With the rand having recently plummeted, resulting in increased flights and hotel costs, the practicality of travelling abroad has become a pipe dream for most people. If the thought of not going anywhere special over the Easter weekend is making you blue – there’s good news!
Living in South Africa, there are so many amazing places to explore and people to meet – all you need is a set of wheels and your partner or bestie to join you for the ride! Ok, and maybe a few more important items – but after that, you’re ready to drive off into the sunset!
Kriya Gangiah shares six important things to remember before you hit the road.
1 Sing along to your favourite tunes
Create a playlist of your favourite songs that will keep you company during your journey. It’s always nice to be able to sing along to songs that you know the words of. These are some of the songs that I regularly play in my car:
Nicki Minaj – Starships (especially if you went to the Pink Print concert recently)
Mi Casa feat Euphonik – Don’t want to be your friend
Beatenberg – Rafael
Michael Jackson – Man in the mirror (always good to have a classic oldie in the mix)
2 Don’t forget the first aid kit
Pack a small bag of the most likely pills and medicine you will need as well as antiseptic and bandages or plasters. Just in case you get a headache from all your karaoke tunes or suffer from an upset stomach or BOTH during the road trip!
3 It’s snack time! (munch munch)
No one likes a “hangry” driver (i.e. someone who when they get hungry becomes really cranky & angry). That’s why it’s always a good idea to pack some light healthy snacks and cool drinks (aka “Padkos”) in a cooler box so that you have something to munch on while driving (unless you’re a neat freak and hate the idea of dropping crumbs in your car). A lot of petrol stations nowadays have onsite cafeterias or takeaway spots so you can grab a bite to eat, have a cup of coffee or just stretch and rest your eyes before you zoom off again!
4 Check your battery life
Although we most android phones have a pretty good battery life and you might have a car charger – it’s always better to be safe then sorry while travelling. Make sure you charge your phone the night before or keep a Power Bank charger in your car in case you need to call the AA (or your folks) to bail you out if you get a flat tyre or overheated engine.
5 Mini inspection
When planning to travel locally especially long distances always ensure that you have had your car checked at a petrol station, or proper service station. They’ll do an all-round check that your tyres have been pumped up (check your car’s driver manual or the inside panel of your front driver door for the correct tyre pressure), your oil and water are sufficient, your windscreen wipers are in good condition and that all your lights are working. But most importantly – YOU need to check that your car license disk AND driver’s license have not expired.
6 How to pack and stay trendy while on holiday?
Start by making a list of all the essential things you will need and how many days you are going away for. Then lay out all your clothes on the bed into three categories: must bring, maybe will wear and probably won’t wear. This should give you a better idea on what you should pack for your holiday – because there’s nothing worse then coming home with a load of clothes you that never even made it out of your suitcase! To maximise your fashion wear, choose clothes that you are able to use with multiple outfits. And don’t forget to pack your ‘must-have’ essentials… Mine are my stylish Carrera sunglasses and Catrice make up bag!
Safe travels and keep your eyes on the road!
Kriya Gangiah is an info-tainment professional who is currently livening up Pretoria’s airwaves on Jacaranda FM and in 2016 is back on our screens as a Mela TV show presenter.
Want more tips from Kriya? She’s also shared 6 ways to get the most out of your Easter Holidays. If you’re still a bit wary of driving, make sure you check out the GLAMOUR guide to road tripping.
