Use a reliable vehicle - Your relaxing road trip holiday can soon become a frustrating nightmare when you're left waiting by the side of the road for a recovery vehicle. Have your car thoroughly checked over before you leave just to make sure there aren't any problems lurking just around the corner. Your own vehicle might be a little questionable, or just not comfortable or roomy enough. In this case, you could rent something more suitable, or a friend may be willing to lend you theirs in return for a free holiday! Remember to check that your car insurance is up to date, and you might also want to consider basic travel insurance for the trip too. It helps to know a little about how cars work so that you can change a tyre or fix an overheated radiator - or take along a friend who knows about cars.

Dress for the weather - Bring clothes on your trip that are going to be comfortable for travel, and that you don't mind getting some dirt on if you have to fix the car. You should dress for the weather, and if this means travelling through varying weather conditions then pack accordingly. If you're likely to experience hot and cold weather, or dry and wet, then this can be a little tough on car space. But you may well have clothes that can work double by being teamed with a jumper or jacket.

Remember the camera - If you want to capture your trip on film or on digital, then don't forget the camera. While a lot of people just opt for their mobile phone camera these days, these will often struggle to capture some of the beautiful scenery you're bound to come across, so taking a proper camera might be better.

Take plenty of spending money - You'll definitely need some ready cash for your trip, and a credit or debit card is also recommended as it will save you carrying large sums of money. Your car may break down, or you may need to buy some supplies from places that don't accept cards so keep some cash handy. If you don't have a credit or debit card, you could also consider travellers cheques if you're going to be taking a large sum on the road.

Take some maps or a journey plan - Even if you're using sat nav, or are visiting a place you're familiar with, it's still advisable to take a map with you. Sat nav systems can break down or get things wrong, and road works can block routes that you are familiar with, forcing you to take unknown roads. Taking a map will allow you to look at your journey before you go, marking on the map some places to stay along the way, or the nearest petrol stations in case you need to top up the tank.

Make sure you have plenty to eat and drink - Even if you plan to eat at cafes and restaurants along the way, or stop off at motels or hotels, you should pack some food and water just in case you get stranded. You may not be planning to cook on the road, but a roadside cookout can be fun, so you may want to take a little disposable barbeque or cooking stove, as well as some pans, disposable plates and cutlery.

Little luxuries and fun activities - If you're sitting in the car for long periods of time, or are planning to sleep in your vehicle, then you'll want to make it as comfy as possible. Pack a pillow or sleeping bag. You'll want to make some stops on your trip where you can stretch those legs. That's why it's good to pack some fun activities like a Frisbee or football, a fishing line or swimming gear. Picking some choice music to play in the car is also a must - picking your special road trip tunes can be just as much fun as the trip itself!