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Undas Travel Guide: Tips for a Trouble-Free Road Trip

by: Rache Hernandez
2008-10-15

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WIDE OPEN. Nothing like a good roadtrip on a holiday. Just make sure it's going to be a "good" roadtrip.

The All Saints’ and All Soul’s Day holidays, locally known as undas, are almost upon us. These are days set aside for remembering the saints and those who have passed on. Filipinos usually embark on a road trip during these holidays to join other members of the family in provinces where most of our dearly beloved have been laid to rest.

For others, these two consecutive holidays are simply too precious to spend cooped up in the house so they decide to go on a family vacation. However, going on a road tip takes more than loading your gear and your family into the car, and zooming off into the sunrise while at the mercy of the elements and Murphy’s Law. Here are some tips to ensure that your All Saints’/Souls’ Day road trip and vacation are as pleasurable as possible.

Make lists

KEEP IT COOL. The cooler is the travel essential that everyone loves. Don't dareforget it or gain the ire of your entire traveling party.

Lists help ensure that you do not forget anything that will prove to be essential in the trip. The discipline of writing a list will help you thresh out the details as it encourages you to mentally walk through each stage of your trip.

Make lists of what to bring, what needs to be done before the trip, each person’s responsibilities, etc. Create the lists well before you are set to travel as a lot of important things tend to be forgotten when you’re cramming. If possible, each person coming along for the trip should be given a copy of the lists, especially if these include things that each one has to accomplish before, during, and after the trip.

Things to bring

First Aid kit - Make it a point to bring a well-stocked medical or first aid kit. Your kit should include medicine for motion sickness, upset stomach, allergies, etc.
Car tools - Car tools are an absolute necessity.
Toiletries - You should also bring a set of toiletries packed away where you can easily reach it. Remember to include moist towels, tissue, and even bath towels that will be helpful when something or somebody needs a quick clean up.
Food and Drinks - There’s something about road trips that always makes one hungry and thirsty. Bring along a cooler filled with food and drinks. You might want to consider bringing food that is not so messy to eat such as chips, sandwiches, or fruits. Anything that has sauce or soup is a bad idea. Bring beverages that are packed in individual bottles or boxes. This will eliminate the need to pour liquid into cups while inside a moving vehicle. Also, don’t forget to bring an adequate amount of garbage bags for trash or soiled clothing.

Things to do

House Care - If your entire family will be gone for days, there might be some things you want done around the house while you’re away. For example, you might want to ask a neighbor, close friend, or relative to bring in the newspaper for you (you may also opt to stop newspaper delivery while you’re gone), feed your pets, water the plants, turn the porch light on in the evenings and turn them off in the morning, etc.
Car Care - Bring your car to the repair shop for a tune up. Do this several days before the trip so that there will be enough time in case a major repair needs to be done.
Delegate Tasks - For the trip itself, you might want to ask somebody, your eldest child maybe, to take charge of buying snacks and beverages. During the trip, he will also be the “keeper of the cooler” and will make sure that there is enough food and water for everybody.
Assign a Navigator - Delegate someone adept at reading maps to sit in front beside the driver and act as the navigator. The navigator will be the additional pair of eyes and will look out for potential hazards on the road. He will also be tasked with looking at the map to determine an alternate route just in case the original route is rendered impassable by traffic congestion or accidents. Having someone who knows how to read maps will also come in handy in case you need to make a stop in a restaurant, hotel, supermarket, or hospital. Primarily, though, the navigator, has to keep the driver awake by chatting with him especially if you are traveling at night.

When traveling with children

Adults often find traveling exhausting and restrictive. Children who have to travel for hours on end in a confined space is a different matter altogether. When traveling with children, what is important is to keep them occupied so that their mind is taken away from the long hours spent inside the car.

To do this, give each child a bag that contains all the things they will need during the trip: food, drinks, toys, books, and anything at all that will keep them from feeling bored. You may also want to bring along a portable DVD player and a stack of movies your children love, as well as music they like listening to. Remember, though, to give each one a chance to choose a movie or music to prevent unnecessary fights. You can also try to play games like I-Spy while inside the car. Be sure to stop every few hours to let the kids stretch, vent off their pent up energies, go to the bathroom or even just for a short change of scenery.

It is also important to remember that children tend to take their cues from their parents and other adults. So, let go of stress for now, sit back and take time to truly enjoy the trip. You will be surprised to see your children doing the same.

Going on a road trip may sometimes mean giving up comforts and conveniences for long hours. However, with careful planning and ample preparation time, you can ensure that each one coming along will find something to enjoy in the trip. For sure, there is no better way to start a family vacation.

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Related Topics: all saints day | all souls day | travel |