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Holiday Travel Tips: Keep It Smooth & Safe

This is sponsored post with Liberty Mutual Insurance. All ideas and opinions are my own.

Holiday travel tips never applied to me because my entire family used to live near me, in Phoenix. However, life has changed. My daughter, Maya, now lives out of state, so holiday road trips have become a thing for us.

Liberty Mutual Insurance’s #FewerWorries campaign is aimed to help Americans worry less by being prepared, something I can definitely relate to. The idea is to prep as much as you can so you’ll be ready if anything unexpected arises, and as a parent, researching and learning about all of these tips to pass along to my family has certainly calmed my nerves.

Here are the tips that I shared with them to help us prepare for road trips this winter:

  • Always let family members and even roommates know where you are going. Give them a contact number, tell them your driving route.
  • Keep an emergency kit in your car: Jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, bottled water, snacks, gas can and a charged battery pack for your smartphone.
  • Before you leave, check your tires, headlights and under the hood.
  • Check the weather. If you might be driving through rain, coat windows with rain repellent coating.
  • Use a GPS to map at least two ways to your destination, and review the routes BEFORE you back out of the driveway. You don’t want to see the route for the first time as you are driving to your destination.
  • Before you head out, make sure that you are familiar with the area you are traveling through, locate your rest stops (Hint: look them up online for reviews), and calculate your gas mileage.
  • Build in enough time so you don’t have to rush. Even if that means leaving in the morning instead of at night after work. You want to be alert and awake for your drive.
  • Have a variety of entertainment options – load up on podcasts, audiobooks, or playlists to keep your mind active as you drive.
  • If possible, take a partner with you.
  • Pay attention to road closures, speed limits, crazy drivers to avoid.
  • Always buckle up, no exceptions!
  • NEVER text and drive.

Alright – now about your home! Even if you’re only gone for the weekend, you should think ahead and prep before you leave:

  • Put away all valuables, so they out of sight.
  • Strategically leave a light on, or put it on a timer so it appears someone is at home.
  • Ask a neighbor that you trust to keep an eye on your house and pick up your mail so it doesn’t build up.
  • Check out smart home tech to help keep your home secure while you’re away. The August Smart Lock allows you to lock your house from your smartphone assign virtual keys to. You can even assign temporary keys that expire when no longer needed – perfect for neighbors who might be keeping an eye on your house. The Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detector is also great because it sends alerts straight to your smartphone if it detects smoke or high CO levels, while you’re away from home. My favorite is the Canary Video Security System, it streams a live video to the app on your phone, so you can check on your house, or your kids, as needed. Talk about peace of mind! And the best part? Liberty Mutual offers a Smart Home Discount on home insurance for qualified customers who use some of these smart home gadgets. Video link:

YouTube video

 

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