The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step called ‘planning’. Car rentals under 21 will assist you with choosing an appropriate vehicle. There are even many available car rental options for 19-year-olds, so don’t hesitate to ask for expert advice. Make sure your adventure goes smoothly with the several crucial points mentioned below.
To plan hard or not to plan
Novice travelers are inexperienced hence they tend to take more time to plan things than seasoned travelers. Take in mind that you can never plan a successful cross-country trip, because there will always be something to hold you up, be it weather conditions, a traffic jam or a line in a cafe. By planning too much, you limit yourself to unrealistic expectations and eliminate a sense of improvisation. It is not to say, though, that you needn’t plan at all. You don’t want to run out of gas somewhere far from civilization and spend a night in a chilly tent, do you? Some situations like car damage, thunderstorms, poor internet connection or even injuries are beyond your control and can leave you helplessly stuck in the middle of nowhere. Hopefully, you won’t experience any of those, but you will be thankful for a contingency plan if faced with an emergency.
Define your time frame
Estimate (at least roughly) how much time it will take you to get from coast to coast. This time includes the length of your entire drive as well as the length of your stops. Normally it doesn’t take more than 3 days in case you are willing to drive without stopovers. However, if your initial aim is not to beat the world’s fastest record but to unwind and have fun, then your trip will last a week or so, depending on the length of your stay. Anyway, you must keep track of your expenditures and be aware of the time needed to get back by a certain deadline.
Draft your route
This activity is just as exciting as the journey itself. All you have to do is pin the locations you are going to pass by on your map. Don’t forget to mark refueling spots and places where you are planning to stay overnight. Feel free to use either paper or digital maps for these purposes, but if you presume that your trip might go through areas with no signal, you’d better have both. Preferably use Google Maps to follow the accurate course of your route and get current recommendations for eating, shopping and sightseeing facilities around. Before you embark on a US road trip, you should know what to expect on your way to avoid unpleasant encounters. Also, leave some space for unscheduled stops between the main ones in case you want to see more of a particular destination.
Book accommodation in advance
Google affordable hotel rooms in the area to familiarize yourself with the hotel options and make sure they are in your price range. It is also advised that you make a reservation ahead of time. Some travelers prefer to manage it on the fly, but they risk sleeping outdoors. The matter is that hotels located around national parks and popular sights are often full to the brim. So, even if the prices don’t blow your budget, it won’t guarantee you a lodge for the night.
Save up
The best choice is to rent a car if you are under 21, because it will bring a lot of conveniences. Prices vary depending on the type of vehicle, rental period and other factors, so you should study what budget-wise options are there. Tip number 2: abstain from road eateries. You would rather invest in a compact cooler than fork out on expensive restaurants. Moreover, it is way healthier to eat your own homemade food than supermarket sandwiches sitting on display for who knows how long. Another advantage of this device is that you don’t have to endure hunger until you reach the nearest cafe. You can pull over and take a bite at any time.
Conclusion
This list contains the bare minimum for your safe and exciting adventure. Remember, it won’t take you a lot of time to come up with a short plan, but it WILL save you a lot of time during your ride. Do not neglect to plan your trip before you buckle up.