Best Small Towns to Visit in USA
Best Small Towns to Visit in USA The big cities in America will always get the lion’s share when it comes to the number of visits worldwide. It makes tourists even visit the same...
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.
As a family of five, a car has been our preferred mode of transportation for the past 8 years or so. We love traveling by car because we can take everything we need with us and we can take our time getting there. However, two to three hours is about the max that I like to travel if we are staying four nights or less. That being said, I will happily travel longer for beach time.
Since we travel every single holiday that we can, it was the perfect fit to partner with Allstate to bring you our Top 5 Holiday Travel Tips. These tips have come from years of road trip experience both as a couple and as a family. Plus, we both grew up taking road trips as well. We think that we have compiled a good list that will make your holiday travel a breeze.
This is something that I am always a stickler about when we go on trips. I like to have a plan because often there are things in the area that we would love to do and I need to budget that into our vacation. This doesn’t mean we stick exactly to plan, but we do like to have guidelines.
I even have packing checklists, they are so handy. I can pack in ten minutes with a checklist. This is also a reminder of what was in your suitcase in case it gets lost.
I cannot stress this enough. This means get the oil changed, the tires rotated and balanced, all of the fluids topped off, check your windshield wipers, stock up your first aid and emergency kits, etc. I grew up with a father who made me learn to change the oil and the tires on a car before I could even take that first drive. I don’t want to take a chance of having to stop for car service in a town where I don’t know anyone. I love the mechanics who work on our cars. They are great guys and we have a good relationship.
The day before we leave, I spend the time doing last minute errands like: car servicing, gas fill-up, grocery run (if we are driving), haircuts (if needed), getting the dogs to their caregiver, holding the mail, letting neighbors know we are leaving for a few days, etc. I have a checklist because these kinds of things don’t really change for me.
This is another tip that is incredibly important. My kids are gas station junkies. This means that they want every snack and every drink that is sold in that gas station plus they cannot make a purchase decision ever because, “OMG everything looks so good” will be repeated by them over and over. They can spend an hour negotiating who will get shares of what until everyone has the right thing. It’s tactical. Sounds a little nutty, right? That very scenario has happened to me a few more times than I would like to admit. On our list trip as I headed back to the car with $30 worth of gas station junk food, soda, other random things (clothespins – no one has ever confessed to this), I said never again.
We now pack our own snacks and drinks. We even bring a cooler. I pack the kids’ favorite things and some other wholesome things like milk, nuts, veggies, fruits and more. We also have crackers and they each get to pick one item they love. Doing this really helps control spending AND junk food intake.
Take it easy. Just saying those words makes me feel like I should be doing something. I am always guilty of this when I go on vacation or I should say not guilty of it. I simply cannot take it easy on vacation, but I am trying to get better about that. I will plan only a few things and the rest of the time we go wherever the day takes us. I am learning to take it easy.
We all know that traveling over the holidays can be stressful, costly, busy and just generally overwhelming. The last thing you need to deal with is something like a dead battery or a flat tire. You can ease the majority of that stress by making certain that you are in good hands with Allstate’s Thanksgiving #GoodHandsRescue promotion.
The Goods Hands Rescue® service is an on-demand, pay-per-use roadside assistance service accessible both online and via the free mobile app. From flat fixes to jump-starts, drivers can get immediate mobile access to convenient roadside services and pay for them only when you need them. The Good Hands Rescue® service uses GPS technology to pinpoint your location and connect people in need with a dispatched service provider and take the hassle out of providing an exact location to an assistance representative. As soon as help is dispatched, motorists receive a service confirmation with the service provider’s estimated time of arrival and can use their smartphones to track the provider’s en route status.
On Wednesday, November 23, Allstate is giving travelers a roadside rescue for $2 for the first 1,000 requests for standard vehicles* (no RV’s, commercial trucks). Travelers can use the mobile website or Good Hand Rescue® mobile app to access promotion.
Roadside Rescue Services*:
*Standard vehicles only.
With the top three roadside incidents for this generation of the population being tire changes, vehicle tows and dead batteries**, the Good Hands Rescue® service takes away the guesswork of who to contact when faced with a roadside emergency, and gets help to stranded drivers quickly and easily.
*Promotional pricing available only for first 1,000 requests on 11/23 from 12:00am to 11:59pm CT made from m.goodhandsrescue.com or the Good Hands Rescue app in the United States. Applies to standard vehicles only; no commercial, RV, extra weight. Towing limited to 5 miles; additional miles priced at $4.25/mile. Fuel costs extra. Must have valid credit card. Subject to terms, conditions, and availability.
** Allstate Survey of 320 millennials, May 2016.
This holiday season and after, drive with peace of mind wherever you go knowing Allstate’s Good Hands Rescue® service has you covered.
Allstate’s Good Hands Rescue® service is available as an app for free (download from the App Store or Google Play Store), or via the mobile website at GoodHandsRescue.com.
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.
Nice easy tips for traveling. Since I have a specific diet, you bet I plan the food snacks – always!
Like you, I’m a big fan of planning. We have AAA but it’s good to know that Allstate offers a rescue service, always good to have a backup plan.
These are some great tips! Getting your car serviced is definitely something everyone should do if they are going to be driving. I’ve been in a couple incidents where I was not prepared as I should have been.
Silvia
http://www.lovelysilvia.com
I had to use my roadside assistance on vacation in North Carolina. Its great to have when you’re traveling and aren’t familiar with the area.
I love these tips!!! It is so important to have roadside assistance, you never know when you may need to use it.
Good tips for a safe holiday trip on the road. I had never heard of the Good Hands Rescue app! How cool is that! Definitely worth the peace of mind knowing you’re keeping your family safe.
Traveling is something I love, but is also so stressful especially with kids. These are great tips, and what a great deal too for $2 coverage! My kids are a great age for traveling and it is nice to be prepared on the road.
My whole family is traveling on the second week of December. These are very helpful tips.
These are really great tips for any road trip! Bringing your own snacks and drinks is essential on our road trips. Goods Hands Rescue sounds like a really great service!
I am thankful that I picked up a few handy skills from my dad. I changed the oil for several years until my back problems made it difficult.
I also try to pack snacks too. I don’t like to pick up junk or expensive drinks every time we stop. If possible, I try to stop only when necessary.
Awesome guide and list – I like how its so important to feel you are safe so there is nothing to worry much about. I tend to skipping the packing of food and regret it each time, lol.
I like to write out a list of everything i need to pack and do before I leave on a trip. These are great tips.
These are some wonderful tips. I don’t get to travel much, and I wish I could. I always bring snacks and drinks while traveling.
Great tips! I can’t wait to travel more once my kiddos are bigger – I’ll need to reference this post for later!
We don’t usually travel during the holidays, but this year we will be. We’re only a family of 3, but I’ll have to remember these tips because I already feel overwhelmed
these are great tips that I always try to follow when we’re about to embark on an adventure. They’re all very important tips for a safe trip!
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