MANILA, Philippines — As summer marches in with the month of March, the temperature is not only the one soaring as the anticipation of a lot of people to vacation reaches feverish levels as well. There is a collective vibe in most of us to relax – whether that is attained by discovering the outdoors, relaxing by the beach, or flying to an unexplored destination. Our destinations and goals for summer may vary but there’s one thing common in all of us – a road trip must be in one of our past summer memories.

Observe closely and you will see Filipino families having road trips during summer, whether it is going south to visit the hot springs of Laguna, the diving spots of Batangas, or the old houses of Quezon; or going North to visit Bulacan’s churches, La Union’s surfing spots, or farther to Banawe, Vigan or Laoag, and everyone’s ‘summer capital’ – Baguio. Surf your memory bank, there’s a road trip tucked somewhere there.

My earliest recollection of a road trip is the long ride to Baguio. My family will be ‘packed’ in our gray Lite-Ace and ever since I remember, it was really one arduous ride.

Through the years, we have embarked on various road trips and have emerged with more memorable summer stories. So how do we prepare for a summer road trip? Different families obviously have different needs. But let me impart these eight time-tested tips to make your road trip a fun and unforgettable one.

1. Plan early. Yes, right now. Whether it is for a hotel room, a resort cottage, a special restaurant, etc. it is wise to be early when it comes to making a reservation since sometimes, there are promos that can be availed.

2. Decide on a destination. As roads are now more ‘tourist-friendly’, don’t be afraid to explore new destinations. You don’t have to make a ‘pilgrimage’ to Baguio every summer. This summer, try Sagada or Banawe. If you’re always in Vigan during the hot season, why not push your wheels further to Laoag, or even Pagudpud? Why not try Boracay on four-wheels? The efficient RORO system from Batangas to Calapan, and Roxas to Caticlan will give you a new perspective on our country. Add to that, it is also budget-friendly especially if you have a big group.

3. Be car-ready. On a road trip, make sure to keep the most important member of your family fit and healthy – not the dog – it is your car. Nothing spoils a great road trip than a vehicle stalling somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Tempers would surely shoot to the roof especially when dark descends. Don’t procrastinate on the maintenance of your vehicle; it might be too late to give it a simple remedy. Check the tires most of all.

4. Save. Save. Save. Unless your pocket is as deep as the Mariana Trench, forget this one. Save now to experience some luxuries on the road as the tourism highway is lined with pasalubong shops such as antiques along Lucena, wood carvings in Paete, cut flowers in Tagaytay. You don’t even have to go down your car to make the purchase.

5. Prepare your itinerary. Once you already know your destination, plan out (or just discuss) who the designated driver will be. From there, you will know what activities you will plan so that the driver can enjoy his/ her summer too. Jot down a list of activities which will not put a physical strain on the driver too much (e.g. letting him/ her hike a mountain in the morning and driving back home for eight hours is not a good idea). Allow ‘rest-stops’ in your itinerary.

6. Choose your entourage. Well, if you are joining your family or relatives, you pretty much have no choice. But if you are inviting or joining friends, make sure that they are really your friends.

A few summers ago, I joined a new group of friends on a road trip to Zambales during Lenten break. It was fun at first but as the hours went by, it turned out that I have nothing ‘common’ with them. The air was thick with tension and I had to endure that again during the trip back home (which was around six hours!). So before you sit comfortably in the car, make sure that you know first the group you will be with.

7. Good food, great music. During my earlier road trips, when high-tech gadgets were not yet around, what made us kids comfortable during road trips were ‘food-on-wheels’. I remember my mom preparing a variety of sandwiches, finger food, and even fried chicken that we can eat inside the car.

On the other hand, don’t forget to put the right mood. Now, you can have thousands of songs in a single USB stick.

So whatever the vibe is inside the car, there’s a soundtrack that can complement it.

8. Just have fun. Well, it will be more fun if you are having ‘fun’ inside the vehicle. Don’t fuss too much on small details. Don’t outline a military-like itinerary that requires everyone to have a restroom pitstop for only five minutes.

Don’t set a strict budget allocation for expenses especially on food. Don’t put a scowl on your face every time a glitch happens on the road. If you are stuck in a massive traffic, start a game or divulge a fun gossip. Sing/ laugh out loud. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

If you will just spoil the fun of a summer road trip, you might as well stay at home, tuck in your pajamas, and endure telenovela marathons.