Things To Sort Out Before Your Summer Road Trip

I keep telling myself that we're going to go off for a weekend away soon now that things are opening up again. But before we do, you know I gotta get my ducks in a row.

And you should, too! Summer officially kicks off soon. But if you're thinking about taking a road trip with your Significant Other this summer, Match.com has a list of six things you need to think about first.

1. Come Up with a Plan.

Spontaneity sounds romantic and fun, but you'll be way better off if you talk about the trip first, and not just about WHERE you're going. Like, where will you stay? Like I might see a road trip as an opportunity to splurge on a romantic inn, while Husbando be cool with a Motel 6. And that's not the type of thing you want to find out after a long day of driving.

You also want to plan the route, and decide whether you want to see stuff along the way, or just get where you're going. (A good resource for offbeat tourist attractions to hit up is RoadsideAmerica.com.)

2. Determine Who's Driving.

If you both love driving, or you both hate it, agree to an equal split. And if you're not the one driving, be a good passenger. That means stay awake, keep them entertained, pump the gas. You know, be cool about it.

3. Don't Be Afraid of Silence.

Once you're on the road, it's inevitable that one of you will want to tune out from time to time. And that's fine. Part of being comfortable with each other is knowing that silence is okay.

4. Decide Who's Going To Rule the Radio.

The general rule for me my whole life has been that the passenger is the navigator and the passenger handles the playlists. That might be your biggest source of disagreement. Maybe you could make a joint playlist on your phone before hitting the road. Or choose a couple of apps to use to listen to the radio. You know, like ours. Simple.

5. Figure Out Finances.

Road trips are fun, but these days they can get expensive FAST. So set a budget and think about who's handling what in advance. Besides the obvious things like gas, hotels, and food, talk about worst-case scenario stuff like speeding tickets, parking tickets, and flat tires.

6. Talk About Food Options.

It's hard to eat right on the road, and eating fast food three times a day is just nasty. So hit up a site like Yelp and look up some real restaurants with healthy options. And for the long stretches of driving where there's nothing but the open road, pack a cooler with drinks and snacks. That way you'll always have an alternative to fast food.

Are you planning on road tripping this summer? Where will you go? Who'll be doing the driving?

Trippingly yours,
Behka