Thursday, October 05, 2006

Road Travel Trip Tips For The Entire Family

It's no coincidence that when families tell stories, many are about trips together in the family car.

Whether it's to the mountains, to the shore or to grandmother's house for a holiday, a family road trip can be filled with good times and memories in the making.

However, if you are unprepared, it can also be very stressful. Here are some tips to make any family trip, long or short, more enjoyable and as stress free as possible.

Make sure friends and family at home have all your contact information on the road.

When traveling to a new city or national park, discuss the trip with children before leaving. Research facts about the destination, which will be a fun and educational way to get the kids excited about the trip.

Pack an easily accessible emergency road kit, including motion sickness medicine, waterproof matches and candles, flashlight, road flares, blanket, first aid kit including all medications, towel, jumper cables, a gallon of water and a tool kit.

Make sure your vehicle can accommodate the whole family. A vehicle such as Suzuki's XL7 is designed to be big enough for every family member to sit comfortably and pack all his/her belongings in the spacious cargo area. The XL7's 50/50 split-folding third-row seat can be folded flat into the floor for additional cargo-carrying room.

Have your car inspected and serviced before you leave. Get an oil change and check lights, signals, wiper blades, caps, hoses, filters, spare tire, etc. Check the status of your car's warranty protection for added peace of mind.


For example, all Suzuki vehicles come with an industry-leading 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.


Change seats along the way so everyone has a chance to sit by the window.

Bring plenty of water, snacks, games, books, toys and DVDs for the kids.

Stop every couple of hours to stretch and walk around. This will give everyone a chance to get a break from the drive and will help young passengers burn off some energy.

Actively involve children in the travel plans. Have them follow a map of the drive route, pointing out interesting landmarks along the way.