Road Trips and Gifts: Tips to Get Them There Safely

Many people will be taking road trips to get to their holiday destinations this year. The highways will be filled with travelers that are intent to get to a relatives house for the festivities. The cars on those roads are not only filled with anxious people, they are also filled with gaily wrapped gifts and goodies to hand out once their road trip is over.

Well, guess what? If you plan to get your gifts to their destination safely, there are certain precautions you need to take before your road trip ever starts. Consider what kind of gifts you are taking with you. Are they delicate? Can they take the bumps and rough surfaces they may be traveling on?

Packing Gifts for a Road Trip

If at all possible, it is better to wait to wrap the gifts once you arrive at your destination. Not having to worry about ripping gift paper or squashing ribbons and bows will make packing the gifts much easier. Gifts such as clothing, blankets or stuffed animals can be packed in their own suitcase. Just make sure it is a distinct suitcase, so you will know which one has gifts in them.

Breakable items can be nestled in between your clothing in suitcases, or you can purchase a small tote and some bubble wrap to secure the breakable gifts for your road trip. Be sure to put wrapping essentials inside the totes that contain your gifts. Also add scotch tape and name tags.

You could buy gift wrap when you arrive, but it is much handier to have it with you. Plus if your road trip ends at a motel, you will not have to go out in search of gift wrap. You can just bring your totes to the room, and leisurely wrap the gifts while you relax from your day on the road.

Keeping Gifts Safe on a Road Trip

Everyone knows the roads are filled with holiday travelers this time of year. They also know that a big percent of the vehicles on the road are carrying gifts inside them. Some of those gifts may be worth a lot of money. This is a thieves busiest and best time of year! Your vehicle makes a very easy target for them.

If your road trip is long enough where you have to stop in at a restaurant, look for one that has a well lit parking lot. If at all possible, try to position your car close to an entrance or a window. Once inside, try to seat your self close to where you parked your car, so you can keep an eye on it.

It is advisable to use the same tactic if you must stop at a motel for the night while on your road trip. Never leave anything inside the car interior. If you have to many gifts and luggage to have it all in the trunk, then it is much safer to bring in anything that can't be securely locked into the trunk. Suv's are a thieves special treat! They are fully open and have lots of windows for thieves to peer into. It may be a little work, but emptying out the vehicle is better than waking up to find smashed windows and empty seats.

Gassing Up on a Road Trip With Gifts

You'll probably need gas on your road trip. Choose the stations you pull into carefully. Do not let your tank get so low that you have to stop at the next station you see. It may not be very well lit, or very busy, or in a very good area.

Choose a station that has a lot of pumps, and that has on site restaurant, if possible. Truck stops are great places to stop. Trucks are coming and going all of the time, and they are always well lit. Unless you must go in, use your credit card to pay at the pump so you won't have to leave your vehicle unattended.

If you must go in, and someone is traveling with you, leave them in the car (so long as they are adult of course!) to watch over your gifts. They can keep the car locked and running for warmth until you return. If you are alone, move your car from the pumps into a well lit area, lock it and pocket the keys!