Families heading off on a summer road trip are being warned that small habits could end up costing them big, but a few simple tricks can help keep the holiday budget intact.
With the school holidays approaching and families planning to hit the road, travel expert Neil Atkinson is urging drivers to think carefully about their journeys. He says motorists should consider where they stop, what they buy and how they plan their route before they even turn the key in the ignition.
One of the biggest mistakes families make, according to Atkinson, is pulling into a motorway service station to fill up the tank.
Petrol and diesel prices at motorway services are typically significantly higher than at supermarket forecourts. Drivers willing to come off the motorway and travel a short distance on smaller roads can make meaningful savings, particularly on longer journeys where multiple fill-ups may be needed.
Neil Atkinson, Director of Luxury Group Stay, said: “People are often so focused on making good time that they don’t think twice about pulling into the nearest services for fuel. But that convenience comes at a real cost. Even a few minutes off the motorway to a supermarket forecourt can save a family a significant amount over the course of a long trip.”
It’s not just fuel where the services will drain your wallet. Food, drinks and snacks at motorway stops carry a hefty premium, and many of the high street deals and loyalty offers you’d expect on the high street simply don’t apply at service station branches.
Atkinson recommends packing a picnic and a cool box before setting off to avoid the temptation of an overpriced meal deal altogether.
He added: “A cool box is one of the best investments a family can make for a road trip. Keeping drinks cold and snacks fresh means you’re far less likely to make an unnecessary stop, and the kids aren’t asking every twenty minutes if you can pull over. It saves money and it saves your sanity.”
Planning your route carefully before departure can also make a real difference. Downloading offline maps means you won’t be burning through mobile data on the go and more importantly, won’t risk missing a turn and adding unwanted miles to the journey.
Atkinson said: “Wrong turns and data roaming might sound like small things, but they add up.
Getting your maps downloaded the night before costs nothing and could save you from a stressful detour on one of the busiest travel days of the year.”
Top tips for cutting costs on your family road trip
- Avoid filling up at motorway service stations – head a short distance off the motorway to a supermarket forecourt for cheaper fuel
- Don’t rely on service station food – high street loyalty deals and meal offers rarely apply, and prices are significantly inflated
- Pack a picnic before you leave to avoid expensive stops along the way
- Bring a cool box to keep drinks and snacks fresh, reducing the need to stop at all
- Download offline maps the night before to avoid burning mobile data and costly wrong turns