A couple of weeks ago my daughter called to tell me of their family’s summer vacation plans. I often go along to enjoy special time with the grandsons and give Melissa and Matt a little alone time as well. This next trip is to Orlando, Florida. She asked if I wanted to join again this year and of course I said YES.
While I will be staying in a separate bedroom in the condo, I have decided to drive down separately. There were a few reasons for that. 1- 14 hours in a car with 3 boys can be a challenge just due to the nature of boys 🙂 and 2 – I am not a light packer. I love planning for anything I may need if I am driving, so room for 6 in the SUV would be limited. Besides, always loving my road trips and looking forward to my first long one since I purchased a convertible is inviting.
Traveling alone, however, you do need to plan a bit more for your safety. You also need to take into consideration your travel style. How much time do you have to get to your destination? How far is it and how long should it take to get there?
Do you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible or would you prefer to take time and split up the drive? Do you want to stop to see anything of interest on the way, take time for a good leisurely meal or stop for fast food?
Since I am semi-retired now, I can usually take a few extra days if I wish. Since Orlando is about 14 hours for me, and for my personal safety I plan on taking an extra 1-2 days to drive down. That way I am not overtired or driving in the dark. I think that’s safer if you may be stopping at rest areas or gas stations along the way.
After deciding upon my route, this week I will review hotels along the way to make reservations. I used to just wait until I was tired and look for a hotel, but things have changed since the pandemic. I like knowing I have a spot to relax a bit, have a nice meal and a good nights sleep before continuing my drive. If I see a spot I would like to check out along the route, I will plan that as well.
I’ll let you know in the next post, what I have decided to do. What kind of things are you planning this summer? If you have any questions or tips you would like to share, I look forward to hearing from you.
Hello. It’s been awhile since I last posted. There have been so many things over the last year that I set this aside. I’ve traveled to learn more at conferences. I’ve traveled with my children and grandchildren, and I’ve traveled alone. My plans going forward are to post on Wednesdays.