For some people, a holiday travel is no fun without the company of their four-legged members of the family. Road trip can be stressful, both for you and your pet. With proper planning and preparation, you can ensure a convenient and safe travel for everyone. Traveling with a pet on a road trip takes more than just keeping the animal in the passenger seat and heading out especially if you’ll be driving long distance. Here are some safety tips to help you prepare for a safe car travel with your favorite pet.

1. Ensure that your pets are kept in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are different kinds of carriers available in the market including wire mesh, soft-sided and hard plastic. Regardless of the type you choose, make sure it is large enough to allow ample space for your pet to sit, stand, turn around and lie down in. Also, try to make sure your pet gets used to the crate in the comfort of your home before embarking on your trip so as not to make them feel uneasy.
2. Prepare your pets for the long distance travel by taking them on a series of short drives around the city first. Make sure the carrier is well secured so it won’t slide whenever you make a quick stop.
3. Feed your furry friend with a light meal a few hours before motoring-off. Do not feed your pet while on the road trip even if it is a long drive.
4. Do not forget never to leave your pet alone in your parked car regardless of the weather conditions. In hot weather, your pet can develop a heatstroke while in cold weather, the animal can possibly freeze to death.
5. Make sure your pet does not ride with his head sticking outside the vehicle’s window to avoid sustaining serious injury which may be caused by a flying object. Make sure he’s attached to a seat buckle
6. Your pet also has to be medically fit enough for travel. If you are not sure of your pet’s health status, consult an animal doctor to run a check on him. During this process, let the animal doctor know the specific threats that may exist in the destination you’re headed. Make sure the vaccination is current.
7. Use a microchip and a pet tag displaying your phone number on your dog for ease of identification

Please remember to bookmark us, carhirenation.com.au for more travel tips.

Motion sickness can ruin your holiday even before getting to your travel destination. If traveling by car, ferry, train or plane, an ounce of preparation can help prevent motion sickness before its starts. Motion sickness is rare among infants less than 3 years but affects women more than men especially during menstruation and pregnancy. It is caused by incongruence in the sensory systems of the body. Symptoms of motion sickness include dizziness, sweating, acute awareness of the stomach, belching, vomiting and salivation. You can take medications to help overcome motion sickness. Here are some tips and tricks to help relieve the symptoms of motion sickness for an enjoyable trip.

Take control

Not being in the driver’s seat is one of the major factors that causes motion sickness when traveling by car. Passengers of a car are more prone to motion sickness than the driver. This is so because the driver’s brain is working non-stop to control the car. As a driver, you can keep the queasiness at bay. If you are to ride as passenger avoid the back seat rather sit in front, which confers a sense of greater control. If you get so unlucky and find yourself in the back seat, start a conversation with other passengers, or open a source of fresh air to reduce the anxiety of not being in control of the situation.

Eat less

It is highly recommended to consume less food, drinks and alcohol before and during your trip. Food or drinks with strong odors are believed to worsen the symptoms of motion sickness in some individuals.

Position yourself

Choosing a seat where you’ll experience the least motion will help reduce the symptoms of motion sickness. On a plane, the middle area is considered a better position than the wing area. Passengers in the lower level cabins of a ship experience less motion than those in higher cabins. For car passengers, the front seat is a better position.

Pre-treat with ginger

Ginger is considered a natural remedy and an effective preventive measure for motion sickness and vomiting. Taking ginger before traveling can be very useful and effective whenever motion sickness sets in. Before taking ginger to reduce the effect of motion sickness, consult your doctor.

Proper planning and taking effective preventive measures are the key words when it comes to reducing the risk of motion sickness for short and long distance travel.

When planning an interstate or long distance travel one of the questions to probably ask is that of travel arrangement. Will it be a good idea to travel in your personal car or hop on a ferry? While these options are viable, having a rental car is always the best option. One of the major factors to consider before considering using your own car vs. opting for a rental is the distance being traveled. If you are planning a long distance road trip with substantial miles, it is best to rent a car than to drive your own. So, why is hiring a car a much better option than taking your own vehicle when traveling?  We’ve our top 3 reasons why we believe so.

Spend less

The cost of taking your car when compared to car rental for long distance travel purpose often add up making it more costly. You spend more on gas as well as hefty insurance excess covering you and your car for driving on foreign roads. When you hire a car, you don’t have to worry about such additional costs.

Car hire gives you peace of mind when traveling as you don’t have to worry about any misfortunes that might occur when you’re on holiday. At Car Hire Nation, with our strategic partnership with one of the world’s largest distribution network of ground based transport solutions, we offer high quality reliable services and facilities to help you get the best value for your car rental regardless of the location.

No wear and tear

If you are going on a long distance journey or traveling along a mountainous area, it is best to opt for car rental. If you use your own car, you have to worry about servicing your car immediately after returning home which is an extra cost. Long distance travel adds a lot of wear and tear on your personal car. So for interstate or long distance travel, a rental car is one of the best and cheapest options to use.

Easy Pick-Up

When planning a trip overseas getting from the airport to your final destination within the city can be stressful if you don’t have your own car. Renting a car makes transport simple and easier. If you decide on taking your car with you this means the only way of traveling is via ferry. It is more expensive as you have to pay more just to have your car with you. With car hire, you can set the pace of your travel as you don’t have to worry about moving your car from one place to the other. It will be much easier to fly out to your travel destination and pick up your car on arrival, making you spend less time traveling.