Top items you take on driving holidays?

[OneFootInTheDave]

Going to Ireland for 2.5w in summer hols. We’ll be driving our car and using ferries to/from.

We’ll be doing a lot of coast / beach / place of interest hopping and staying across 3 s/c holiday lets, traveling south to north.

What are your top / must have / really useful items? I’m thinking of these as potentials:
> Canvas / waterproof roof ‘rack’.
> Decent big thermos for tea on the road.
> Pop-up beach tent thing.
> V long wind break for beaches.

What other items would make my life easier!

Kids are 12 and 8y.

The car keys.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Window Blinds + neck pillows if you're going to be wanting the kids to try and sleep
iZoeL Car Window Shades
Oasser Car Seat Headrest Pillow,

Audiobooks downloaded if you want a break from music

Either a small bin or a plastic bag that will function as one.

Headphones with wires for the kids (saves charging them/them running out of charge)

Battery packs

Fnar fnar!

Useful! The window blinds are such a good shout!

Travel scrabbl/cards
in car charger
couple of blankets/pillows
hot chocolate
snacks

In car chargers for all electronic kits, particularly kids stuff
Towels for drying sandy feet
Waterproofs for all
soft drinks
map in case the nav system fails
full first aid kit - essential with kids
basic painkillers and antihistamines (if required)
charged battery banks

Also
bin bags
wet wipes

Big ikea bags for sandy stuff to stop it spreading everywhere.

A bottle of water.
Spare glasses if you wear them.

Offline map downloaded

I can highly recommend a Mud Daddy, got it for the dog but have used it after the beach, on muddy wellies and bikes more than I’ve actually used it on the dog.

https://www.muddaddy.co.uk/collections/all-mud-daddy-products?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19164354138&gclid=Cj0KCQjwotDBBhCQARIsAG5pinOyinHjeixMqv21XPGJ7YNpPUY_hariQesKrVqQRoxW4qJ-PWIaWkQaAhwSEALw_wcB

Travel sickness tablets if the kids are prone to feeling a bit queasy on longer car journeys.

Change for car parks

and car!

Picnic cutlery and napkins in the glove compartment, in case you need to have a supermarket picnic en route. Last summer we had a bottle of vinegar and some sal in the car, so we could have a takeaway in the car on the way back from the coast. 🤣 ( I am a Coeliac, so appreciate my ways aren't everyone's! )

Ziplock bags make good rubbish bags or emergency sick bags.

Audio childrens story books. electric cool box - remember to unplug it if stopping for while & car jump leads and how to use them properly ie negative lead to earth terminal NOT battery neg terminal.

I do distance motorway driving quite often and have a sort of breakdown / accident pack in the car. It fits into a small bag that stays in the car and includes a first aid kit, Hi vis tabards/ bands, plastic rain cloaks (thin and very small), silver foil blankets, a decent torch, cereal bars. Also have a red warning triangle and a car fire extinguisher (I used to live in Germany and it was a legal requirement to have one and I've never got out of the habit to have one). And because I have an older car AA membership. I am a safety freak 😂

Large plastic tub for the inevitable car sickness on the windy roads.

Bag for life/ikea bag for chucking dirty footwear and wet rain gear into.

rain gear!

Tin of car sweets

Map book

sea sick pills for the ferry

i-spy books or a list of car games (pub cricket etc)

Talcum powder for getting sand off your feet otherwise the car will Be covered

Invest in a good cool box and keep food, drink & knive, chopping bord and a roll of kitchen towels in it! Lifesaver.

The road network in Ireland is not the same as England. No big three lane motorways. You’re never that far from a town or village.

We did a lot of Ireland holidays. Agree a good waterproof coat for everyone is essential! Don’t bring too much as packing and unpacking if you’re on the move will be a pain. Are there washing and drying facilities in your accommodation?

Decent cool box, maybe look at chargeable ones and good ice packs.
Picnic cutlery/plates/cups and a good pocket knife
Bin bags of various sizes, wet wipes, napkins/tissues
travel sickness tablets
audiobooks - check if you can get some from your library
Laundry sheets or some pods so you can do a wash at your s/c accomodation when you arrive, saves amount of clothes to pack
Waterproof coat
Decent shoes and more than one per person - you most likely will have one wet pair

I got this from a similar thread a few years ago. Ikeep a large Tupperware box with a sealable lid, and line it with an absorbent puppy training mat. If one of the children is sick, it absorbs the liquid, and is easy to dispose of.

Just noticed you’re driving in ireland
You will definitely need battery backup for phones as paper maps ( if the sat at dies) won’t be much help since displaying road names isn’t exactly a big thing in Ireland.
Always fill up the car if you see a petrol station as you never know when you’ll see another ( even if there are ones shown on maps )

My hometown is Ballymahon area which has the new Centre Parks. Are you dropping in ?

Re bags for rubbish: I keep a small box of nappy sacks in the car for that purpose. I always take a large bottle of water in addition to water for drinking for eg cleaning the windscreen or rinsing hands/feet when you need more than a baby wipe.