Travel Tips For Apartment Moving During The Holidays
Moving from one apartment to another is stressful enough, but if you have to do it during a major holiday you’re adding a whole new layer of challenge to the endeavor. However, if you’re going to be one of the people getting behind the wheel during one of these turbulent times, there are a few tricks that can help you avoid the worst of the holiday chaos. So before you get stuck in another glut of traffic, surrounded by other people who are just trying to make it to their loved ones for the long weekend, keep these tips in mind.
Tip #1: Give Your Vehicle A Checkup
There is nothing worse than getting a hundred miles into a trip, onto to have your “check engine” light pop on. So before you pack up to head to your new living space, listen to Autotrader‘s advice and take a day to be sure your vehicle can handle the trip. Check everything, from your oil and brake fluid, to your tire tread and windshield wiper fluid. Because if you’re going to find a problem, it’s a lot better to find it while your car is sitting in your parking space (or at the auto shop) than when you’re pulled over on the side of the road, a dozen miles from the next exit. Potentially in the rain.
Speaking of rain…
Tip #2: Check The Weather
As 21st Century Car Insurance reminds us, the weather can have a huge effect on the sort of trip you end up taking. Because it’s a lot easier to drive down a highway with the sun shining and a gentle breeze, than it is to plow through a rainstorm where you can barely see the tail lights in front of you. So keep an eye on the weather, and don’t be afraid to adjust your time table accordingly if bad weather is coming so you can get out ahead of it.
Tip #3: Drive During Off-Peak Hours
With so many cars on the road, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re heading out during off-peak traffic. For example, that might mean leaving early enough in the morning that most of the working population is still dreaming about the weekend. Or it might mean that you head out in the evening, and drive during the night hours (if you and any passengers are comfortable with that). You don’t typically need to make extreme shifts in your drive time, though. Just make sure that when you’re in densely-populated areas like cities that you are there in the early afternoon or late evening, rather than during the after work rush when everyone is trying to get home.
Tip #4: Stop To Rest Every Few Hours
Even the finest road warrior should take a break every 100 miles, or every 2 hours, according to CNN. This isn’t usually an issue for folks traveling with kids, but even if you’re making a solo trip and you feel fine, it’s a good idea to hit up a rest area, get a bite to eat, and stretch your legs. Resting helps keep you sharp, and prevents the highway hypnosis that can slow your reactions, and cause you problems behind the wheel. Problems that can be easily avoided by making sure you stop for a brief rest every time you clock triple-digit miles.
Tip #5: Always Pack An Emergency Kit
Before you pack anything else, always make sure you have an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle. Everything from first aid, to road flares, to a can of flat-fix and jumper cables should be present, just in case the worst actually happens and you need them. Because, as the old saying goes, it’s better to have something and not need it, than to need it and not have it. And if you have medications or other personal worries, be absolutely certain that you’ve got some of those with you, too.
For more moving tips you should keep in mind, simply contact us today!