There's no better way to top the end of a summer of hard work than taking a road trip with a close friend. The temperatures no longer resemble living on the surface of the sun, mosquitoes are on their way to their deathbed with the arrival of the first frost and dying plants never looked more beautiful than a road lined with fall-colored leaves. Here are the basics of making the most out of a end of summer road trip with your bestie without breaking the bank or losing your minds.
The biggest question to figure out is: Where in the world are you going? Do you guys want one more taste of summer, knowing a beach somewhere in Margaritaville is calling your name? Or are you more into embracing the fall season and going to someplace rustic and woodsy where everything is pumpkin spiced? Wherever your road trip takes you, know that choosing a destination doesn't have to mean going to one place. That's the whole point of a road trip is to enjoy the wide open road and visit quaint little quirky towns along the way to your dream spot.
Money talks, and it's pretty much the only way your road trip will ever get off the ground. Talk money to me. Get your budget in order. Figure out the best ways to save, and split who's paying for what. Your two biggest expenses will be transportation and lodging (unless you're lucky enough to have connections in town and can couch surf your way through your road trip). Opt for hostels or hotels out of the way of big towns or cities. The further away they are from attractions, the less demand they will get, and hopefully that translates to cheaper accommodations. Local bed and breakfasts are another great way to live like the locals and possibly save a few bucks while getting lodging and a "free" meal.
Just because you're a tourist doesn't mean you have to pay tourist prices. Who the hell really wants to pay $15 for a handful of lettuce just because it's called "gourmet"? Not this girl. Devote meals to splurge on. Maybe you're a brunch addict and want some artisinal avocado toast you saw on Instagram; treat yo'self, then go less crazy on dinner. If you search hard enough and go a bit outside the city limits the food gets cheaper, and lesser known places can often have the best food for the best deals. Locals know where the food gold is so don't be afraid to ask them where their favorite dives are.
Not to sound like a crazy chaperone on a school field trip, but sticking to a schedule of events is a major key to getting the most of your time off of work. I'm not saying that the schedule should be a minute by minute timepiece of events. Figure out what attractions are open what days and keep them in mind so you can plan your days around what's open. Make a list of must-see's and a list of extra attractions. Must see attractions will be a priority, whereas extra attractions will be fillers for when there's some extra time or for some unforeseen cancellation, or frankly just a change in mood.
Now that the basics are covered, go out there and travel. Half the fun of travel is winging it and adventuring in a place you've never been before.
