Essential Stuff to carry on a long journey by car/van

Wow this is a great topic!!! Now that it is summer we travel a lot and this was timely.

Everything is covered by all friends but i feel like adding one item based on my experience.
I always carry a thin fleece blanket with me every time we travel.It is really helpful.

suji

Hi padma,

You hit the nail right on the head !! Emergency & contact information are a must..especially when we go on long trips.

And yes, it is great, if we do a quick search in the internet for good inns/guest houses and restaurants on the way..instead of wasting time searching for them during our trip.

One more thing, it will be helpful if we get to know the traffic conditions in our route and of course the weather so that we are not in for surprises !

Thanks for giving your valuable inputs padma !!

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by padmatvt

hi....

i think we mjust carry address and contact number of our friends and relatives living in that area or who are well known to us...and we must keep the few details of that area, like which will be the nearest hospital, police station, these are not required we dont think such thing before planning an outing but one must be ready with these too address of good restaurant, guest house...we may need them in case of emergency.

Hi rb020606,

You are most welcome !

Do add more ideas to this list if you can !

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by rb020606

Hi Krithika and sundarUsha

Thanks for the useful tips. you have covered everything.

hi krithika,
nice thread..you and the others have covered almost everything...quite comprehensively...
i too take a lot of stuff when travelling by car....from snacks, tissues, plastic bags for puting all the trash in, water bottles, medicines,towels....
its also a good idea to keep news papers handy....

i also keep some head ache balms....since long distance car travel gives me a headache sometimes...
i keep a tube of moisturiser in the car...
hand sanitisers and wet tissues are useful...
i always have on hand pen and paper or sticky notes...
a book...though i don't often read while in the car....
dh likes gatorade...so we keep that or some juice...

its good to keep an umbrella, useful if it starts raining when you are sight seeing etc...
keep spare batteries for the camera...

will keep posting if i can think of anything else....

Hi Vidhya Parani,

Great additions to the list !

You are right..hand sanitiser is a must (I always carry a small bottle in my handbags & in my kids' lunch bags too !)

Excellent..neck pillows..so that we stay comfortble during the drive.

Disposable plastic covers or newspapers might protect the car upholstery.

Thanks a lot for all the useful inputs Vidya !

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by vidhya parani

hi krithika,
your list is quite comprehensive...i could only think of few more things...
- eye masks (if someone wants to sleep)
- alcohol gel hand sanitiser for quick cleaning hands...
- neck pillows
- box of wet tissues
- chewing gum/polo mint
- goggles/sun hats
- in case travelling with baby/toddler some disposable plastic table cloths to avoid messing up car upholstery...

and also the items mentioned in other FBs

Dear kamala,

Your list is so neat and cute !!

I think we have some similar tastes..or should I say same thinking?

I too get this feeling of nausea when we drive in car (esp long drives) and I always carry Cloves/fennel seeds/uppu narthangai during these trips ! My dh will ask whether I am going to open a small store !

Thanks for adding all the disposable cutlery..these are ofcourse mandatory.

And yes, i also mentioned the change to be carried ..to pay for the tolls.

Small pillows are really comfortable and makes us feel at home.

So great info you have provided Kamala...keep posting when you think of more!

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by vkrithika1

Dear krithika,

Good job.Now i can make complete a list.
I hate car travel (due to vomit sensation).But my dh prefers it and he loves to drive the car.
i will give my list too.
1.Avomine(we never travel without this) for me and my dd. and headache medicine. and all other medicines.
2.lemon pieces
3.plastic covers
4.paper plates
5.paper tumblers
6.knife,spoons
7.apple(i give only apples to my dd during travel)
8.a big packet of chocolates,mint,polos,mittais and kadalai urundais(for my dh)(A definite fight bet my dd and dh for the chocolates )
9 pillows
10 water bottles
11.cassettes and ipod too.
12.Address book, pen,paper
13. digicam
14.originals of rc.(sometimes when we cross the state border, police people ask for the originals)
15.change(10 rs notes and 1 re coins)

Hi Suji,

Glad that you like this topic ! Sure, during summer we make lots of these trips..mostly by car to avoid the flight delays & airport wait time etc.

Fleece blanket is an excellent idea..especially when the weather is cool or to get that comfy feel !

Thanks for your inputs !

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by Sujimallige

Wow this is a great topic!!! Now that it is summer we travel a lot and this was timely.

Everything is covered by all friends but i feel like adding one item based on my experience.
I always carry a thin fleece blanket with me every time we travel.It is really helpful.

suji

Dear Sowpar,

Happy that you like this topic.

Headache balms..wow..excellent suggestion..yes..i carry some tiger balm and keep it in the trunk with the other luggages. Now, I should remember to keep it in my handbag !

Umbrella is another great idea. As I mentioned before, it will be wise to check the weather, not only for our city, but also for the places/route that we may be driving.

Last year, when we started our long drive to Niagara falls, it was raining cats& dogs in our city..but after about 10-15 miles..there was no trace of rain !

Thanks for stepping in and giving your inputs Sowpar !

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by sowparnika

hi krithika,
nice thread..you and the others have covered almost everything...quite comprehensively...
i too take a lot of stuff when travelling by car....from snacks, tissues, plastic bags for puting all the trash in, water bottles, medicines,towels....
its also a good idea to keep news papers handy....

i also keep some head ache balms....since long distance car travel gives me a headache sometimes...
i keep a tube of moisturiser in the car...
hand sanitisers and wet tissues are useful...
i always have on hand pen and paper or sticky notes...
a book...though i don't often read while in the car....
dh likes gatorade...so we keep that or some juice...

its good to keep an umbrella, useful if it starts raining when you are sight seeing etc...
keep spare batteries for the camera...

will keep posting if i can think of anything else....

Good thread Krithika!!, now the Roadtrips will be in full swing as the weather is becoming warm..a very good list provided by you and many other friends here..
if i remember anything which you guys leftout will definitely add to the list.

Hi slp807,

Thanks for appreciating this thread !

I agree, road trips will increase now right from the Memorial day by the end of May.
Then school closes for the kids during second week of June, then July 4th weekend and so on...

Since the weather is on our side now, people will surely like to go on road trips by car.

Do give your inputs if you think of anything !

Cheers
Krithika

Originally Posted by slp807

Good thread Krithika!!, now the Roadtrips will be in full swing as the weather is becoming warm..a very good list provided by you and many other friends here..
if i remember anything which you guys leftout will definitely add to the list.