The Introverted Detective: Tips For Long Road Trips

Vacations are coming. Summer is coming. It is best to prepare for road trips (both solo and in groups) before going on one. Today I will give you some advice on what to consider when taking a long car ride.

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Road trips are fun bonding times for both family and friends. Planning is involved for long-range trips and short-range trips. This starts with the attractions you will be seeing and considers gas and food. Don't forget that some trips take days. Hotels or campsites may also be involved.

I'm going to put this in three categories. The first will be solo travel, the second will be group travel, and the third will be tips that apply to both.

Solo Travel

Driving alone is probably going to involve a lot of alone time unless you plan to meet up with someone on the way. A trip that takes days may get a bit tiring without some form of entertainment to listen to. You might consider bringing entertainment for the ride (like an audiobook or music), as well as several books to fall asleep to at your campsite or hotel. If you are taking a writing inspiration road trip, you may want to consider a journal in some form (verbal recording, typed document, physical journal....). A sketch pad is something artists may bring with them as they go from location to location.

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The benefit of traveling alone is the fact that no companion can tell you they don't want to go do x, y, or z. Alone is great for introverted artists and writers because we can go where we want to without negotiations within the party we travel with; there is no party to speak of. You plan where to stop, decide where to stay, and do what you want in the area without coordinating with anyone (except maybe if you have a travel agent).

The problem with traveling alone is that you now have a responsibility to stay in areas that are not dangerous. Women, especially those who are small in stature and don't look threatening, need to keep an eye on their environment at all times. Make sure you know where you are going. Keep up on where the shady places are so you can avoid them. Research before you travel. Men have less to worry about (though men are trafficked, too - make no mistake), but should do the same. Don't go traveling alone if you can't be sure you won't go missing while abroad. Tell people where you are going and how long you intend to travel. Check in with someone so that they know you are still safe. If you die, get injured, or go missing this will help the police and/or your family find you. Don't tell alone you are traveling alone if you are female and don't post your locations in real time; wait until you left the location to post about it. Avoid travel at night and keep your belongings close. Make all phone calls in public places (like coffee shops).

Group Travel

Groups require careful planning of where you are going to stop, eat, stay, and what you plan to see. You should greatly consider rest stops for food and bathroom breaks. Thinking ahead on hotels is a must. If you are in a pair, a trio, or any other number it is vital to make sure you know where you are going. On the plus side, you have a conversation and possibly an alternate driver. You can create memories with friends and family on long trips. Take pictures. Write about it in journals. Grab souvenirs. Good times are had when laughing about a road trip. Many tourist places offer group discounts.

What you want to do is look at all the attractions, the cost, the hotel or camping prices, and any possible side trips that may interest you or anyone with you. Split the cost with everyone if you can. This is a point where you need to consider gas prices being high or low and determine if carpooling is your best option. You can even bring filled gas cans to take with you, especially if you'll be in the middle of nowhere. While you're at it, grab a whole bunch of water bottles and snacks. Any form of entertainment you can take along will be great, but remember that the size of your group may limit what you can listen to together. Nowadays phones and headphones are good. Some libraries have a portable wifi box to help you save phone data for later - but don't wait to reserve it! Get in line for it early.

This type of travel may provide extra drivers and more human interaction, as well as being slightly safer. The only real downside to doing anything in groups might be that you won't have time to hit everything and/or you may have to skip some attractions only one person had an interest in. You may be outvoted on going to something you only had one opportunity to see. The good thing about traveling in packs is that you don't appear as if you are an isolated target. It will be clear to anyone with malicious intent that you will be missed if they grab you in the alley. Be careful, just the same.

Tips That Apply To Groups and Solo Travelers

Whether you have an entourage or go it alone, consider your budget and basic needs. Basic needs include sleep, food, water, and hygiene. Make sure you can shower (at the very least), sustain yourself, and get enough sleep. Traveling for days may require you to stop at a hotel or campground (KOAs are suggested) for at least a day or so. Budget impacts this, as you may have to stop for fast food or a few cups of joe on the way to your destination. Plan accordingly and maybe buy nonperishable foods in case your budget dips lower than anticipated. Have food in your vehicle to be sure you're fed and watered. Travel insurance might be good for the accident-prone or those with expensive equipment.

Apparently, you can couch surf, but I'd be careful doing this. Make sure you know who they are before you sleep on their couch. You read the reviews, make sure those reviews are real, communicate with your host to make sure all is well, set up a backup location in case you get bad vibes about the situation or your host changes their mind, and then be prepared to sleep on a couch or floor. Youth events have set up host families before and it works. Just make sure you won't go missing while staying there. When in doubt, bad vibes mean you leave. Local guest houses are also a great option. Housing is better outside the city center, where people don't commonly aim to stay.

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Public transport is a great way to save money. Depending on how the train or bus systems work, you might get a discounted travel rate and have more money for touristing. Do your research before deciding to use any transportation. There are many apps made for saving you money on the go, including apps telling you where gas is cheapest. The most effective use of your gas is to try to use less of it, which means exercise and public transport are great. When you can safely walk instead of driving, do it. If you turn off air conditioning, try to keep windows up, change gears as soon as possible, drive smoothly and steadily, check tire pressure, and travel light you are more likely to save gas money.

Do you travel often? Consider using credit card points (if you can handle a credit card), airline miles, and hotel points to get things for free. Frequent travelers will rack these up faster than occasional travelers, so keep that in mind. It may not be worth it if you only travel every few years or so. It helps to travel with frequent travelers who racked all those points up during business or pleasure trips. People who travel for business should consider signing up for these rewards programs. It has been suggested that looking for flights in incognito mode stops airlines from hiking up prices. They know you are traveling there a second time and may up the price because of it. Booking two one-way flights instead of a round trip is also highly suggested. You might want to travel with carry-on luggage only.

Cook for yourself to save money. Restaurants in some places, including the cheap end of town, can add up. While camping this is a fantastic way to make sure you eat when you want to. Maybe hit the town once or twice, but if you have a kitchen or campfire use it. Souvenirs are also better from grocery stores or locals. Not only do you support the local vendors, but you also find cheaper prices outside of the tourist trap shops. Hole-in-the-wall shops have unique items that you won't find in tourist-heavy shopping centers. In Europe, you can eat at University canteens open to the public.

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When I said to look for where to stop ahead of time, I also meant looking for days with discounted or free entry. This is a way to make your money go further. You can see far more when you plan for the half-off entry day rather than the full-price entry day. Additionally, going on your trip outside of the heavy tourist season may save money on some hotels. Look for days that aren't common tourist days for a less crowded and possibly cheaper trip. Being out of season is good in this case. Students should be carrying student IDs with them, since lots of people like to give student discounts. Try to look for hidden gem areas that aren't high in tourist content. These places cost less money because they don't depend on tourism as much as big vacation destinations. Compare prices for travel housing and flights to find cheaper ones. Booking tours straight from the actual tour company is suggested.

Housesitting is when someone needs to make sure their home is secure while they are gone. You can post a profile online and volunteer to do this. You stay there for free and could potentially look after a cat or dog while you stay. The only downside is that you have to keep the house clean and any animals cared for. You can't leave the house a hot mess. Another alternative is volunteering for project work, which gives you some days that you work and a few days off. This also provides housing and sometimes free transportation.

It may benefit you to use items that are not single-use. Carrying around a water bottle means you can refill it instead of buying a plastic bottle at every restaurant. Multiple-use items will cost you less and save the planet at the exact same time. It lightens your luggage, as well. This helps you carry-on only on flights and requires a minimalist's touch. Ask yourself what you can travel without and leave with only what you need. Multiple-use anything will make this an easier process.

Saving up money for travel is hard, but there is a way to do this. You take one year and only buy what is absolutely necessary. It'll take discipline, but you'll save so much that your next vacation or trip will be covered. Take it as a personal challenge. Learn what is and isn't necessary to daily life. It may improve your budget, even if you don't take that trip to wherever.