Veteran travelers offer advice to beginners on tackling road trip challenges during holidays
Road trips are incredibly fun—are you thinking of joining the adventure during holidays? If you're new to driving long distances, don’t pretend to know everything. Especially those seemingly minor issues, if not handled properly, could ruin your entire week. To help, we interviewed seasoned road-trippers for their top tips.
Avoid refueling at shady gas stations
Example: A personal experience from a road-tripper. Last year, while driving to Yangshuo, he stopped at a gas station on Guangxi’s Daguishan Mountain. Shortly after leaving, his car began idling roughly and frequently stalled when shifting gears. He barely made it to his destination safely, and only after refueling with quality gasoline did the problem disappear.
Reminder: Before setting off, fill up at a reputable gas station. Along the way, avoid randomly choosing stations—opt for larger ones with more customers.
Book your hotel in advance
Example: A road-trip enthusiast drove to Yangshuo during a golden week holiday. Arriving late at night in an unfamiliar place, he found all nearby hotels fully booked and had to spend the night in his car.
Reminder: Always reserve your hotel room ahead of time. You can book through a travel agency, ask a local friend, or use online travel service platforms. But stay vigilant—avoid shady websites that might take your deposit and leave you stranded.
Plan your route before departure
Example: A friend who drove to Yangshuo shared that by avoiding a road under construction, he saved two hours compared to those taking the old route.
Reminder: Route planning has two parts. First, decide which scenic spots to visit. Then, choose your driving route—prioritize highways, followed by national roads. Also, use maps and advice from experienced travelers to familiarize yourself with road conditions, food options, accommodations, and gas stations along the way.
Besides online research, consult travel agencies and local tourism offices. It’s best to stick to officially open attractions and avoid overly adventurous detours.
Beware of “staged accidents” (aka “Peng Ci”)
Example: Media reports have highlighted cases where fake accident scammers targeted out-of-town drivers, extorting money under false pretenses. Stay alert to such scams during road trips.
Reminder: If you encounter such a situation, never agree to a private settlement out of fear of being blamed. Call the police and let them handle it.
Travel with companions and avoid fatigued driving
Example: The author’s friend Mr. Huang once drove 10 hours straight to a destination with his family. Being the only driver, he was too exhausted to enjoy the trip afterward.
Reminder: Since road trips usually involve long drives through unfamiliar areas, experts advise traveling with companions rather than going solo.
Don’t get lost—bring a GPS navigator
It’s that time of year again when road-trip enthusiasts hit the road. Have you prepared the essential gear for your May Day adventure? Sleeping bags, tents, cooking gear… Not all are must-haves, but one thing is non-negotiable—the talkative “living map”—a car GPS navigator.
Car navigation systems storing thousands of cities nationwide, with voice prompts and even built-in movie or MP3 players, are a staple for seasoned road-trippers.
Road trips are thrilling yet tiring, and no one wants to get bogged down by getting lost. As the community of road-trippers grows, it includes many self-proclaimed “directionally challenged” drivers. Plus, with ever-expanding travel radiuses, even the most confident navigators can get disoriented in unfamiliar cities. Thus, a GPS device is essential for any road-trip enthusiast.