There’s nothing quite like a family road trip. It’s a fantastic way to get away, explore our amazing country with its spectacular landscapes, and avoid paying for hefty flights just so you can escape your normal life. Of course, just because it’s cheaper to drive than to fly, doesn’t mean that a road trip is cheap.
The price of fuel and everything else can make it tough to enjoy your adventure on the road while staying within your budget.
The king comes to the rescue again!
Here’s a royal guide to help you get on the road and not blow your holiday budget.
- Breakdown the costs
Figure out what you’ve got to spend and break these down according to your fuel, food, accommodation, and extras (tolls, activities, and things going wrong). A clever idea is to pre-book your accommodation so you can get good deals and to use a fuel trip calculator so that you can work out exactly what you need to set aside for fuel.
This will help you make a road trip budget, because if you have the cash planned out, you can track your expenses as you travel.
- Pack smart
Think about where you’re going and make a list of what you’ll need. Basically, if you pack what you need, you can avoid spending on things that you already own but simply forgot at home.
So, for example, if you’re going somewhere with nice swimming and hiking spots, make sure to pack the right kit so you don’t have to buy towels, sunscreen, after-sun, or even another pair of hiking boots.
- Mind how you drive
Firstly, there are websites that you can use to find the best diesel prices. As diesel isn’t regulated, the prices can differ between garages, so if you find a website to compare these costs, you can fill up at the cheapest place.
We’d also suggest that you watch your driving. Seriously. For your safety (and everyone else’s), you should drive within the speed limit and avoid routes with lots of stops.
- Check your car
Little issues can turn into expensive blow-ups on the road. It sounds like the same old boring advice, but making sure that your car is running in tip-top condition can actually help you enjoy better fuel economy, lower your fuel costs, keep you safer on the road, and prevent a cheap fix from turning into something expensive to deal with.
- Plan your food
Eating out should be a treat and not the norm on a road trip. That’s why it’s a good idea to book self-catering accommodation, pack your own snacks and sarmies, avoid fast food, and even fill up your flask for your coffee fix so that you’re not constantly spending around R30-R50 for each caffeine injection while on the road.
We get that coffee is a necessary boost of energy, for sure, but it all adds up. And if you do go out, take the opportunity to enjoy a local hotspot.
- Save money on your accommodation
Self-catering options give you much more freedom over what you’ll spend, especially when it comes to your food budget. We’d also say that there are nice and super affordable camping sites which can bring your accommodation costs down, and there’s no doubt that camping will add an extra layer of adventure to the whole holiday road trip experience.
If camping isn’t your vibe, then compare deals across various booking sites, like Airbnb, Booking.com, and LekkerSlaap. You could also stay with family and friends along the way. Just make sure that you offer to pay, chip in for groceries, and help out around the host’s house.
Get simple cheap car insurance with roadside assist
For all those things that can go wrong with your car while you’re far from home, make sure you’ve got affordable cover that has your back and your car.
The king’s car insurance comes with our royally useful roadside assist to help you out of a tough spot on the road. This way, we can lend a helping hand and get you back on holiday in no time at all!
You see, we’re not just about the fun stuff (which we do love, just look at our ads). We’re also about the (fun)ctional side of your insurance and will do everything in our power to help you with incidents, accidents, and tricky situations.
Click here or you can even WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50 (or call us) for a commitment-free quote.
