Tag: road trip

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Summer Travel Safety: Do You Have Sufficient Insurance?

Ben Johnson of Bob Johnson Insurance in TN

We want to finish out our Travel Safety Series with a quick tip about insurance.

Getting your car and yourself ready for a vacation should involve more than just packing a bag and filling the tank. Do you know what will be covered if something happens along the way? What if you get into an accident in another state or country? What about your home while you’re gone? Do you have traveler’s insurance?

One of your pre-vacation steps should be to check with your insurance agent to ensure that you have sufficient coverage in case the worst happens while you’re out and about on your adventure. Do a thorough insurance review of your policy and let your agent know what your plans are to ensure that you will be covered in case things go awry along the way.

Don’t wait until you’re stuck on the side of the road to find out whether your coverage is sufficient. Give us a call (865-922-3111) or use our contact form.  Doing a review doesn’t take long and our experienced agents can help you understand the coverage you have and what you might need as well as answer any questions you may have.

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Summer Travel Safety: Tips for Travelling with a Toddler

Traveling with a Toddler

Spending more time with your family is one reason to take a long vacation together, but having little ones in tow can be challenging, to say the least. Even if you’ve taken your toddler on trips before, he or she can still have a hard time with the changes to his or her daily routine. As such, you want to keep these considerations in mind.

  • Plan for extra accommodations. When going over your itinerary, make sure to think about things like diaper changes (or potty breaks), children-friendly restaurants, and other amenities that can make your trip that much easier.
  • Prepare to deal with sickness. Your toddler will be exposed to all kinds of things along the way, which means that some of those germs can turn into a cold or something worse. Just in case your little one will get sick at some point during the trip, bring appropriate items to care for him or her.
  • Keep a first-aid kit handy. New environments and experiences mean that your toddler will be trying things for the first time. In some cases, these could lead to accidents, such as bumps, bruises, and cuts. Be ready to handle all of those by having a small kit nearby.
  • Bring lots of snacks. Your toddler will frequently be hungry, so never leave without bringing a few options for him or her to eat during the trip. Water and juice is also a must.
  • Be patient. You should already be able to manage the stress of being a parent, but when you’re on vacation, there are so many different things happening that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If possible, divide parenting duties between you so that you don’t have to be “on duty” for the whole trip.
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Summer Travel Safety: Tips for a Safe Hotel Stay

Hotel Safety

No matter where you’re headed, chances are that you’ll be staying in a hotel for the night. Whether it’s a four-star resort or a motel on the side of the highway, it’s imperative that you keep you and your family safe during your visit. For the most part, hotels are secure and provide peace of mind, but that doesn’t mean that you should get too complacent. Usually, the problems that arise at hotels are theft, fraud, and lack of security precautions.

So, with that in mind, here are some considerations to make when stopping for the night.

  • Park your vehicle close to your room. If possible, make sure that you can see it from the room without having to open the door. This will ensure that you can keep an eye on it at all times.
  • If possible, go to a hotel with added security measures. These options can include restricted access between floors or limited access after hours. Being able to enter your room from an interior hallway (instead of outside) usually adds an extra level of safety. Having these measures in place can ensure that only guests are present on the property.
  • Use “do not disturb” signs. If you’re worried about theft of personal belongings, then it can be a good idea to avoid having too many people going through your room.
  • Call the front desk and see if they provide your room number. Hotels are usually strict about giving details of guests. If they give you the room number for where you’re staying, choose a different hotel.
  • Don’t leave valuables sitting out. Whether it’s a wallet, ID, or other items that can be valuable to someone else, make sure that it isn’t sitting out when you’re not there. Identity theft is a real threat, and it doesn’t take much to get your personal information.
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Summer Travel Safety: Checklist for Before You Leave

Prepping for Spring

If you’re going to take your car on your vacation, then you want to be sure that it’s ready to handle that much driving. Not only that, but you have to prepare yourself as well since most of us don’t spend more than a couple of hours behind the wheel in a single day.

With that in mind, here is a checklist of things you should do before your trip to ensure that everything runs smoothly. (You can download this checklist with the link at the bottom of the page.)

  • Get a tune-up. Make sure that all of your car’s internal mechanisms are working properly, and be sure to check the fluids, particularly the oil and brakes.
  • Make sure your spare is ready to go. You never know what can happen on the road. If it’s been years since you’ve used your spare, make sure that it’s inflated and free of damage.
  • Get a full night’s sleep before heading out. Drowsy driving is unsafe driving, so be sure that you won’t fall asleep on the road. If you’re traveling alone, this step is even more crucial as you can’t ask someone else to take over when your eyelids are getting heavy.
  • Pack an emergency kit. You should already have one in your car, but make sure that you have the following components: flares, tire iron, car jack, tire pressure gauge, and jumper cables. It may also be a good idea to toss an empty gas canister in there as well.
  • Pack a cooler. Spending hours on the road can be exhausting, so make sure that you’re prepared by packing water, snacks, and other essentials to keep yourself fueled along with your car.

Last, but definitely not least, make sure that your insurance coverage is up-to-date and adequate for your needs on the trip.  A quick phone call to review your coverage takes only a few minutes:  865-922-3111.

Free Download:  Travel Safety Checklist