The perfect recipe for driving home for Christmas
It’s the most magical time of the year, but driving home for Christmas can often be one of the most stressful experiences on the road.
Your guide to driving home for Christmas
We’ve created the perfect recipe for getting you home in time to tuck into the Christmas turkey with your loved ones.
Find a Christmas playlist that’ll leave you feeling festive
There’s so many amazing Christmas songs to choose from. That’s why we’ve created a little playlist for you, filled with some top Christmas bangers, which are bound to make driving home for Christmas a fun-filled festive sing-a-long, check it out!
Plan your route well in advance (and have a back up)
Christmas traffic can take what would normally be an hour’s drive into two or three if you’re not careful. Use a route planner to find the best route, and have a back up just in case. Being stuck in traffic and seeing no end in sight is not ideal.
Check your car is fit for the trip
You might have heard it before, but checking your car is winter ready is crucial to a safe journey. There’s nothing worse than hearing ‘I told you so’ when you’re sat on the hard shoulder in the cold waiting for road side recovery to pick you up. Take a look at our helpful guide to winter car checks and have peace of mind before you set off.
Check the weather reports
Although the inner child in us all secretly hopes for a white Christmas, driving in ice or snow can be particularly dangerous, so be sure to check out what the weather is up to before you head off, and be prepared. If a white Christmas is on the cards, it might be worth checking out our guide to winter driving just to be on the safe side.
Pack your gifts carefully
You might be trying to fit everything in, but don’t leave your freshly wrapped gifts on show if you’re going to be making a pitstop. It’ll attract thieves like a moth to a flame.
Be prepared for an emergency
With the challenging winter weather, breakdowns and accidents are unfortunately a more common occurrence, and getting stuck in the cold is never ideal. Take a look at our winter breakdown guide to make sure you’ve got everything you need in case the worst happens.
Have plenty of entertainment for the kids
Kids can make or break a journey. If you have a tablet, why not download some festive apps to keep them occupied? Or you could download some Christmas movies that you know will keep them quiet for a couple of hours, giving you the quietness to concentrate on the journey ahead. For more inspiration on travelling with kids, we’ve pulled together a little guide to help you keep your little ones occupied whilst you hit the roads.
Pack plenty of snacks
Hearing ‘I’m hungry’ when you haven’t got anything for the kids to eat can be stressful. Make sure you’ve packed enough snacks to last the whole journey and more. What doesn’t get eaten on the journey will definitely get eaten over the festive period. Why not make it fun with some homemade festive snacks too?
Don’t forget to top up your fuel
Even if your journey should only take a few hours, Christmas traffic might have other ideas. Being stuck in traffic can kill your fuel tank, so it’s worth topping up before you set off. With fuel prices still pretty pricey, why not check out Confused.com to find out where the cheapest place is to fill up your motor.
So, whack up the heating in your car, pop on some Christmas bangers and have a fun and safe drive home for Christmas. Oh and don’t forget to have a great Christmas too!
