Know before you go

p.c.: uniglobe one travel

PRE-TRAVEL:

What kind of traveller are you? Before you decide a place to travel just think before whether your vacation mood style is lazy beach vacation then stay away from the road trip. But if the thought of risks and adventure gets your mind going, this might be your thing.

Research everything: As spontaneous as road trips might seem, it requires a lot of necessary planning. Search and mark your route, find possible hotels, guest houses and fuel stops along the way. For the country you travelling too, as per the rules Check specific insurance plans and get medical tests.

Practice driving for long hours: Tolerance is required in a long distance drives. Your body needs to get used to driving approx 1,000km a day.

Set aside a budget: A trip in India can be done under 2 lakhs but a cross continental outing would involve much more expenses and unbalance your budget. A good figure to start with is 4 lakhs per head for an international journey. The Costs of the trips will differ depending on your route and the kind of accommodation you choose.

Don’t be a Scrooge: We find investing money in good hotel is waste of money, but after a drive for around 12 hours, you want a comfortable place to stay and safe place to park you vehicle.

Get all your paperwork in order: acquiring for Europe visa is fairly straightforward, but countries like Myanmar, China, and Russia can be tricky ones. While you go for applying for the Visa, make sure you carry all your necessary legal documents along with you so that no Official person can stop processing your visa.

Choose your vehicle wisely: Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Innova are highly recommended as spare parts are easily available. Get sponsorship: not financially but auto brands can offer logistical and technical aid during your trip.

ON THE ROAD:

Don’t carry more than Rs.50,000: It’s not advisable to carry too much cash, so use your card whenever you can for fuel, hotel etc. SBI works well across countries.

Don’t pre-book your hotel room: Travelling on the road comes with its own uncertainties. A natural disaster or local roadblock can delay you, so don’t book your stay until you actually reach the city.

Invest in a backup navigation device: As reliable as Google Maps is, your Internet connection will not always work. Fit your vehicle with a GPS, too.

Research local driving customs: Like, China issues temporary license plates, while in Myanmar, you’re supposed to travel accompanied by a government guide. So before going to any other place do invest your time by checking about the driving customs.

Welcome the universe: Allow yourself to receive help from locals. Don’t be rash, but keep an open mind. If you are not able to find way of your destination you can ask a local people of the place. They will be happy to help you.

ONCE YOU’RE BACK: Lessons learnt: More important than the cross-country journey is the journey you make within. You challenge your prejudices; test your relationships and resolve.