5 top tips for family trips

Top tips to make the most of your family trip

Picture this: you've planned the perfect trip.

You've packed everything up, played some car Tetris and got it all to fit. You're in the car, setting off, but five minutes in you get: "Are we nearly there yet?"

No. There's still four more hours of driving.

Family trips are both a blessing and a curse. You love spending quality time with your family – but on the other hand, it can be stressful, tiring, and a real test of everyone's patience.

Unfortunately, we can't do anything about the typical British weather making an appearance  on your trip, or clear the traffic ahead of you. But we can help you navigate the journey with less stress and more fun.

Let's shift your family travel experience into high gear with these road-tested tips.

Make a playlist

Don't leave anyone in the backseat when it comes to music choices – ask all members of the trip to pick a couple of songs each.

Then simply add them all to a playlist, or get your bored teenager to do it. This will keep everyone happy with their favourite tunes playing through the speakers.

It could also be a conversation starter, or simply time for some family carpool karaoke to accelerate the fun. Once the holiday is over, this playlist will also serve as a keepsake of your journey together – double whammy.

Keep it dog friendly

A family holiday wouldn't be the same without your four-legged friend in the passenger seat. They're part of the family, after all.

However, long journeys can be stressful and disorienting for dogs.

To help make the drive as pleasant as possible for them, ensure they have plenty of space and are well secured with an appropriate restraint.

As well as being highly dangerous for the animal and passengers, driving with an unrestrained dog is illegal under Rule 57 of the Highway Code and could incur a fine of £2,500.

And finally, remember to take regular pit stops and offer them food and water as often as necessary.

Consider taking the scenic route

If you're not racing against the clock, choosing a less direct route that involves 'seeing and doing' can be a great way to break up your journey and put the brakes on boredom.

Do some research and plot your course past local landmarks, beauty spots or even fun activities for the kids along the way. Map out anything that you think will be of interest to your passengers.

Taking the time to visit somewhere new will help the journey feel more like a part of your holiday as opposed to a necessary evil to get you to your destination.

Open spaces such as picnic areas or parks will be a welcome change of scenery for everyone and will give children that all-important chance to blow off some steam.

That said, if a little motorway driving is inevitable along your route, it's not all bad news – they are mostly quick, convenient, and are punctuated with regular service stations for those all-important breaks.

Don't be fooled by the image of motorway service stations as gloomy and generic – there are some great places to stop and refuel both your car and your mood.

Agree on screen time (and have some alternatives up your sleeve)

Tablets and mobile phones are a useful source of entertainment and can provide that precious opportunity for peace and quiet during a long journey.

However, if you're keen to limit screen time for teenagers and younger children, it's a good idea to have some alternative distractions ready to roll when boredom sets in.

Colouring books, magnetic travel-sized versions of board games and various card games can often be found for very reasonable prices and are a good way for children (or adults) to pass the time.

Similarly, audiobooks are a great way to keep everyone occupied, and they require minimal effort or supervision.

Picking childhood favourites can be wonderfully nostalgic for grown-ups too.

Or shift gears to the classic car games. You've got "I spy," "Rock, paper, scissors," or even scour the internet for new games that keep the journey racing along.

Although, we wouldn't recommend “MINI no return” – it could end in some arguments that put the brakes on your happy travels.

Last but not least, assign everyone a role for the length of the journey.

From DJ to navigator, your passengers will be less likely to utter the dreaded 'Are we there yet?' if they're absorbed in the process.

We'd suggest knowing your route before handing the map over though – no unexpected detours.

Take regular pit stops

The current guidance recommends a stop of at least 15 minutes for every two hours of driving.

Although, if you're travelling with children or animals you may need to make more frequent stops – there's no shame in pulling over to stretch your legs.

The Highway Code recommends moving your body when you stop, so try and find an area where you can go for a short walk or at least get out and stretch those driving muscles.

If you're covering a longer distance, consider changing drivers at regular intervals if possible – think of it as a tag team effort to keep everyone fresh at the wheel.

Ready to hit the road? Make sure you're in the right vehicle

Family trips are all about creating memories together, and having the right car can make all the difference to your journey.

Whether you need extra boot space for all those holiday essentials or are looking for a vehicle with excellent entertainment options to keep the kids happy, choosing the perfect family car matters.