Staycation destination chosen? Check. Weather forecast looking okay? Check. Travel checklist all sorted? Well…
Okay, so we know that preparing for a trip isn’t always the most exciting part of the journey and knowing what to pack for a staycation can become a bit overwhelming. But put a bit of time into it and you’ll be rewarded big time when you have everything you need to hand later on.
To help get you started, here’s our ultimate staycation travel checklist.
Car check essentials
Free car checks
Nothing stops a staycation in its tracks like a car that won’t start. This is an easy one to avoid thanks to our Free 5-Point Car Check. The service is available at all of our Halfords stores and autocentres and can be booked online. It involves one of our trained technicians checking elements such as your wiper blades, car battery, windscreen, and your headlight and brake lights – all for free!
During your appointment, one of our experts will carry out the following checks:
- headlight and brake light
- wiper blade condition
- battery health
- windscreen chip
- MOT due date reminder
If our technician spots any issues, they’ll talk you through the work that’s needed to get your car roadworthy again.
MOT and service (or both)
Another option is to head straight for an MOT or service (or combine both to save yourself time and money). Regular services are the best way to keep your car in top condition and we offer a variety of options to suit your requirements.
Car safety inspection
For even greater peace of mind, we’ve got our 30-point Car Safety Inspection at just £29.99. This can also be booked online, takes about an hour, and is available at Halfords Autocentres across the UK. During the inspection, our technician will go over your vehicle from top to bottom, checking aspects such as your brakes, steering, suspension, tyres and more. If any faults are detected, you’ll be given a free no-obligation quote for the repairs.
Halfords Motoring Club
If you’re interested in one of our car checks, your MOT is due or you want to book in for a service then join the Halfords Motoring Club today. You’ll get access to a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!
Join the Halfords Motoring Club today at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.
Whatever car check option you choose, you’ll be rewarded with a roadworthy car that you can trust to get you from home to your staycation destination safely.
Emergency essentials
Despite our best efforts, punctures, breakdowns and little accidents can happen. This is why it’s so important to make sure that you’ve got your emergency essentials to hand when you set out on your journey.
For your car, that means starting with the AA Breakdown & Emergency Kit. This kit contains all the essentials you’ll need in the event of a breakdown, including a car warning triangle, a tow rope and booster cables, a foot pump, hi-grip gloves, and a weatherproof torch. Just pop it in the back or boot of your car and it’ll be ready and waiting if you need it.
Holts Tyreweld 500ml is another must-have, providing a quick and easy solution if you find yourself with a puncture. Simply attach the product to the valve on your tyre and it’ll do the hard work of inflating and sealing the puncture for you. You’ll be back on the road and off to find a garage in minutes.
Or if it’s tyre pressure that’s the concern, then the Halfords Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator is for you. This handy tool has an inflation time of under three minutes and has an automatic cut-off to prevent over-inflation. The backlit digital display and torch element also mean it can work its magic during the day and at night.
Our final emergency essential is a trusty first aid kit. The Halfords Motorists First Aid Kit includes 66 pieces and is the perfect antidote for little accidents.
Space-saving essentials
Bikes, bags, tents, food… it’s a lot to squeeze into one car. But outside of the car? Well, there’s a whole heap of space there just waiting to be used.
Bike racks
Our first space-saving essential takes your bikes out of the equation by giving them their own place to hang out. Rear mounted bike racks like the Halfords Rear High-Mount 3-Bike Bike Rack sit on the rear of your car and tend to be the most cost-effective choice. The rack arrives fully assembled with an advanced ratchet system, meaning it’s easy to fit to your car as well as fold flat for simple storage. And with easy ratchet adjustment and high-density foam pads, the mount will keep your bikes safe on your journey.
Instead of a high-mount rack, you can also use a rack that attaches to the towbar like the Thule Velocompact 925 2-Bike Rack. Compact and lightweight, the Thule Velocompact is ideal for everyday use and features detachable bike arms so it’s easy to secure your bikes. It also folds flat when not in use and is compact enough to live in your car’s boot.
Finally, roof mounted racks like the Thule ProRide 591 turn your roof rack into a bike storage bay while leaving you with full access to your boot. The Thule ProRide 591 comes preassembled and has quick-release straps for convenient loading and unloading.
Roof boxes
Another roof-based space saver is the humble roof box (make sure you’ve still got room for one if you’ve gone for a roof-mounted bike rack!). The Halfords Advanced 470L Black Roof Box is our top pick here, offering a huge 470 Litres of space under a dual-side opening lid. The aerodynamic design reduces wind resistance and noise, and the pre-installed Power Grip mount system make installation a simple job.
If you’d like a hand with fitting any of these space-saving products, then our in-store colleagues will be happy to help from just £20.00. Simply pop down to your local Halfords for support.
In-car essentials
There are loads of in-car products out there that are designed to make journeys smoother, safer, and just more fun. No journey is complete without some in-car tech to make the more efficient and enjoyable.
Dash cams
In-car tech like dash cams make up our first entry, with the Nextbase 522GW heading the list. Not only does this dash cam do all the normal dash cam things and more, it also comes with Amazon Alexa installed. While you concentrate on driving, you can use your voice to stop/start recordings, transfer footage to your phone and even play music.
Another option is the Garmin Dash Cam 57. Boasting 1440p HD recording and a 140 degree viewing angle, this dash cam will deliver high quality footage every time. Features include driver alerts, Parking Mode, GPS tracking, Night Vision and voice control, while the dash cam also comes with a 16GB microSD card to store all that captured footage.
Sat navs
If it’s a sat nav you’re looking for, then the Garmin Drivesmart 66 is a great choice. This sat nav features an easy-to-use GPS with a high-resolution display. Voice commands can do everything from checking the weather and traffic to getting directions and points of interest along your route. You can also pair the Garmin Drivesmart 66 with a compatible smartphone for hands-free calling. All while following clear directions to your destination!
Our technicians are available to safely fit all in-car tech. Select this option when you check out online or visit your local Halfords to find out more.
Coolboxes
Alongside entertaining the kids, you’ll probably want to pack some snacks for them to munch on. With the Halfords 8 Litre 12V In-Car Electric Coolbox, you get a convenient storage place that fits neatly on the middle rear seat, draws its power from a 12V charging plug, and keeps food and drinks cool even on hot days. There’s even an inbuilt USB charger and a carry strap, so that the cool box can join you on your staycation once you leave your car behind.
Car security
Speaking of leaving your car behind, remember to keep your car safe if you’re staycationing away from where you’ve parked. That brings us to the Disklok Steering Wheel Lock. Designed by one of the UK’s most trusted car security brands, this lock has a unique design and exceptionally durable build materials.
It’s highly visible, easy to fit and remove with a key, anti-drill and anti-pick proof, and spins on attack to prevent the wheel from being turned. It’s no surprise that the lock has a Gold Sold Secure rating and we think it’s a great way to keep your car safe when you’re out and about.
Pet safety essentials
For many of us, a staycation isn’t the same without our four-legged friends. While dogs are great to have around, they can become more of a nuisance when travelling.
As such, the Highway Code requires dogs to be ‘suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly’. The best way to do this is with the Large Dog Car Harness. Adjustable and easy to attach to a seatbelt, the harness will keep your dog safely restrained during your journey.
If your dog will be travelling in the boot, use the Halfords Tubular Dog Guard to help keep them and you safe. The guard easily mounts between the roof and the floor and uses twist and locks keys for easy fitting.
And with that, we’re done! We hope you’ve found our staycation travel checklist useful and that it helps you prepare for the ultimate staycation. For more motoring advice, head over to our help and advice guides.
If you want the perfect staycation, you want Halfords.
