There’s nothing quite like getting in your car and hitting the open road for a long trip. And every road trip has a mission: for this one, it’s taking your yoga mat around the world, reaching corners of the earth where you can practice your poses in new places.
The thrill of adventure is intoxicating; you have no idea what’s in store for you. But before you can put your foot on the gas and your yoga mats under your chair, it’s a good idea to take some time and prepare. By ensuring that you have your car stocked up with all the right stuff, you can have a more enjoyable, and safer, road trip. So, whether you’re cruising in a campervan through India or taking a road trip through Central California, here are the five things you have to have before you hit the road.
Decent Transportation
First and foremost, you need decent transportation. Taking out a car that’s on its last legs is not a smart decision. You want to feel secure knowing that your Rv, campervan, or car be able to handle all of the miles you’re about to put on it. If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic and have them inspect it for you. They will be better able to judge if your car is up for a long trip, and tell you what things you should take care of before you go.
A Yoga Schedule
Make your own yoga schedule, and incorporate it into your itinerary. You might be visiting an ashram during your road trip, or staying at yoga retreat for the weekend. In addition to listing out your reservation details on a comprehensive itinerary, you should also create a yoga schedule for the road. For example, you might list stops where you can practice yoga in ideal places. Take a look at some of the most beautiful places for yoga in the world, and think about the backdrop you’d like to see as you practice stretching. Whether you prefer the coastal beach towns of Portugal, the national parks of California, or the mountains in Denver, beautiful places for yoga practice abound. There’s also the option to get nude with Veronika for naked yoga in London.
The Right Insurance
Next, it’s important that you have the right insurance before you go anywhere. When it comes to road trips, there are three types of insurance you’ll want to have. First, you’ll want car insurance. Make sure your car is fully covered in case of an accident, and preferably get some kind of roadside assistance. If you’re driving an RV, consider getting something like the Good Sam RV extended warranty for additional protection. If you’re traveling overseas, be sure to look into international car insurance policies that work for you.
The second type of insurance you’ll want is health insurance. Road trips have some danger associated with them, since you’ll be spending so much time on the road. If something were to happen to you, you’ll want the security that comes with a decent healthcare plan. You never know when the worst will happen, so it’s best to be prepared.
Finally, look into travel insurance. Travel insurance can help to protect both you and your belongings while you’re away from home. To learn more about travel insurance, you can check out this guide.
Emergency Supplies
One thing you’ll want to do before you leave is stock up on emergency supplies. You never know what can happen on the road, so the more prepared you are, the better of you’ll be. For starters, you’ll want things to take care of your car. This means a spare tyre, or a tire patch kit, along with a car jack and some jumper cables.
After you’ve gotten stuff for your car, make a list emergency supplies you might need for your personal safety. This includes some spare food and drinks, along with some first aid supplies. Items like a flashlight and a roll of duct tape are also good to have on the road. Before you leave, make yourself an emergency kit and stow it away. If everything goes well you’ll never need it, but if the time comes that you do, you’ll be glad you thought ahead. As the old adage goes, “It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”
A Good Traffic and Maps App
The point of a road trip is to explore new areas. While this is fun, it also means you could find yourself sitting in traffic or lost. To avoid this, you’ll want to get a decent traffic and maps app on your smartphone. With one of these apps running while you drive, you’ll be alerted when there is traffic ahead, and can find an alternate route. You’ll also never be lost as long as your phone is charged, helping to keep you out of bad areas in the dead of night.
There are plenty of options out there, but two of the best are Google Maps and Waze. Try them both out before you go on your trip and see which one you like best. Also, keep in mind that these apps require an internet connection, so you’ll be using some of your data plan. Make sure your data plan is large enough to accommodate your road trip before you go, so that you don’t get charged extra fees.
If you’re driving an RV, an RV GPS is a great addition to your road tech. These special navigations systems are designed to accommodate large vehicles, and they’re provide more accurate directions about where you’re going based on the size of your vehicle. For instance, it will let you know when weight restrictions and how you can navigate around low clearances.
A Great Playlist
Finally, you need some good tunes. No one wants to drive in silence, so have a nice long playlist set up before you go. If you don’t want to make the playlist yourself, consider using an app like Pandora which plays music based on your interests. Or, you could also download yourself some podcasts, which would help shave off a few hours during long trips. Whatever route you decide to go, make sure you have plenty of entertainment lined up for your drive.
And that it’s! Those are the five must-have things for your road trip. Take some time to get them all together before you leave, so that you can have a smooth ride throughout your trip.