Still don’t have any summer plans? Cross off an item from your college bucket list and hit the road. Grab your best friend, a map and something to write with because I have some quick tips on how to plan that perfect summer road trip you’ve been wanting to go on since you saw Eurotrip.
1. Find a BFF.The company you keep is what will make or break your trip. Grab a friend who you know is adventurous and fun to be around, but also practical, flexible and compromising. You’re going to spend a lot of hours on the road with this person, so make sure it’s someone you know you can have a good time with! Grab that bestie and keep them in a place where they’ll be easy to find once you’re ready to hit the road. The journey won’t be complete without them!
2. Decide where you both want to go.Having trouble deciding whether the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone is a better option for your trip? It’s difficult to have two different opinions or ideas that clash, but communication and compromise are key to having a good time. Try to split time evenly between two locations, and you’ll be sure to enjoy your vacation more. There are also tons of really useful websites that can help you identify points of interest along the way to maximize sightseeing during your trip.
3. Decide how you’ll get there.Can your car handle the miles you’ll accumulate as you cross the state or state lines? Are airplane tickets more affordable? Or, do you want to live in an RV for the days or weeks it’ll take to visit all the places in your bucket list? Make sure you look into affordable, comfortable and safe methods of travel before you book a trip, and also get your car checked out to make sure it can handle the ride.
4. Have a solid, practical budget.It’s important to hit the road having a plan on how much you’ll spend overall. Instead of spending all your tips and wages on food, gas or hotels, make a plan on how much you’re willing to dish out on necessities. If you’re road tripping with a bestie, pool all your money together. The more prepared you are in advance, the less you’ll be stressing during your actual trip.
5. Create the ultimate playlist.No road trip is set without the perfect playlist to spice up the journey and pump you up for good times! Programs like Spotify offer student prices. There are no ads, and you have the opportunity to take music offline and the ability to create your own music playlists that you can share with friends. This makes it extremely convenient for you and your buddies to hit the road rockin’ out to the perfect jams.
Enjoy the freedom that summer brings and plan a trip you’ll always remember. The location doesn’t have to be glamorous—it can be a simple getaway a few hours away from home or a long trip to a lesser-known place. Your goals should always be to enjoy your time with friends. Wishing you happy and safe travels, collegiettes!