The trunk should hold all your luggage to avoid the discomfort of sharing the backseat with the bags.
Fuel
A full tank should allow you the maximum time possible on the road, Fuel efficient light vehicles will ensure less fuel stopovers.
Tolls
A good rental company should offer you an option for a toll pass if your destination has toll restrictions. This keeps you going with less stoppages.
What To Do to Enjoy A Road Trip:
.Consider having at least two drivers for very long trips.
.Avoid traffic offences. They may cut a trip short.
.Avoid unnecessary baggage. They weigh much on the car and the fuel.
These tips will help you gain the most from a road trip and have a great family time. Your destination choices may have different traffic rules such as speed limits. It is very important to get all information from the local branch of the rental company.
Happy Road Trip!

KIDS TRAVEL – A JOURNEY WITH COMFORT

When traveling with kids especially the small kids under the age of five one has to
pack a lot of items unlike when traveling with the older one above the age of five
years where the items to pack are abit few. Kids like being comfortable when
traveling and they turn out to be most entertained travellers.During the travel
kids take long naps maybe in cars trains or even planes that one is always an
assurance that they must take a nap if traveling to long distances.As a parent
one should make sure that they have packed a travel pillow and also a soft
blanket for the kids.

TODDLERS OR BABY TRAVEL PILLOW AND BLANKETS

For plane or car trips you should consider a few factors for the kind of pillow you need for
your baby. As a parent you know toddlers have smaller necks and heads so you
should always put that into count to ensure that you get a pillow that suits
their size and that will make them feel more comfortable.

Pillow are of different designs you may find different styles, but one thing you should avoid
is animal hairy pillow if your baby has sensory issues this kind of pillow may
irritate them making the baby uncomfortable throughout the journey. Also always
consider what your kid is used to,we all know that some kids don’t use pillows
in their beds others are used to lying on their parents when sleeping .

For such cases you should get either a firm pillow or a soft pillow and try to see which
makes the kid be more comfortable than the other.Its always advisable to give
time for yourself before the travel time and purchase two to three pillows and test
them out before traveling and since most sellers allow returning of a product
so long as its not edible take advantage of that.

As on the travel blanket its good to to go for a fleece, cuddly blanket for a toddler up
to size 4 or even 5.The kind of soft blanket that is designed to suit in a car
seat over the safety straps is known to be go for a toddler eg the well known Go
Go Blanket.This blanket allows your kid to have freedom to use their hands
since is has sleeves which keep it in place.

NECK PILLOW AND TRAVEL BLANKETS FOR OLDER KIDS

For older kids its not hectic traveling with since you don’t have to pack for too many
things. A regular pillow is suitable for older kids but it all depends with
their age and the body size of your kid. For instance a fourteen year old
pillow cannot be the same with that of a six year old kid the advantage with
this grown kids is that you don’t have to carry it for them but they carry them
for themselves.

As for the blankets its good to go for a warm and soft blanket which will feel good with their
skin and not to irritate the skin. When purchasing you can carry your kids
along with you to select the color of their choice since for the grown kids
they tend to be very choosy.

You should also consider the durability because you don’t have to keep buying a new blanket
every time you want to travel. Go for a blanket that will not fray or loose its
texture even after going through machine wash.

 

Choosing the Best Vehicle for Your Trip to Iceland

A trip to Iceland wouldn’t be worth it if you didn’t explore the incredible volcanic, hot spring, lava field and waterfall filled landscapes it has to offer. The best of which are visited by road, and for this reason, there’s no shortage of car hire companies in this Nordic island nation. In fact, you’re almost overwhelmed with choice. The most convenient will likely be Keflavik airport car rental, but luckily, we’ve compiled a low-down of your car model options to help you choose the right vehicle in the right seasons.

In Summer:

Generally, during the summer, a small car is fine for most roads, especially if you are just traveling around Reykjavik or the ring road.

These cars aren’t suitable if you intend to venture further around Iceland’s rugged landscape, but they’ll suffice for shorter trips.

Toyota yaris 07 Hatchback

We recommend something tiny: Toyota Yaris 2WD 2007-2009 Model -This extremely small three-door car will suffice if you’re just doing some quick trips around the Golden Circle. It’s one of the smallest cars available and is a great, cheap option if you’re not too worried about comfort and only need the convenience of having your own car to see the city.

Hyundai i10 MY 2011

Alternatively, you can try something a little less tiny: Hyundai i10 – This small yet still five-door car will get you comfortably along Iceland’s ring road and is a very practical vehicle. Choose this car if you’re predominately driving on the ring road, with the potential to deviate along alternate routes or gravel roads on occasion.

In Winter:

If you’re travelling in winter, you’ll want to find a larger vehicle that is better equipped to the outside conditions. Bear in mind that 4WD vehicles are mandatory for the Highland F roads in Iceland, so it’s essential to plan your trip.

You’ll also feel safer in a vehicle that can handle the weather and drive well on the slimmer gravel roads. Moreover, remember that in the icy, winter conditions studded tires are essential.

Wastelands

Try something of reasonable size: Suzuki Grand Vitara 4×4 – This is a sturdy vehicle that has 5 doors and a capacity of 5 people. It is suitable for Iceland’s Highland F roads and is reliably tough, though with a comfortable interior. This car is big and tough, but not so big that it’s daunting to drive on Iceland’s slim roads.

Renault Duster 2.0 Dynamique 4x4 2013

Dacia Duster 4×4. This SUV is similarly a good choice for the tougher roads in Iceland. It is also suitable for the Highland F roads can handle well in off-road travel. It has a comfortable interior and is similar in size to the Suzuki Vitara, so it really comes down to personal preference.

LC200 AT35 Facelift

Another option – something larger: Land Cruiser Arctic – Potentially the perfect car for Iceland, this vehicle is a whole grade higher than the smaller 4x4s on offer. With 35-inch tires, this automatic transmission vehicle is also lifted an extra three inches off the ground, and features a snorkel. It’s the true definition of suitable for Iceland’s wintery conditions, seating five people with plenty of storage space.

It will handle the Highland F roads with no stress, and give you the flexibility to visit some off-road sights.

At the end of the day, choosing the right car to hire in Iceland should suit your agenda. It’s a spectacular way to see the landscape, with the freedom to choose your own path. Just make sure you choose a car with the weather and roads in mind.

Budgeting Your Road Trip to Iceland

If you’ve been planning a road trip to Iceland, it’s more than likely your main goal is to circle the Ring Road. It’s the famous road that, as the name implies, circles the whole of Iceland while passing through its many famous landscapes and sightseeing spots. Here are a few tips on how to plan and budget your trip so that you make the most out of it for the smallest price.

Time, Food and Fuel

Landscape with a petroleum pump

These will be your most important resources. One thing to note is that fuel in Iceland is relatively expensive compared to other places, going at the price of around 2$ USD at almost every gas station. Depending on the vehicle you plan on using, make sure to calculate how much fuel you’ll need, then add a few more gallons to that, just in case, and then calculate the money you’ll need by multiplying it by 2. Usually you’ll need between 200$ and 400$ USD for the entire trip around the Ring Road.

As per food, your best bet would be to visit the supermarket “Bónus”, that’s specifically designed for low-budget grocery shopping that you’ll need. Take a look at what they sell and calculate how much you’ll eat and how much it’ll cost. Most towns own markets with similar prices, and there are gas stations along the road where you can buy some more food and water. Depending on your needs and diet, as well as the length of the trip, you might need different amounts of money.

Bonus supermarket

Speaking of length, you will need to carefully plan the time you’ll spend. Theoretically speaking, you could drive through the entire road in around 20 hours (as it’s around 1287.48km long), but that would be without any sleep or longer stops, and, since the whole point of the road trip is to enjoy the scenery and explore Iceland and see the many wonders it has to offer, that is a very unrealistic period, to say the least. A more appropriate timing would be around a week or so. Plan your route and stops ahead, and try to stick to that schedule as much as possible.

Car Rental and Accommodation

Costco Budget Rental Cars Can Save You a Ton on Your Next Trip – SavingAdvice.com Blog

If you don’t have a car, or don’t want to bother transporting it to Iceland, car rental is a perfectly fine option, maybe even more cost-effective than using your own car. The usually preferred starting locations are either Reykjavik or Keflavik, since they both have their airports. From there, you can rent a car by Rental24h at Keflavik airport, for example, or, preferably, a camper van. The latter is suggested as it will allow you to sleep anywhere, at any time. The camper vans are modern and will provide you with all the necessary accommodation aspects.

If, however, you want to use a regular car, but don’t want to sleep and eat in it, there are plenty other options regarding accommodation. As stated before, you need to plan ahead.

20161223 Bubbles Hotel - Iceland C

Where and when you’ll stop. Then you can use a website like Booking.com to see the prices of local hotels/motels. During high season (so June through August), the prices can go from 34$ USD for hostel dorm bed to even more than 300$ USD for a double private with en-suite, so you can customize the prices for your needs and budget.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun and bring some good photographic equipment, since the scenery is so beautiful it would be a real shame if you didn’t have some high quality pictures of your journey. Also bringing a travel companion is a very good idea and might even decrease total budget needed if you split the fees.