Planning A Road Trip Soon? Here Are 10 Travel Essentials You Won't Wanna Forget
It's time to take a short getaway. Grab your car keys and buckle your seatbelt!
By Wayne Garreth — 14 Mar 2022, 03:52 PM
Cooped up in the house for way too long? Grab your keys, we're going on a road trip!
On 8 March, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Malaysia will be entering the endemic phase of COVID-19, beginning on 1 April. Certain standard operating procedures will be modified with this change.
With travel on most of our minds, this is the perfect opportunity for some to take a short getaway at minimal cost.
However, there are just some things you can't and shouldn't leave behind.
Don't forget these 10 items the next time you plan to take a road trip:
1. Handphone charger
Listed under the category of super obvious, it's crucial that you don't forget your handphone charger.
Whether it's to charge your phone or connect it to the car's Bluetooth speaker system, this day trip will last longer than a regular outing.
2. An extra change of clothes
An overnight bag or suitcase won't be necessary, but a change of clothes is always a safe bet on a road trip.
Whether your plans are to frolic on sandy beaches or hike up a mountain, bring spare clothes just in case.
3. Medication
Your health is important, even on a road trip.
Travelling long distance can sometimes be strenuous to our bodies, so don't forget to pack a strip of paracetamol, motion sickness tablets, and even decongestants if you think you'll need them.
4. Water, water, water
The importance of water cannot be overstated.
Whether you get it from a gas station on the way out, or fill up multiple bottles before you leave the house, stay hydrated for this (possibly) long trip.
5. Sunscreen
Those pesky ultraviolet rays can be dangerous if you don't take care of your skin.
With long hours behind the wheel and multiple stops along the way, don't forget to moisturise and apply sunscreen at interval moments of your trip.
6. Travel pillows and eye masks (well, for the passengers!)
Long-distance car trips don't have to be done at the expense of your own comfort.
Bring an eye mask, and a pillow or two. Get comfortable, this may take awhile! Oh, and a pillow for the driver won't hurt either.
7. Camera
The trips you take and memories you make will last you a lifetime.
Whether it be with your phone, film cameras, polaroids or fancy DSLRs; don't forget to capture every moment of your road trip!
8. Snacks and plastic bags
From bagged treats to small picnic baskets, bring along some snacks on your trip so it reduces your travelling time and cost.
Remember to keep our environment clean! Don't throw any trash along the roadside while you're driving. Eat well and clean up after yourself.
9. Spare tyre
Sometimes, a third wheel can prevent you from being stranded on the roadside, in more ways than one.
When travelling on roads that may be in an unfamiliar or unrecognisable territory, a flat tyre is the last thing you need to totally ruin your trip.
Stop at your closest gas station to pump your tyres up before your road trip, and make sure you have a spare tyre in your trunk too.
10. First aid kit
We all know first aid kits are present somewhere around our house, but what about in our cars?
Check your car and determine if you have a first aid kit in the glove compartment. Certain vehicles may have one in the boot as well.
