Comfort and Amenities When Travelling |ADDICTED

With the innovative tech and improved amenities available in many cars, there’s no reason why a road trip today can’t be as comfortable and convenient as travelling first-class on an airplane. Whether your travels are for work or pleasure, we’ve got the tech and tips you need to make the most out of the experience.

Guest post by Katie Brenneman. Photo by Автошкола ТЕХНИКА.

Essential Tech and Gear to Make Your Road Trip More Enjoyable

If you’re like most people today, you’ve got a myriad of digital devices in tow when you hit the road. Even if you’re just hitting the road to see the sights, the tech below will ensure you’ve got what you need to stay connected.

1. A Multi-Port Charger

First up on our list of essential road trip tech is a multi-port charger, which ensures that you don’t have to carry around multiple chargers and cords.

GaN chargers use gallium nitride instead of silicon, making them smaller, faster at charging, and more energy-efficient, which is perfect for road trips. A wide range of different models are available, each with varying types of ports to suit your individual needs.

2. Car Wi-Fi

Chances are that at some point during your road trip, you’re going to lose cell service. While some people enjoy this aspect of road-tripping, being without service can be risky if you end up having car troubles. So, to ensure you stay connected at all times, consider installing car Wi-Fi.

Car Wi-Fi is different from the regular internet service you might get through your phone or laptop and is accessed by having a special chip embedded in your vehicle’s digital system. Once installed, you can use it to browse the internet; stream music, games, or videos; make calls; and access traffic information.

3. A Power Bank

Having a power bank is ideal for long road trips where you might not be able to stop as often to access an outlet to charge your devices. Power banks are especially helpful if you have devices that drain a lot of power, like a laptop, as opposed to a cell phone. You can even get some power banks with multiple charging ports if you want to use one of these in place of a GaN multi-port charger.

4. A Travel Laptop Desk

If you’re going to be working on the road or using your laptop extensively for any other reason, a travel laptop desk is a must. This will keep you from burning your legs if your laptop overheats in your lap. It also relieves neck strain as it keeps you from having to bend your neck constantly to look down at your laptop.

5. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

If you are hitting the road with other passengers, noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have. For example, if you are trying to nap or get work done while someone else is driving, using a pair of these will keep you from asking whoever’s driving to constantly turn down the music. Or maybe you simply don’t share the same taste in music or want to block out noisy traffic sounds. Whatever the reason, noise-cancelling headphones will do the trick.

Additional Tips for The Best Road Trip Experience

In addition to tech, there are other things you can do to make your road trip a more enjoyable and comfortable experience.

Pre-Planning Car Considerations

Depending on where you will be driving and how many miles you’ll be putting in, it’s worth doing a little extra planning to ensure your car is set for the job.

The first thing to consider as a driver is fuel costs. The cost of fuel is significantly higher now than it was three years ago, so it’s worth it to try to make your trip as fuel efficient as possible. This could mean renting a more fuel-efficient car for the trip or planning more efficient routes.

There’s also maintenance to consider. If you rent a vehicle, it should already be in top shape for the trip. But if you are taking your own car, it’s a good idea to have it thoroughly inspected first to make sure it can handle the drive.

Money-Saving Tips

Many people assume that road trips are cheaper than flying, but that’s not necessarily true. You can easily blow through a lot of cash on the road if you aren’t careful. So here are some money-saving tips to help:

Make a budget ahead of time;
Stay in motels or look for deals ahead of time;
Stay at places where you can cook your own meals instead of eating out all the time;
When you stop somewhere, walk as much as possible instead of using the car or rideshare services;
Use travel reward credit cards to earn cash back on purchases.

Comfort Considerations

While road trips can be exciting, they aren’t great for your body. All that sitting can really strain your muscles and leave you feeling more tired and achy than before you hit the road. To help reduce travel-related strain along the way and keep yourself feeling better, take breaks and stretch as often as you can.

Rest stops, for example, are great spots to get out and move your body, warm up your muscles, and do a bit of stretching. Staying hydrated on your trip can also help as it improves circulation, keeps your joints lubricated, and supports muscle function.

Maintaining good posture in the car is also important. People tend to start slouching when they’ve been in the car for long periods, but this can make you feel worse. If you struggle with this, you can invest in ergonomic seat accessories that help, such as lumbar support pillows and pressure relief cushions.

The best road trips are the ones you are adequately prepared for. Once you’re already on the road, it might be hard to stop and find the things you realize you need. So to make the most of your trip, plan ahead so you’ll have all the comfort and amenities you’ll need.