Summer is here, and many people across the UK are preparing for summer road trips. Whilst you may be excited about your upcoming getaway, the thought of getting there may seem like a nightmare.
According to a poll by webuyanycar.com, almost 40% of people said that they find driving to a holiday destination incredibly stressful [1]. Things such as packing, fitting everything in the car, following directions, car problems and boredom all contribute to the stress. There’s also the added stress of traffic on the roads.
The first week of the holidays will see an estimated 13 million trips, culminating in ‘Frantic Friday’ on July 26, when 3.2 million journeys are anticipated as holidaymakers and commuters share the roads. This annual exodus marks the start of the summer holiday season, with drivers advised to plan their journeys carefully to avoid the worst of the congestion!
If you do get caught in some traffic, not to worry. We’ve compiled five innovative travel hacks that will keep everyone happy:
- DIY Multimedia Holders: Transform your back seat into an entertainment centre with this simple yet effective solution.
- Repurposed Toiletry Bag Activity Centres: Keep children engaged with a clever organisation technique for their favourite activities.
- Shoe Organiser Packing Method: Maximise luggage space and minimise clothing wrinkles with this innovative packing approach.
- Interactive Road Trip Games: Discover new ways to make the journey entertaining for passengers of all ages.
- Strategic Snack Solutions: Learn how to pack and present snacks efficiently, ensuring everyone stays satisfied throughout the trip.
For anyone looking to protect themselves financially from any unexpected faults, there is also the option to protect your vehicle with an extended warranty.
Join us as we delve into each hack a little further, providing you with the tools to transform your summer road trip into a stress-free experience.
1. DIY multimedia holders
Entertaining children on a road trip can be challenging, but this simple and effective hack can make your life a bit easier.
All you need is a smartphone and a Ziplock sandwich bag. Pierce a hole in the bag, place your phone, and hang it from the metal rods of the front seat headrest. This creates a hands-free set-up, allowing backseat passengers to enjoy downloaded movies, TV shows, or their favourite vloggers.
Not only does this keep screens clean and will prevent phones from going missing down the seats or dropped on the floor, but it also provides a great way for kids to stay entertained whilst you focus on the roads.
All you need for this hack is a smartphone and a Ziplock bag – here’s how to do it:
- Place the smartphone inside the Ziplock bag
- Pierce two holes in the bag, aligning them with the headrest rods
- Remove the front seat headrests
- Hang the bag by threading the headrest rods through the holes and then reattach the headrests.
For a visual guide on how to do this hack yourself, check out this link on instagram.
2. Use a toiletry bag for a fun and organised way to carry activities
For a longer journey, keep your passengers entertained by using a spare hanging toiletry bag filled with their favourite activities in its different compartments.
We know what you might be thinking, a toiletry bag is just a bag. We’re talking about the travel bags that have compartments, hooks, nooks, and crannies to hold small items, so we’re talking about them.
They also come with a hook so you can hang it from the back of the seat in front of them for easy access.
You can include mini colouring books and pencils, sticker books, or small games. The compartments in the toiletry bag help keep everything organised and within reach, ensuring your children have plenty of options to stay occupied and have fun in the car.
Here is how you do it:
- Gather your child’s favourite activities, such as mini colouring books, pencils, sticker books, and small games
- Organise these items into the compartments of a hanging toiletry bag.
- Hang the toiletry bag from the back of the front seat headrest.
- Adjust the bag so it is within easy reach for your child.
You can find a reasonably priced hanging toiletry bag such as this for around £5. We have found this one for you – Travel Washbag.
Check out how to do this travel hack.
3. Use shoe organisers for packing
Being organised is a great way to minimise stress before, during and after the trip. As you will have limited space when travelling in the car, packing in a compact and organised manner is key. One of the best hacks is to roll your clothes instead of folding them, which can save space and prevent creases in clothing.
We also highly recommend trying this innovative packing method for your next holiday. As suggested by a seasoned traveller in the video below, a shoe hanger can be repurposed to organise your outfits efficiently.
By neatly folding each ensemble and placing them into individual shoe compartments, you can keep your clothes organized and wrinkle-free. Unpacking becomes a breeze—just hang the shoe hanger in the closet, and you’re ready to enjoy your vacation. This clever hack maximises your luggage space and simplifies the packing and unpacking process, ensuring a stress-free start to your holiday.
Shoe organisers can be bought for a price of only around £6 – Ikea Shoe Organiser, we have found for you.
Find out how you can master this handy travel hack.
4. Road trip games
If you’re trying to reduce screen time, another great way to keep the little ones occupied is with interactive games that you can all enjoy! Classics such as I-Spy and the Number Plate Scavenger Hunt are always fun, but you can also try something new, like Road Trip Bingo. Print out bingo sheets with common sightings and landmarks that you may encounter along your journey.
As you spot each of them, tick them off your sheet. It’s just like a standard game of bingo but with a road trip twist. This engaging activity not only keeps the children entertained but also encourages them to observe their surroundings more closely.
Please note: the driver of the car should be concentrating, so may not be able to participate in some road trip games.
5. Snack hack
Snacks are a must when travelling with young children, and turning snack time into a fun experience is a great bonus! If you are on a long car journey, you have to take into account that there might not be anywhere to stop off for food, and more often than not, motorway service stations are a lot more expensive than your average café or supermarket.
All you need is:
- A plastic tray with multiple compartments (1 tray per child)
- A variety of their favourite snacks
Use each compartment in the tray to divide up their snacks into different sections, making for a fun way to eat their snacks.
Want to try out this hack but haven’t got the equipment for it? We’ve sourced an option for around £6 for you, at Amazon Shopping.
This travel hack will keep the kids entertained and ensure they are eating well along the way too. Snacks are an easy way to keep kids occupied, so check out this travel hack to learn how to use the hack yourself.
And finally… Make sure you have an extended warranty plan in place
Enjoy peace of mind with a Warrantywise warranty plan. If you have any problems with your car, you can at least be assured that Warrantywise will guide you and help protect your finances – start your extended warranty quote today. Speak to one of our friendly warranty experts who will help keep you moving.
References
[1]Open Access Government. (2018, September 11). 40% of poll respondents find driving to a holiday destination stressful [Blog post]. Open Access Government. https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/40-of-poll-respondents-find-driving-to-a-holiday-destination-stressful/49505/
[2] Photo credit Emily Hochberg. Apartment Therapy. (2024). Travel packing hack: Shoe organizer. Apartment Therapy. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/travel-packing-hack-shoe-organizer-37386085
[3] Shropshire Star. (2024, July 22). More than 27m getaway car trips predicted as schools break up for summer. Shropshire Star. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/motors/2024/07/22/more-than-27m-getaway-car-trips-predicted-as-schools-break-up-for-summer/