6 Best All-Time Tips for a Comfortable and Safe Road Trip

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Sometimes, all you need is to go on a long drive to get away from everything that gives you stress. Even a simple day trip can help you get things in perspective, so just imagine what you can achieve if you go on a long one.

But before you ‘keep calm and travel on’, you need to make sure that you’re comfortable and safe during these trips. To help you achieve that, try the following six best all-time road trip planning tips you should keep in mind:


Have a plan.

The best thing you can do to boost your safety on your road trip is to plan for it ahead of time. Most long-distance trips are scheduled well in advance to allow plenty of time for ironing out the details.

To begin, map out your journey. You can use a mobile app for this or even an actual paper map if you find that more convenient to use.

Remember to pick out a few alternate routes beforehand if your primary road of choice is blocked because of road repairs, an accident, or some other reason.

When you’re planning your route, make sure you find stopping points along the way. This can be a place of lodging, fuel, or even food.

Once you’re done with that, proceed to write a packing checklist for the journey. Then, build a to-do list that should include car maintenance tasks, like tyre changes, engine fixes, or even a mobile car wash, to make sure your vehicle is comfortable to ride and drive.


Sleep well before the drive.

Don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s rest. In fact, this is one of the most important things you could do to prepare for an extended drive.

Make sure you have at least seven hours of sleep for two consecutive nights. This will help you build up the energy reserves you require for the task ahead.

It also pays to schedule your road trip in the morning after sleeping the night before, instead of after an exhausting day at work. The only exception is if your travel plans involve stopping for the night in one of the stopping points you plotted earlier.

Try to avoid being on the road between midnight and 6 a.m. since this is when the body temperature drops and people feel naturally drowsy.


Inspect your car ahead of time.

Inspect your vehicle before a long drive. Like you, your car needs to be prepped for the potentially exhausting road trip.

You should also consider bringing your car to a mechanic for any necessary repairs that may hinder your car from functioning optimally. Even if there’s nothing significant to fix, it’s still best to have a trained expert eye look at the engine and other parts of the vehicle to ensure it won’t fail while on the road.

To be safe, bring your vehicle for routine maintenance and tune-up a few days before the drive.


Pay attention to the road.

Driving can sometimes come as second nature for people who’ve been behind the wheel for half their lives. However, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, especially if you’ve been on the road continuously for an extended time.

Remember: The longer you drive, the easier it can be to lose your focus.

Adding your phone into the equation can only make things worse, so keep it away while driving. Or if you must use it, pull over.

Don’t let your mind wander into other things that won’t bring you to your destination safely.

To maintain the level of alertness required for the task, be sure to sit up straight. Before driving, adjust your seat so that your body is upright to promote optimal blood flow.

If you feel like you’re going into a driving ‘trance’, adjust your sitting position. Then, take a deep breath and make adjustments for your maximum comfort (e.g., lean slightly to the left if your right hip feels sore).

Some scents, like peppermint, can also help you stay awake and focused. The smell can serve as an all-natural pick-me-up that helps to increase alertness and reduce fatigue.

You can use a car air freshener with this scent or simply chew a minty gum. The repetitive process of chewing also helps boost alertness and blood circulation.



Take occasional breaks.

It’s also smart to take breaks at regular intervals during your drive. You can do this for every 160 kilometres you are on the road. You may also include the rest stops in your schedule in a two- or three-hour interval.

In fact, even if you’re headed somewhere that’s just one hour away, you still need to take at least one pit-stop to stretch your legs and back.

Sitting for long periods can be hard on your lower back. The compression may lead to numbness, pain, and even a tingling sensation in your legs. It can also cause your hips and neck to feel tight.

To prevent this, stop the vehicle and go out for a walk and stretch a bit once in a while.

It is also vital that you avoid pushing yourself to drive late into the night. Since night is the time when you’re usually asleep, it can be challenging to keep your eyes open behind the wheel.

If you’re feeling drowsy, consider switching drivers. If you’re the only driver, stop the vehicle and get some shuteye.




Bring first aid kits for your passengers and car.

There are two types of first aid kits you’ll need on your road trip: one for the passengers and another for your vehicle.

The kit for people must have the essential medical supplies, such as:


Bandages

Gauzes

Antiseptic

Medical tape

Cotton balls and swabs

Cold packs

Scissors and tweezers

A thermometer

Rubber gloves

Breathing barriers (e.g., surgical mask)

You’ll also need to bring emergency medicines for cough and colds, pain, fever, and stomach ache. Don’t forget anti-allergy medications and other maintenance drugs you need for some chronic ailments, like diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.

For your car, a first aid kit basically means your mechanic’s toolbox that should contain:

Screwdrivers

Hex keys

Wrenches

Pliers

Duct Tape

Box cutter

Tyre gauge

Portable air pump

Tyre jack

Multi-tool

You must also have a fire extinguisher, road reflectors, jumper cables, and a window breaker or seatbelt cutter. And don’t forget your spare tyres in case you’re somewhere that a mobile service cannot reach for tyre change.

Also, bring the following extra car supplies in case you run out while on the road:


Brake fluid

Engine oil

Coolant

Windshield washer fluid

Power steering fluid

Transmission fluid


Drive Safely and Comfortably

Long drives can provide you with much-needed stress relief when planned right.

Follow the tips listed in this article to ensure you stay safe and comfortable during your road trip.

How to Make Your Staycation Accommodation in Dubai More Comfortable for Your Family

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“Staycation” remains one of the most popular words in everyone’s travel dictionaries today. It’s the perfect solution for families who want a change of setting and scenery and to relax for a day or two without the hassles of going on a long trip.

However, going on a staycation in Dubai with your family sometimes comes with a few challenges, particularly if you have young children. Kids thrive in familiarity; bringing them to a place they haven’t been to before can affect their routine, making them cranky or less easy to manage.

When your children are irritable and more challenging than usual because they are in an unfamiliar place, everyone’s getaway will be affected. Therefore, you and your family won’t be able to enjoy your staycation as much as you want to.

Fortunately, there are various ways you can make the apartments in Dubai you rent for your staycation feel like home for your family.

And when everyone feels comfortable in your accommodation, you can make your getaway more fun, relaxing, and memorable.


Creating Homey Staycation Accommodations

Below are some tips you can follow to make your accommodation more comfortable for your staycation in Dubai:


Bring your kids’ creature comforts.

As mentioned, children thrive in familiarity and routine. Staying in a strange place for a few days could cause them to display unlikeable behaviours that can lead to stressful and unpleasant situations that will affect your staycation.

To minimise your little ones’ tantrums and unpleasant behaviours during your getaway, ensure you pack everything that will bring them a sense of familiarity and home.

Some of the important items you have to bring for your young children include:

Favourite toys, stuffed animals, and books
Baby blanket
Small pillow
Favourite pyjamas, slippers, shoes, and towel

Don’t forget to bring plenty of their favourite foods. These include packs of biscuits, cereals, pudding cups, dried fruits, and juice boxes.

If you’re still formula feeding your kids, make sure you bring their bottles and cans of their milk as well.


Introduce familiar scents.

The right fragrances can also make your staycation accommodation feel homier for your family.

If there are vases in the flat, put the same fresh flowers you often use to decorate your abode. The fragrance they release will remind everyone of home.

If you often use an air freshener spray at home, bring it and spritz it in each room to introduce this familiar fragrance to your accommodation.

You can also bring your humidifier and favourite essential oils if you use these at home. Aside from giving the accommodation a familiar scent, the device and oils can help clean the air and provide everyone with some health benefits, including reducing stress and uplifting everyone’s moods.

However, avoid bringing and using scented candles since they are fire hazards.


Add homey touches to the bedroom.

Holiday rentals have beddings made of great quality textiles to make the guests’ stay as comfortable as possible.

However, even though they are pretty to look at and soft to touch, most of the time, they don’t remind you of home.

Since you don’t have to travel far, consider bringing some of your beddings. It won’t be difficult to carry pillows, so bring your own, particularly the ones your little ones use to reduce their unfamiliarity and homesickness.

If bringing plenty of pillows is not possible, opt for pillow covers instead.

Additionally, remind everyone to bring their own slippers so that their feet will stay warm and comfy as they walk around the accommodation.

Make sure everyone packs their favourite pyjamas and bathrobes as well, which are also a must for feeling cosy in their bedrooms and after taking a bath. Lastly, encourage them to bring books if they often read before turning in.


Use the kitchen.

Food is another thing that can remind everyone of home even when they are in a different place. As such, use the kitchen a few times during your staycation.

Drop by the supermarket to buy the ingredients for your family’s favourite dishes so that you can cook them. Shop for some pantry essentials as well so that everyone can have something they can snack on anytime.

To ensure you’ll have everything you need to whip up some meals, find out beforehand what equipment and utensils are available in the kitchen. If there are some missing items, you’ll have to bring them.

The smell from the dishes you’ll cook won’t fail to make everyone feel at ease, even in an unfamiliar place. Moreover, your family will appreciate the home-cooked meal.

However, don’t cook every meal. Remember that you’re still on vacation, so don’t spend all your time in the kitchen.


Bring basic cleaning supplies.

Although your accommodation is clean and organised when you arrive and it will be tidied up once you leave, keeping it spotless during your stay will go a long way in helping everyone feel comfortable during your staycation.

As such, during your grocery run, buy the following:

Toilet paper
Kitchen roll
Microfibre cloths
Sponge
Dishwashing liquid
Disinfectant wipes
Bin bags
Laundry bags

Spot-clean whenever there are spills or dirt on the floor, tables, and counters. Also, avoid piling used pots and pans, dining ware, and utensils; wash them as soon as possible.

Make sure to put all rubbish in the bag-lined bins. Replace and put them in the disposal area once they are full.

Also, give each of your family members a laundry bag and instruct them to put their soiled clothes here instead of piling them on the bed, chairs, or closet.


Plan some entertainment.

Lastly, keeping your family entertained is an excellent way of making them feel more comfortable during your staycation.

Find out in advance if the accommodation has Wi-Fi so that you can plan on binge-watching some movies and TV shows. If there is an Internet connection, give everyone time to check their social media pages and play some games on their devices.

Don’t forget to bring an HDMI cable so you can connect your laptop to the television in case it is not a smart TV.

Also, pack some board games and playing cards so that you’ll have alternative sources of entertainment.

If your accommodation has a swimming pool, beach access, or a nearby park or garden, make sure you visit these places so that you don’t end up spending all your time indoors during your getaway.

With these simple tips and techniques, your staycation with your family in your choice of accommodation in Dubai will be more fun and memorable.

Creating Possibilities: PLDT and Smart enable Unity Digital’s Tower Monitoring Services with IoT

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s largest fully integrated telecommunications provider PLDT, has enabled Unity Digital Infrastructure, a joint venture between Aboitiz InfraCapital and Partners Group, by powering the efficient management and monitoring of its common towers across the country through PLDT’s suite of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions called Internet of Possibilities, or IoP.

This capability will help Unity to save on resources and concentrate on providing better services to its present and future clients composed of telecom service providers, enabling them, in turn, to provide better telecommunications services to Filipinos. Unity builds and operates telecommunication towers and supporting infrastructure across the country to complement the efforts of Mobile Network Operators.

PLDT’s IoP enables Unity’s tools that support real-time updates on their common towers’ health, power usage, and status without having to deploy field agents to physically inspect sites all the time.

Powered by PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), IoP was designed to enable companies to be more efficient through its IoT Platform that monitors IoT SIM cards, which when inserted onto smart devices, can unlock the possibilities of automating workflows, such as easy monitoring of assets through location tracking and remote monitoring.

“This solution by PLDT and Smart enables a new world of possibilities for the tower operations of Unity. It would help us optimize the key aspects of our business processes which will ultimately enhance our services to our clientele,” said Lucky Martinez, Operations and Maintenance Manager of Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc.

“As the largest, fully integrated telco in the country, the PLDT Group is best positioned to help revolutionize our local industries through facilitating an IoT-enabled environment. Our goal is to enable companies to realize the benefits of incorporating the value of automation as part of their digital transformation,” said Nico Alcoseba, FVP and Head of Enterprise Product Management and Marketing, PLDT.

“When clients experience improved operations, they are empowered to visualize the possibilities they can further achieve through the use of technology. PLDT and Smart seek to enable enterprise technologies to help them maximize their productivity and efficiency with the help of our digital solutions such as PLDT-Smart IoP,” said Chet Alviz, VP and Head for Wireless Solutions at Enterprise Product Management and Marketing, PLDT.

“We are grateful for Unity’s trust in our capability to boost their operations by facilitating efficient and effective monitoring of their assets through the PLDT-Smart IoP solution, and we commit our best to fulfill our part in connecting a Smarter Philippines,” Alviz added.

Apart from tower monitoring, PLDT’s IoP also supports other industries such as logistics where one can now easily deploy a virtual fleet of connected vehicles via real-time tracking to ensure that deliveries are on time and in the correct location, and healthcare providers to remotely monitor their healthcare devices to provide better services to patients. Other industries that can benefit from the said platform include agriculture, manufacturing, education, and utilities, among others.

Cover Photo Credit: Unity Digital