To cook and eat, only take the bare minimum from your kitchen. No need to buy new things that you already have at home ! Especially since the dishes sold in stores especially for travel are not at all suitable! Try washing plastic dishes in cold water at home… Help! I assure you that your everyday plates, cups and cutlery will do. And then, if you break them, I’m sure you have others at home!
Finally, for cooking, take a compact bivouac stove with two gas refills. A pot and pan should also suffice. We obviously do not forget a lighter, and some utensils: a peeler, a can opener, a knife and a wooden spoon.
For your leftover meals, take a few freezer bags that seal tightly .
Having a car optimized for your road trip is good. But knowing how to optimize your trip with it is better! Here are some tips so that you can travel and sleep in your car with peace of mind.
1/ Do a check-up of your car before leaving
Before leaving, consider having your vehicle serviced . Check the condition of the tires, your wiper blades and the levels.
2/ Install the right mobile applications
Thanks to MapsMe we land in the middle of motorhomes for free in Italy
Like all new generation travellers, your smartphone will be your best ally throughout your trip . There are many applications that are very useful when going on a road trip. And I advise you to install them and learn how to use them before leaving.
MapsMe : a free GPS for pedestrians and vehicles that will allow you to move around the world without using your internet plan. Just download the maps before you leave and leave your geolocation activated during your trip. I use this app everywhere.It shows me restaurants, parking lots, hiking trails, shops and gas stations. I like to save my stops and my destinations there to prepare my trips.
Park4Night : a map of the world where authorized places for camping in vehicles are located. Each place is described with photos, comments and information. It is also possible to find water points, toilets and laundries. An application therefore, essential when traveling and sleeping in your car!
Google Translate : If you’re going abroad and don’t speak the local language, I recommend the Google Translate app. But be careful, using it means tapping into your mobile plan! So plan an alternative offline solution such as a book for example.
3/ Arrive at the sites to sleep before nightfall
A little advice to avoid having a bad night with your car, have your car ready to sleep in broad daylight ! Because yes, doing it with a mobile phone lamp is still a hassle. And if you arrive at a site and there is no more space, you will have to drive to the next one. It can quickly annoy and call into question the whole program of your trip!
So we anticipate and savor the evening bivouac with a well-deserved aperitif, a good shower and a good meal while admiring the sunset. That’s also traveling and sleeping with your car… Enjoying every moment slowly and especially the freedom to be anywhere at home!
4/ Find water
If you cannot find a water point where you are with the Park4Night application , be aware that it is also possible to fill your container at certain gas stations . Just ask for permission at checkout and if it is drinkable. You can also do this in cemeteries . The best thing is not to wait until your can is empty and go around in circles for that.
5/ Have internet
Before leaving, find out from your operator if you are supported in the country of your trip and under what conditions. Finally, having internet abroad is not really complicated. Often you will have WI-FI in restaurants and tourist sites. You can also go to the library or simply invest in a local prepaid card .
I hope you liked this new article and that it will allow you to travel and sleep in your car ! Do not hesitate to ask your questions in the comments or to share your personal experience. I will be delighted to discuss with you!