The perfect vacation for summer 2021, because not only does it not put too much strain on your wallet, but you can also avoid means of transport with lots of people, such as trains and planes, this year - a road trip. The best thing about it is that you can decide for yourself how long you want to be on the roads and how far you want to go.
Road trips provide an incredible feeling of freedom that everyone deserves after 3 online semesters. The great thing is that you don't even have to go far to experience the indescribable feeling. You can explore all of Germany or all of Europe by car. In this checklist we will show you how best to plan this and not forget anything.
1. The most important thing: the car
Of course, it is most practical if you or one of your friends owns a car. If this is the case, you definitely need to test the car for any potential problems beforehand. The best and safest option is to take the car to the workshop and have it checked there. This can seem expensive and complicated at first, but trust me, nothing is more annoying than a breakdown in the middle of the highway. Plus it gets really expensive, so it's better to just have everything checked out first. It is of course very advantageous if the seats in your car can be folded down if you spontaneously have to spend the night somewhere. A good night's sleep isn't guaranteed, but it's better than nothing ;)
If you don't have a car, that's no problem either. Renting a car is definitely worth it for the upcoming adventure. Since the car not only replaces the plane or train ticket, but is also your hotel room from time to time, the price is not that expensive. Our favorite provider for this is Europcar . Currently you even save 10% on your rental car ! At Europcar you get a guaranteed new car model and 24-hour breakdown assistance.
2. Accommodation - Any comfort level is possible
My recommendation for a road trip is to just plan the route and not book any accommodation yet. This way you retain the special feeling of freedom that a road trip gives you and don't limit yourself in any way. This means that you can spontaneously decide how long you want to stay in one place, depending on how much you like it. Or maybe you will find a special place on the way where you would like to stay for a while.
You don't have to worry about the accommodations. When you travel by car, all options are open to you. No matter whether it's a hotel, hostel, youth hostel, Airbnb or campsite, you can always spontaneously stay somewhere. You can then use the many hours you spend in the car to search in a relaxed manner.
If push comes to shove, there is still the Park4Night app, which shows you free overnight parking spaces throughout Germany where you can legally stay overnight.
3. Equipment - Less is more
When it comes to personal equipment, everyone probably knows best what they might need. Nevertheless, I can recommend that everyone get a disposable camera for the trip. This way you don't spend unnecessary time taking the perfect picture and you can then have the joy of being able to look at all the pictures for the first time at home :)
I can recommend the following things for the car:
A cool box is particularly important for survival in summer. You don't even need a socket for the linked cool box and is therefore perfect for the car. If you don't stay in hostels or Airbnbs every day, you urgently need camping chairs and possibly a camping table . So you can set yourself up comfortably anywhere and enjoy the view. So that you don't starve while you're at it, a single-burner camping stove or a two-burner camping stove is part of the basic equipment for a road trip.
So that you don't unnecessarily pollute the environment with endless plastic dishes and accessories, we have some affordable alternatives for you here. Because travelers in particular should protect the world they love to look at. For example, the spork not only leaves no waste in the environment, but also saves space. If you don't want to live in such a space-saving way, there is also a bamboo cutlery set .
Road trips often involve long nights and sleepy routes, so coffee is a must. So that you don't need a new plastic cup every time you fill up, you can get a reusable coffee cup before your trip. Of course, hygiene should not be missing on the go. With this toothbrush set you can keep your teeth clean without any plastic.
4. Route - How to find the perfect spots
You have to decide the route for yourself individually, because only you know whether you want to explore all of Europe or just Germany in the car ;) You can decide in advance whether you would rather go on a nature-heavy or city-heavy trip. This makes it easier for you to find suitable attractions. On Instagram you can find beautiful natural, cultural, urban places in Europe using the hashtags #roadtripeurope #europeantrip #besteurope. One of my favorite accounts @busemprzezswiat travels the world in the van on just $8 a day. The account @doounias discovers the most beautiful spots in Europe like no other.
If you just want to really discover Germany, there are great websites that have the best routes in Germany. I think this year is the perfect year to just stay within the limits so that hopefully next year you can explore the beautiful wide world again without a guilty conscience. Germany also has beautiful places for every type of vacation. One of my favorite road trips is the Alpine Road , which takes you through the most beautiful mountain towns in the south of the country to the most beautiful natural wonders. Another beautiful route is the romantic road , which leads directly through medieval towns and gives you a great feeling of history, culture and cuisine. Last but not least, I can recommend the wine route . The friendliest winemakers await you with their home-made wine and the most beautiful hiking and cycling routes. But be careful! Don't drink and drive!
5. Playlist - The faithful companion of every road trip
Let's be honest, a good playlist is the foundation of every road trip. There are endless great road trip playlists on Spotify for every musical taste. However, here are the songs that are a must for any road trip playlist as they give you the ultimate feeling of freedom and everyone can sing along.
- Ho Hey - The Lumineers
- Sleep on the Floor - The Lumineers
- Wonderwall - Oasis
- I'm gonna be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
- Sky and Sand - Paul Kalkbrenner
- Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John
- Up and away - Casper
- Electric Feel - MGMT
- Cigarette Daydreams - Cage The Elephant
- Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader
