With the holiday season upon us, more Filipinos are hitting the roads, many even taking long drives, to be with family and loved ones or finally have that much-deserved vacation. To avoid or overcome hiccups along the way such as losing track of the route or falling short of cash, prior thorough preparation is important.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your drive with the help of Caltex’s high-quality fuel products:
1. Plan your route
A smooth trip starts with a carefully planned route. This is particularly crucial if the destination is new or you have not visited the place for some time. Studying the map or familiarizing oneself with the course will enable anyone to navigate unexpected road closures and traffic-heavy areas, even manage travel time and ETA.
Apart from planning the main route to your destination, you can break down the detours and pit stops. Luckily, Caltex has strategically located gas stations across the Philippines, ensuring travelers can easily fuel up anytime, anywhere.
2. Set a budget
Determining a budget for a trip may seem like a buzzkill, but it is a very prudent way to ensure you and the entire family can make the most of the trip. You will certainly enjoy your trip a whole lot more if you don’t have to worry about running out of funds.
When on the road and on vacation, seemingly small expenses such as store snacks can accumulate and drain the wallet. Add to these toll fees and souvenirs. By setting a clear budget, you can prioritize expenses and make sure you have funds for the essentials and still have some left for treats for yourself and the whole family.
For even more savings, you can redeem your Caltex Rewards points for fuel discounts and exclusive vouchers from the Caltex Rewards Catalogue.
3. Be prepared yet pack light
The key is to prioritize packing the basics: Aside from the personal items, be sure to bring chargers, power banks and of course snacks. One pro tip is to keep your things travel-sized so you can have some free space in your bags for other items, including those you may purchase along the way.
You can also prepare a list that distinguishes the items you need for the trip from the items you want to bring. You can also consider packing dual-purpose items.
4. Keep yourself alert and your passengers entertained
The long travel time can leave the driver feeling drowsy and the passengers restless. If you’re the one behind the wheel, make sure to get enough sleep before hitting the road. Stay alert by sitting up straight and chewing gum, or switch places with a driving companion to get some rest.
It’s also important to keep the mood light, especially when traveling with children. You can curate a playlist such as classic karaoke hits that everyone can easily sing along to. Another option is to play games such as “I Spy,” “20 Questions” and “Never Have I Ever.” These games do not require boards or tools that will add to your luggage.
5. Check if your car is road trip-ready and power up with a reliable fuel
With your route carefully planned and your budget set, you’re almost ready for your road trip! But before you hit the road, you must check if you are ready to drive long distances and if your car is safe for the road. For the latter, you can assess your car’s battery, lights, oil, water, brakes, air, gas, engines and tires using the “BLOWBAGETS” checklist.
Now would also be a good time to power up with a reliable superior cleaning fuel. Thanks to Techron with Clean and Glide Technology, Caltex fuels are specially formulated to target, remove and clear carbon deposits from the car’s fuel system. In fact, fuel experts conducted a borescope test to check engine intake valves for carbon deposits and found that Caltex delivered cleaner results, with an average cleanliness score of 9.8 out of 10 in 23 cars tested.
