Tips to ensuring a safe and fun road trip

Summer is an amazing time to go outside and do fun things. There are books, TV shows, magazines and endless blogs dedicated to getting in shape for the summer and making the most of sunny days. Summer often coincides with school holidays, which makes it an ideal time to travel with your family.

While most of us get away by taking a flight to another destination, there are a few adventurers' who take to the roads to explore nearby destinations and enjoy what the local culture has to offer. With the busy pace of life here in the UAE, we often forget to go beyond our cozy homes in the city to enjoy the beautiful unchartered territories in the Gulf.

Apart from making sure your motor insurance is up to date, here a few tips to getting you and your car ready for the road trip of a lifetime:

• Take your car for a quick check up and service before your mini vacation. Checking the oil, air-conditioning, coolant, wiper blades, tyres, and wheel alignment will ensure that you do not have to make an unnecessary stop due to a glitch in your car.

• Get a thorough wash and polish done. There is definitely some theory attached to the state of your car and the state of your mind being in sync (just kidding - there is no pop psychology quiz to prove this). But if your car is spick and span on the inside and shining bright on the outside, it will definitely ensure a good mood while being on the road.

• Get enough music and entertainment on board. Now this one's obviously not related to safety, but will definitely help in keeping the kids entertained during the journey. So make sure to bring your iPod with your favourite tracks and some games for your kids.

• Accessorise your car with essentials like foldable garbage bags, tissue boxes, car bins, hand sanitizers and a car purifier. A road trip means spending quite a bit of time snacking while driving and being prepared for spills and stains will help keep you car tidy during the journey.

• Lastly, don't forget to take your sunglasses, floppy hats and sun screen to protect you from the blazing summer sun. While we're on the topic, make sure you carry lots of drinking water to keep yourself hydrated at all times.

So there you have it, our top tips to ensuring a safe and fun road trip with the family.