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Road trip tips for the long weekend


The Undas weekend—or the All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day break—is one of the most popular holidays in the calendar of Pinoys. It’s the time when people pay their respects to their departed and an occasion that’s usually marked, long before the year even starts, as a time to get out of Metro Manila. And for most people, that means they’re going on a long drive to either visit their provinces or to simply visit nearby destinations.

Whether you’re going with your family or your friends, the mention of a road trip can easily excite anyone. But before you set off on an adventure, it’s important to know that you’re ready for the long trip ahead. Here are reminders that you should keep in mind, regardless if you’re the driver or just a passenger:

Plan your journey thoroughly

“So, sa Baguio ba tayo o sa La Union?” These days, it appears that a lot of people have caught the travel bug, making going out on a long weekend already a necessity.

Spontaneity is thrilling, but in any trip, it’s better to plan ahead so you won’t miss out on anything. Sit down with the group that you’re going on a road trip with and decide on where you want to go and what you want to do when you get there. Making an itinerary is advisable even if the trip is less than a week.

Since you’re driving to your destination, it’s best that you talk about the routes that you can take—weigh in on the ease of navigation, convenience, travel time, and accessibility from where you will come from. It’s also good to plan where to take necessary stopovers for washroom and meal breaks.

Bring road trip essentials

Going on a long drive means you have to get through hours of sitting down in a car… and that’s far from exciting for most people, especially if you’re tagging kids along.

Help make time pass faster for everyone by bringing things to do during your commute. Prepare activities for everyone to enjoy like a simple word relay game. 

And of course, never forget the essentials: food, drinks, and pillows.

Monitor the weather

Before setting out on your journey, you might want to check what the weather will be like in the city or province you’re planning to go to. Will it be a rainy trip? Or do you need to bring sunhats? Knowing the weather ahead can help you pack the right clothes and items.

But it’s not just the weather in your destination that you should be checking prior to your trip. You should also be aware of the weather in your chosen routes. Doing so will help you prepare your car for the foreseen road conditions, which will also ensure the safety of the group.

You can get the latest weather forecast through various apps and tools, such as GMA News Online’s IMReady.

Prepare your car for the drive ahead

Your vehicle will carry you and your family or friends to and from your destination. It’s only important to check if everything in your car is in order. Use the Philippine National Police’s checklist: BLOWBAG—which stands for Battery, Light, Oil, Water, Brakes, Air, and Gas.

Avoid overlooking anything, especially those essentials that don’t come to the top of your mind such as the oil in your car. Oil plays an important role in keeping your engine going, which is vital if you’re going on a long drive. You’d want a clean engine for a smooth drive, so in this case, make sure that your oil is a good fit for your car.

Engine oil talk can be a bit complicated sometimes, so it’s better to have experts check in on this matter. Bring your car to a service center that offers quality lubricants and professional oil change service, like Shell Helix Oil Change+ center. More than just an oil change, you can have your whole car inspected there as well.

List down important numbers

You don’t know when an emergency will happen, that’s why it pays to be prepared. The national emergency hotline number 911 is easy to remember, but make sure that you know all the other emergency hotlines, including those in your destination.

It’s equally important to let someone know at home your whereabouts, as well as alternate contact numbers so they won’t have a hard time to check in on you when necessary.

Since you’re going on a long drive, it also helps to be aware of the stations to go to when an emergency happens such as hospitals, convenience stores, and gas stations. Take note of these places and mark them on your map. For instance, Shell has over 200 Shell Helix Oil Change+ centers across the country—making their car service centers easily accessible should your vehicle need a quick checkup while you’re on the road.

Long drives are always fun, but make every road trip the best for you and your companions by having a smooth and safe drive to your destination.

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