Mar 01, 2016 / Auto & RV
It’s been a long, chilly winter in Utah and you’re a little stir-crazy and snow-tired. It’s time for a change of scenery and a change of pace.
It’s cool, though, because our state rocks: we have five national parks, seven national monuments, seven national forests, and countless state parks, reservoirs, and lakes. And if that’s not enough for you, Salt Lake County is just a half-day drive from Wendover, Mesquite, Las Vegas, Idaho Falls, Island Park, Boise, Grand Junction, and more. That’s a lot of long weekend getaways you could be taking!
So let’s pack our bags, gas up the car, and talk about how to go on a sweet road trip:
Any good road trip requires a few basic necessities: a reliable ride, your favorite tunes, snacks to munch on, and a fun travel buddy. Create a quick checklist of what you need and make sure it’s all in the car before you hit the road.
Don’t get carried away and over-pack, though. The more you bring, the less space there is to stretch out in the car and the more stuff there is to keep track of, so leave those three extra pairs of shades at home.
If you do need anything on the road, this is when being a Utah First member comes in handy. You can access your accounts at more than 8,000 co-op credit union locations across the US without any fees. You can also use your mobile banking app to check balances, transfer more cash to your checking account, or find more than 28,000 free ATM locations nationwide.
Before you head out of town, check your car’s oil, water, and tires, and remember to fill up the gas tank. Download maps of your route or make sure you can access them offline so you don’t get lost in areas where you don’t have cell phone service.
If you get a flat tire during your road trip, you’ll want to be prepared. Check your trunk before you take off and make sure your spare tire, jack, and tire iron are present and accounted for. It’s also a good idea to include an emergency kit so you can handle any other minor emergencies or surprises.
There are a few universal pet peeves for co-travelers: nobody likes riding with someone who constantly plays with the radio, frequently asks how much longer you have to go, or doesn’t chip in for gas and other expenses.
Keep it fun by contributing your fair share for gas, snacks, or entry fees to that weird dinosaur park you found on the side of the road. No cash on hand? No problem. Just use the person-to-person pay feature in your mobile banking app to send your friends a little dough.
You can also add some pizzazz to your car time by bringing along audio books or comedy sets, or playing some road trip games.
One final tip to help you make the most of your road trip: bring along a credit card that offers travel rewards and use it to pay for gas or your hotel room. By the end of your trip, you’ll have enough rewards to make you smile.
Now that we’ve covered how to pack, prepare, and have fun, there’s only one thing left to talk about: where are you headed?
Banking with Utah First is as smooth as cruise control on the open road. Call or visit us to talk about ways to make your road trip better, like car or RV loans or a Visa credit card with free unrestricted travel.