traveller69

We travel by car a lot. The most important thing to us is to take our own pillows. We can put up with a bad bed if we have our pillows. Also, my husband likes his cocktail before dinner so we have his rum but we always take a nice highball glass. The hotel glasses can be pretty bad. The same with coffee mugs. WE take our own and find that most hotels have a coffee maker so I leave ours in the car but always carry filters and good coffee. (they usually just have those weak pouches in the room) Also I always carry some zip lock bags. They always come in handy for one thing or another.

JJ5

This is my favorite kind of trip now, although I can never go for more than 13 days.

One thing no one else has mentioned. That's something I have come to do more than a few times now. I don't "set" many places for hotel/lodging reservations, but I do tend to make 2 different Priceline stops, ususally midway and/or near the end of the trip. Of course you can not canel etc. so you would lose the $ if you don't get there. But we have had great luck and fun doing this. Have very high end surprises, and it helps not to have to look for lodging every single night. It makes a change.

And it also keeps you rather on schedule as you can dilly dally serendipity for longer some places but then have to finally skeddaddle to get to the next fixed room. So you have a more structured entire in the long run.

We take a lot less than most people do. I feel you can always buy something when you need it, rather than dragging your entire ownership around.

raviltraveler

Hi first and foremost, I have 2 friends who have been travleing on road trips and have had their computers stolen out of the trunks. So be careful , with your expensive items. I always take them with me even if I am just going in for a quick bite to eat. safe travels .

marilynl

Although I'm the type who packs a "motel bag" and leaves the rest in the car, I do actually know two people who had their CARS stolen from motels! But I wouldn't leave my computer in the car.

We take dumb bulky things like beach chairs, noodles to float in the pool, coolers, fishing gear, favorite knives and pots and pans, a box of things like spices, plastic bags, foil, tons of reading material,etc., but this is because our long car trip is taking us to a vacation condo somewhere, not because I would use it on the road. A garbage bag for the car is essential, along with bottled water, maps or mapquest directions. Alas, I can barely read a MAP in the car without getting carsick, and books on tape put me right to sleep, so its the radio (or Ipod or CDs) and the scenery for me. Actually, I sleep a lot in the car even withOUT books on tape, now that I think of it!

rkkwan

Just use common sense with your belongings. Dirty laundry can stay in the trunk while jewelry/computer/camera go with you inside. Stuff in between, you decide.

You have a relatively new car, and a very popular model in the US. It's also extremely reliable. Therefore, I won't worry about it, if it has been maintained properly. Check all fluids and most importantly, tire pressure. Learn to change a spare, or at least know where the spare and the jack are, so others can help you. Other than that, your chance of a major breakdown is so low you probably should buy some lottery tickets from various states as you have better odds there.

As for hotel, if you're not in a hurry and have the routes all planned out, then using Priceline can get you better hotels at much better price. But if you want flexibility, or if you're in a huge hurry, then don't ahead.

[If you carry a laptop and have a wi-fi plan or knows know to use it to connect to paid service, etc; then you can try Priceline the same day or the night before. Or if you can call someone to do it for you. This can actually works. I have helped my sister (another Fodorite) bid on Priceline during her roadtrip in the afternoon for same-night stay.]

J_Correa

A couple years ago my grandparents were on a cross-country road trip and several cars in the motel parking lot where broken into that night, including theirs. Apparently though, the thief/thieves didn't care for the loot that they stole from my grandparents' car because another motel guest found their library book, old-man sunglasses, and box of classical music CDs in the bushes. I guess those things don't have much value on the street. The bag that those thing were in was missing though - we figure it was used to transport the goods that were stolen from the other cars that the thief/thieves actually wanted - LOL.

My grandparents did have to get the broken lock on their car repaired, which set them back a day or so, but overall it wasn't a big deal, and they got a great story out of it.

For myself, I definitely like to have a cooler with drinks and some food with me in the car. Although I know I can stop at any gas station and buy things, I generally like to have better snacks than can be found at most convinience stores, esspecially if I am on a long trip. So I stock up on stuff at delis and grocery stores. I also like to have picnics enroute, so having lunch fixins in the car is great. Sometimes I even take a tabletop propane BBQ and grill out for lunch.

DebitNM

One more suggestion -- join a motoring club like AAA or similar one. It is well worth the money in case you break down. They also have great maps, travel guides etc.

Debi

RedRock

We take long Road Trips each year. This past summer we were on the road for almost three months and about 11K miles. We are planning another R/T for the desert southwest for this spring.. We have found it is best to follow the older US-highways as much as possible. Less traffic and you can see some of the country and still make good time... No reservations, to restrictive.... Most all the small towns have motels that are clean and handy. We use AAA maps and Tour Books, we use their camp books also, cannot beat Wal*Marts Rand McNally Road Atlas for $5.97...W/M is a good place to get supplies and an oil change if needed..... Pack at least two coolers, one for long term storage and one for that days use. Saves on buying ice, that can get expensive after a few weeks. Don't pack a lot of clothing, there are places to wash in almost each town.... In small town America things left in your car are for the most part safe.... We stopped in a small town in OK a year ago and there were two SLR Cameras on the front seat of the car next to ours with windows down, they were still there the next morning when we departed.... Look around, for the most part you can tell how safe the area is, just don't tempt anyone..... Your cell phone will not work everywhere, or cell service could get expensive depending on your plan. Get a pre paid phone card form Sam's Club or another like place to use so it will not cost a $1+ a minute to discuss the weather and your trip with the people back home.

yotefan37

Our one can't-live-without-it item: an electronic cooler that plugs into the cigerette lighter jack. It allows you to carry some healthier snacks (cheese, fruit salad, yogurt, milk) and keeps all your drinks cool. It nevers needs ice, so only time it has to be cleaned is in case of spills. We have an adapter that plugs into any outlet, and it is on rollers, so voila: we have a refrigerator in any room we stay in. Best of all, we got ours for only $40 (I think AC/DC adaptor was an extra $20). Sorry, I can't remember the manufacturer off the top of my head. Best road trip purchase we ever made!

Happy trails!

hulajake

Almost always want some kind of camera along and portable dvd player or laptop and the binoculars wouldn't hurt. That time of year I wouldn't leave them in the car because of the temperture changes and humidity.

trippinkpj

Well, we will be encountering this decision on our road trip. Since our Prius is a hatchback, we will take our valubles in every evening to the motel room. We may leave some items in the car, but we will be aware of our surroundings. My husband had his car broken into twice on trips before I met him. My mantra is, trust your instincts and use common sense. We will not be leaving my huband's guitar or our cameras in the car overnight.

Mama

Wow! What a pleasant surprise reading so many ideas and your personal experiences. I am grateful to each of you. Now I need to make a list and start preparing for our first long road trip. Thank you again for all faboulous tips.

mrsd2fan

Something I didn't see mentioned that I always need to have with me are papertowels and wet naps(pre-moistened wipes for personal use) they are good for freshening your self without having to stop. Sounds stupid, but it works.

Mama

Another great idea, mrsd2fan. paper towels are so obvious that I would probably forget. Thank you

pollyvw

All my life we have laughed at my mother because she never left the house for a trip longer than 2 hours or so without what she called a 'wet washrag' (bath cloth/face cloth). Originally, she never knew when she would have to wash a child's face. Now, at the age of 82, she has adapted to a wet papertowel in a zipper sandwich bag!

bobrad

We always take our pillows , it makes a difference when sleeping on your own pillow. We also take a small fan , CDs with the music that we like , a small cooler and a paring knife , mayo , mustard and maybe pickles. We then make sandwiches on the road. Peanut buter and grape jelly is always good to have on hand. I park where I can see my car but never in front of my room let the bad guys guess which room I'm in. I also never empty the trunk. My small coffee pot and a thermos is a must as are moist towelettes. We are generally off the road by 3 PM. Police or firemen usually know the best places to have a drink and a meal. The Elks or American Legions are always a good choice.

trippinkpj

Bobrad- I usually do bring our pillows, and will so on this trip. Thanks for the reminder.

pollyvw

Don't stop your newspapers. Get a neighbor (or hire a child in the neighborhood) to pick it up for you each day. We have had rashes of burglaries in this area and police finally determined that the common denominator for them all was stopping the paper.

I use my cell phone and flyers attained from rest stops (if I dont ask the rest stop hostess to actually make the reservation for me) to reserve rooms as we go. Also, AAA books and the like, if I am not particularly fond of what is available in the 'rest shop' flyer.

toedtoes

I have an electrical adapter. You plug in a regular 2-prong cord into one end and the other end goes into the cigarette lighter adapter. This means I only have to take the regular outlet chargers for the cell phone, ipod, laptop, etc. instead of having to take the car chargers too! It's small enough to fit in the glove box when not being used and was only about $30 at Best Buy.

I also always take along a small down throw (Costco $25). It's good to curl up under during the drive and laying it on top of a hotel bed gives you a lot of added warmth and it rolls up to almost nothing.

euclid

I am going on a two month tour of the country in August and September of 2007. This is my plan:

Sign up with AAA.
Have my mechanic check car thoroughly.
Buy a GPS system.
Have XM satellite radio installed.
Have doctor write two months of prescriptions.
Leave itinerary and phone numbers with two friends.
But a full size spare tire.

Items I will bring:

Camera, laptop, cellphone, binoculars, books, maps, cd's, cooler for water and other beverages, one major credit card and one gas card, car emergency kit with jumper cables, a weeks worth of clothes (planning for all weather conditions), backpack, and hiking boots.

In my previous travels I have generally brought only expensive items (camera, laptop) into the hotel room and leave the rest in the car. I guess it depends on your comfort level.
I agree with the others that you should stay off the interstates as much as possible and drive some of the secondary roads to really SEE the country. Check the atlas or map to finds scenic routes (the natchez trace parkway, the blue ridge parkway, san juan skyway, coastal route 1 in california). These roads can be destinations in themselves.
Have a safe and healthy trip.