On the Road

It’s May, the official start of the summer travel season. Time to take all those winter day dreams and make them happen. Sometimes we get so carried away planning all the fun activities we’re going to do when we get to our destination that we put off (or worse, just plain forget) other important things that need to be taken care of. So, this month we’ve got a planning guide to make sure your trip doesn’t leave you with any unpleasant surprises. We’re also heading to the coast of Texas this month to give you a taste of Galveston and S. Padre Island.

Time to read: 2 minutes

Let’s get to it!

On the Road Planning Guide

When planning an RV trip, whether it’s a short weekend jaunt or a summer-long excursion, there’s more to plan than just what to do when you get there. It’s tempting to put less exciting planning off until the last minute when you’re more likely to forget something. Follow the guide below, and you’ll be sure to cover all the bases.

Keep things humming at home:

–Find someone to care for plants and pets, mow the lawn and collect the mail. If you’ll be gone longer than a week or so, consider stopping your mail at the post office or forwarding it to another location. No matter how long you’re away, it’s a good idea to notify a trusted neighbor and have someone stop by to check on the house every few days. Make sure they have your cell phone number, in case there’s a problem.

–If you receive checks or pay bills by mail, make sure you won’t be missing those payments. Arrange to pay bills online, or pay them ahead of time. Checks can be direct deposited to your account or you can set up a free Paypal account and have people deposit money there. Paypal does collect a small fee for deposits, so it’s not always a good idea for large payments. But you can apply for a free Paypal debit card which allows you to access your money on the road.

–Will you have to check in with your boss while you’re gone? Pre-schedule times you’ll call, so you don’t waste valuable relaxation time playing phone tag. Will you be working on the road or will someone cover for you? Set up an automatic message to let your clients know you’ll be away for a while. By making sure work is covered, you won’t come home to a pile of problems on your desk.

Getting there and getting home:

–How far do you plan to drive each day? Where will you overnight? Where will you gas up? Having a solid plan for each leg of the trip saves you money, and lets you find the cheapest gas, grocery stores, and campsites along the way.

–If you’re on a limited budget, make sure you plan carefully. Diesel prices fluctuate almost daily, so save enough money to get home.

At your destination:

–Where will you camp? Make reservations ahead so you’re not left searching for a site.  Will you need an extra vehicle?

–What activities do you have planned?  Will you need a reservation or equipment to participate?

–Are you planning to pay a house sitter or bring a souvenir back for the kid who walked your dogs? Make a list of people you want to remember.

Don’t forget to plan for unplanned things like interesting side trips and emergencies. If you get sick, do you have your insurance cards handy? Will you have to call a special number to get approved for an out-of-state emergency room? Write all the important information down on two index cards and place a copy with your first-aid kit and another copy with your vehicle registration. Make sure everyone knows where this information is.

Planning ahead gives you peace of mind. You’ll spend more time playing and less time worrying. Did we leave something out? Please leave a comment.

Destination: Texas Coast

When you think of Texas, what comes to mind? Cowboys and horses?  NASA? Well, Texas also has a beautiful white sand coastline just waiting to be explored. Two of the most popular destinations are South Padre Island and Galveston.

South Padre Island

What could be better than spending all day on a powdery white sand beach then hitting the town for fine dining and exciting night life?  S.P.I. (as it’s known locally) is a beach-lover’s paradise. Several waterfront rental services offer beach necessities like umbrellas, wave runners, boogie boards and scuba diving equipment. Ever wonder how those really elaborate sand sculptures are created? The area has dozens of sandcastle schools that will teach you the art for an hour or a day. Deep sea fishing and dolphin watching are also popular area activities. If you need to get out of the sun for a bit, you can head to one of several day spas, yoga centers and eco-tours like sea turtle and bird watching.

After a day in the sun, you can retire to your campsite, or enjoy a night of fine dining, music and dancing. If the kids aren’t too exhausted, they might enjoy an evening at the movies or miniature golf.

Galveston

Just a short drive and you’re in Galveston. In addition to the usual beach attractions, Galveston visitors enjoy the historic homes and shopping, a vibrant arts district and several theme parks including Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn.

Moody Gardens is a 10 story rainforest education center built into an enclosed pyramid. It’s like a museum, zoo and botanical garden all rolled into one. The Schlitterbahn is a year-round waterpark.

Other unique area educational centers include a railroad museum, a flight museum and The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum. This refurbished oil rig offers visitors a look into geological exploration, oil and gas production, and off-shore oil drilling.

Both South Padre Island and Galveston are just a short drive from larger cities like Houston and San Antonio , so it’s easy to get a taste of inland attractions without changing your home base. If you’re planning a trip to the Lone Star State, don’t miss the charmingly different flavor of the Texas coast.

That’s it for this month. As always, if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to send an email . We love hearing from you!

Until next month,

Safe Travels