Road trips are lots of fun, but it can be tough for the kids (and parents). After all, long car rides aren’t exactly exciting. To help you prep for your upcoming trip, we’ve compiled a list of tips by parents who have mastered the art of making the journey as fun as the destination for the kids.
Road trips are a quintessential part of family vacations. Most holidays would include a car trip in the itinerary: whether it’s from the airport to the hotel and attractions, or if you’re on a multi-city holiday.
Parents who are seasoned road trippers know that serious prep work is required for the ride, even if it’s just over an hour. Kids tend to get bored real quick, especially when there’s limited space to move around. So we highly recommend you start the journey prepared – the less “are we there yet” questions, the better.
Not sure how to go about preparing for your family road trip? We reached out to some parents to gather some car trip tips that they swear by.
Tip #1: Prepare a playlist with everyone’s favourite songs
We have a family road trip playlist that is updated before every trip – it helps that we’re all Disney fans. Everyone takes turns being the DJ, and the drive would end up being a really fun karaoke session.
E-lyn, mum of one
Road trip track records: Singapore-Melaka; and road trips around Kyoto prefecture.
Tip #2: Pack snacks – but go for healthier options
Snacks are always top of our list when going on road trips with the kids. Little tummies get hungry fast, and we all know how fast that can develop to the hangry stage. Personally, we prefer healthier options like whole grain biscuits and fresh fruits as these are more filling. And don’t forget the motion sickness lollipops – they’re lifesavers, especially if you have to deal with winding mountain roads!
Syaz, mum of three
Road trip track records: Singapore-Genting Highlands
Bonus tip: Some cars, like the XPENG X9, come with a built-in cooler or fridge. This feature is super handy for storing fruits for the kiddos, which they can enjoy during road trips or even during school pick-ups. The X9 even has a hot storage option for warm snacks and drinks; coffee, anyone?
Tip #3: Plan your drives during nap time
When the girls were younger, we tried to coincide drives with naps, which worked really well. We’ve also done late-night drives during their bedtime for routes that we’re familiar with: don them in pajamas and transfer them to beds upon arrival. I recommend packing a nice, fluffy blanket for maximum comfort, too.
Kate, mum of two
Road trip track records: Perth-Margaret River and Zurich-Annecy
Bonus tip: The nap time strategy may not work in every situation as it depends on road conditions as well. Bumpy rides aren’t ideal for bub’s naps, so be sure to pick a car with great suspension. The X9’s air suspension feature is a good example, as it auto adjusts to road conditions so the fam gets a smooth ride.
Tip #4: Load up on kids’ entertainment
Toys, busy books, games, all the kids’ favourite shows – bring them all. Get the kids to help by asking to pick two to three of their favourite toys and board or card games that they’re confident can fit in their bags. Make sure you’ve got their favourite shows downloaded as well (ours is Bluey at the moment). When they’ve exhausted all these, the ‘I spy’ game never fails to cheer them up. We also play the ‘rainbow car’ game where you’ve got to find a car in every colour to tick them off your list – pink cars are the hardest!
Amanda, mum of three
Road trip track records: Tuscany-Rome
Tip #5: Plan pit stops and toilet breaks
Every parent knows that toilet breaks are super important, especially if you have kids who are freshly toilet trained. We try to make a pit stop every hour, not just for toilet breaks but also to stretch our legs a little. Even if you don’t feel like walking around, you can just chill in the car. Don’t forget to pack a portable toilet seat reducer if you’ve got very young kids.
Andrina, mum of one
Road trip track records: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo-Kyoto
Tip #6: Bring powerbanks, and make sure all devices are charged.
Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or gaming device – just make sure they’re all fully charged before the trip. Powerbanks are a must. I also highly recommend getting one of those split charging cables so you can charge multiple devices at one go. Teens’ smartphones do tend to run out of battery at the same point during a road trip.
Dawn, mum of two
Road trip track records: Singapore-Cameron Highlands; and road trips around other parts of Malaysia.
Bonus tip: Rather than packing multiple devices, you could make use of your car’s in-built entertainment system if you have it. Cars like X9 have YouTube in its entertainment console, and you could even cast from your phone. The car even has two wireless charging pads designed for mobile phones in the front row, as well as six charging ports throughout its interior – so no worries if you’ve forgotten your powerbank.
Tip #7: Prep the kids with the trip itinerary
I find that talking to my kids about an upcoming trip always helps. For example, my husband and I outlined the journey from our current hotel to the next one, when we’re stopping for lunch, and what we’ll be seeing along the way. This sets some sort of expectation for the kids, and you’ll be surprised at how understanding they can be.
Esther, mum of two
Road trip track records: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur; and road trip through the Austrian alps.
Plan your road trip, but make it business class.
You’ve heard the saying: it’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey. So imagine going on a family road trip in total comfort: with warm food and refreshing drinks, always-on entertainment, and comfy seats with lots of leg room throughout the trip – just like a business class seat. That’s all possible with the XPENG X9.
We’re talking about an ultra spacious seven-seater with a built-in smart hot-and-cold fridge, huge 21.4-inch entertainment system, and a fab immersive audio system. In terms of comfort, you’re treated to a luxe interior with plush cushions, as well as passenger seats that can recline fully when you fold up the final row. Plus, did you know that X9 has massage seats? This car really does take travelling in comfort seriously.
But comfort isn’t just reserved for passengers on the X9; the driver seat has massage features too. Driving is also made a breeze with the air suspension feature and active rear-wheel steering to navigate tight spaces easily.
Storage is another thing you don’t have to worry about with the X9. Even with all three rows of seats in use, you can still store up to seven 24” suitcases (just a little larger than your cabin baggage). Just need to fit a family of four? Simply fold the final row to enjoy extended leg space and even more storage allowance. Even with its spaciousness, the X9 is still within 1.8m height, so you don’t need to worry about entering narrow carparks.
Fits what you’re looking for in a family car for upcoming trips? Check out the X9’s full specs on the XPENG website, or book a test drive to experience it for yourself today. Or check out how we had a fab family day out on the XPENG X9 recently.
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This post is in partnership with XPENG.
