When you think of iconic ways to travel, the road trip has to be up there. Whether you’re travelling with friends or family, they are the perfect setting for self-discovery, bonding and, of course, adventure.
But travelling long distances in a confined space with other people isn’t always a recipe for a good time. Oh no. Sometimes you need to lay the groundwork with a little ingenuity and planning.
So before you hit the road, here are six rules that will make your next road trip one to remember – for all the right reasons.
Break it up
A road trip isn’t just about getting from A to B, it’s about the journey. The problem is, long journeys can be monotonous, especially if you have restless kids in the car. The trick? Break it up along the way. Not only will this make your road trip safer, but by creating a series of mini-adventures you’ll keep spirits high and repetitions of “are we nearly there yet?” to a minimum.
The Highway Code recommends drivers take a 15 minute break after every two hours of driving, so with that in mind, take time to pre-plan your stops. Not only will this be a weight off your mind, but it also means you can pick locations that offer the most bang for their buck – whether that’s great views, clean loos, or somewhere to recharge or refuel.
Once you’ve broken your road trip down, you should give each leg of the journey its own personality. If you’re lucky enough to be travelling in the all-electric MINI Aceman, the MINI Experience Modes mean you can change the in-car vibe at the touch of the button. Each mode allows you to transform your cabin’s colour scheme, lighting, style and soundscape, and with eight to choose from, you’ll be covered for the whole day. Alternatively, try setting a different theme (such as game time or quiet time) or assigning a new in-car DJ or playlist for each part of the trip, and watch the hours fly by.
Give everyone a role
No one wants to feel like a spare part, so make sure everyone has a designated job – or two. This will help to create a harmonious team spirit, and ensure everyone in the car feels equally valuable and invested in the journey.
Obviously you have the driver – or the driving team if you’re splitting the job – but aside from that there are countless road trip jobs you could assign, from snack monitor (see below) to DJ, navigator to games coordinator.
Don’t skimp on snacks
Like birthdays and holidays, and when you’re flying or going through a break-up, calories don’t count on a road trip – which means the more snacks the better.
When it comes to nibbles everyone has their go-to treats, so make sure you load up on each crew member’s faves. Then, simply bundle them all into a dedicated tote bag and place it next to the snack monitor for easy – and constant – distribution. After all, a sated road tripper is a happy road tripper.
Plan for all eventualities
As with any adventure, the unexpected can always happen – like getting stuck in a traffic jam or having to make a last minute detour. This is where the MINI Connected Package, with its array of entertainment features, including access to music and audiobooks, comes into its own. It can even turn the central instrument display monitor into an AirConsole games console when the car is stationary or charging.
Also coming with clever personalisation and navigation functions, such as flagging congestion in real-time and saving your active cruise control settings – it’s the ideal road trip add-on.
Let the tech do the hard work
Once upon a time, road trips involved dog-eared road maps and endless games of “spot the red car” – but those days are long behind us. Now, canny road trippers let the tech do the hard work so they can sit back and enjoy the journey.
Chances are, your car can do more than you know. For instance, the all-electric MINI Aceman comes with Spike, the MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant, which can handle everything from providing live weather updates to adjusting the temperature inside the car, while the MINI app can help you find, and navigate to, the nearest public charging station.
So before setting off, take the time to get to grips with your car’s full tech capabilities. You might not bother using live traffic updates or cruise control day-to-day, but they will be a real asset on a longer drive.
Choose your cruiser wisely
It goes without saying that the right vehicle can make or break a road trip, so if you have a choice, choose wisely. For road trip purposes, your main considerations should be safety, space and style – get these right, and you’ll be in for a smooth ride.
Unsurprisingly, the all-electric MINI Aceman has all three in spades. From dynamic cruise control to lane departure warning, which immediately alerts you when you veer out of your lane, this smart car has your back. Space is no problem either. The MINI Aceman can comfortably fit five adults – along with 300 litres of boot space with all the seats up, and MINI roof rails (for fitting a MINI roof rack and roof box) as standard. Finally, style is a constant throughout, from innovative, leather-free interiors featuring knitted textiles, to its seriously playful handling and responsiveness. In fact, it’s so ace, you might actually be upset when you reach your destination.
Find out more about the all-electric MINI Aceman
