The record staycation numbers expected throughout the UK are already becoming a reality.

Whether you’re usually a fan of foreign holidays or want to make the most of your post-lockdown freedom sooner rather than later, staycations make perfect sense for so many reasons.

With a staycation, you’ll save a lot of money, with a car or public transport all you need to get to and from your chosen destination.

No furry friends have to get left behind on a staycation. Most holiday accommodation allowing well-behaved pets to join their families all holiday long.

Another reason why staycations are huge news this year is the opportunity they give you to support local communities as the Cotswolds Lifestyle Blogger details:

“I’m all about supporting the local economy and whilst you could potentially do this whilst being abroad, putting money back into the UK economy is much better.

You can support the economy by eating out at local cafes, bars or restaurants. If you are self-catering then choose to shop at farm shops or local producers rather than doing your full shop at the supermarket – this not only supports local but also British farming.”

You and your family can enjoy the most fantastic destinations without the logistics of pandemic plane travel too.

This brings us onto our top tips for staying hydrated, hunger-pang free, and entertained on that car journey to and from your staycation destination, whether you’re heading to one of the UK’s beautiful beaches or indulging in a city break.

Plan your route

You may be relying on your sat nav or smartphone to get to your destination, but that doesn’t mean you can forgo route planning.

The logistics of a staycation are no doubt easier to handle than jetting off to some far-flung location.

You should however plan your route carefully and in advance, especially if you’re travelling with children or pets.

Depending on the length of your journey, you should schedule stops every 90 minutes or so. These stops are great for preventing fatigue, as well as taking toilet breaks, eating meals, and simply stretching your legs.

Many staycation-goers time their stops by looking at the service stations on the route. While those taking the more scenic route pair their stops with green spaces. Whatever your route or journey length, be sure to stop in a safe place.

Pack a picnic

Snacks are essentials in the lives of all parents. When trapped in a car for a long journey they become even more of a priority, so be prepared to step up your snack game.

Keep your choices of snacks, small and mess-free, and give them little and often to your passengers.

Healthy snacks – like fresh vegetable sticks, chopped fruit, breakfast cereal, fruit winders, crisps, summer salads, and sandwiches – are great ways to nourish your body on the go. They’ll also help to keep energy up until you reach your final destination.

The kids will also love the idea of having a ‘car picnic’ before the fun really begins at your staycation!

Don’t forget the drinks!

For the driver, in particular, good hydration is very important. Dehydrated drivers are more likely to make mistakes due to fatigue, headaches, and memory loss that commonly go hand-in-hand with lack of water.

Fill up those reusable water bottles with refreshing filtered water. You could even freeze a few more bottles to ensure they’re icy cold when you come to drink them.

Prioritise comfort

Keeping long car journeys comfortable isn’t easy. Even with regular stops, you’ll be spending a lot of time in a confined space. Bring along a few home comforts to keep the journey relaxed and your passengers content.

Blankets, pillows and your children’s favourite soft toys are great additions to the car. Investing in window blinds for your rear seats will also keep that summer sun out of their eyes to make the journey more comfortable.

Up the entertainment

Keeping all your passengers entertained is another must on your staycation car journey. Music, films, TV shows, and audiobooks can be downloaded and enjoyed in-car for hours on end. Although nothing beats some good, old fashioned, family-friendly car games.