Working out what to pack for your next trip away might feel like a lot at first, particularly if you’re organising things for the whole family, but a little planning now means you can relax later knowing everything you need is right where it should be.
To help you get started, we’ve created a checklist to help you set yourself up for a smooth, stress‑free staycation!
1. Car Checks
10 Point Car Check
Nothing stops a staycation in its tracks like a car that won’t start. This is an easy one to avoid thanks to our 10 Point Car Check. The service is available at your local Halfords garage or store and consists of vital vehicle checks to ensure your car is ready for upcoming journeys.
During your appointment, one of our experts will carry out the following checks:
- Headlight & brake light check
- Wiper blade condition check
- Battery health check
- Tyre depth check
- Tyre inflation check & top-up
- Windscreen chip check
- MOT due date reminder (UK only)
- Oil level check
- Screen wash top up
- AdBlue & coolant check
If our technician spots any issues, they’ll talk you through the work that’s needed to get your car roadworthy again.
2. MOT and Service Options
If your car’s due some attention, you can book an MOT, a service or combine both to save time and money. Regular servicing is the best way to keep your car running at its best, and we offer a range of options to suit every vehicle and budget.
Halfords Motoring Club Premium
For even better value, you can sign up to Halfords Motoring Club Premium (£5.49 monthly or £54 yearly). Premium members get:
- An included MOT
- 5% off all motoring services and products online, in‑store, in our garages and with Halfords Mobile Expert
- Two 10‑point car safety checks, worth £15 each
- Even more exclusive member savings and benefits
It’s a simple way to keep your car in great shape while saving money throughout the year, as well as ensuring your MOT is sorted.
3. Emergency Essentials
Breakdown Kit
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:
- Car warning triangle
- Tow rope and booster cables
- Foot pump
- Hi-grip gloves
- Weatherproof torch.
Just pop it in the back or boot of your car and it’ll be ready and waiting if you need it.
Puncture Repair
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.
Tyre Inflator
If it’s tyre pressure that’s the concern, then the Halfords Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator is perfect to keep in the boot. 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 also means it can work its magic during the day and at night.
First Aid Kit
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 on the move, including:
- AdherenDressing
- Burn Dressings
- Cleansing Wipes
- Medium Dressing
- 2 Foil Blankets
- Gloves
- Resuscitation Device
- Triangular Bandages
- Universal Shears
- Washproof Plasters
- Microporous Tape
4. Space-saving essentials
Trying to squeeze in bikes, bags, tents and a weeks worth of food is a lot for your car, but there’s a whole load of space outside of your vehicle that you can utilise to save space inside.
Bike Racks
Our first space-saving essential takes your bikes out of the equation by giving them their own place to hang out.
High Mount Rack
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. With easy ratchet adjustment and high-density foam pads, this mount will keep your bikes safe until you get there.
Tow Bar Rack
A towbar‑mounted bike rack fits directly onto your car’s tow bar, giving you a secure and easy way to carry your bikes. The Thule EasyFold XT 2 is a great example, it’s strong enough to carry e‑bikes and heavy mountain bikes and the extra‑long wheel straps make it easy to secure wider tyres (up to 4.7″), so this is a perfect option for riders who prefer electric bikes.
Roof Mounted Rack
Finally, a roof mounted rack such as the Thule ProRide 598 turns your roof rack into a bike storage bay while leaving you with full access to your boot, ideal for grabbing snacks out of the boot half way through your journey. The ProRide has a lot of unique features that help set it apart from other roof-mounted racks too, including the ability to automatically position your bike when you secure it thanks to its uniquely designed frame holder and wheel tray. This roof rack also comes with T-track adaptors to fit most aero style roof bars. If you have square roof bars, you will need to purchase the Thule 598 Square Bar Adaptor before you can start loading up.
Roof Boxes
Another roof-based space saver is the humble roof box. 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. Before attaching your roof box, you’ll need to install roof bars onto your vehicle if you don’t already have them. If you’d like a hand with fitting any of these space-saving products, then our in-store colleagues will be happy to help install them for a small free.
5. In-car tech
There are loads of in-car products out there that are designed to make journeys smoother, safer, and simply more fun.
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.
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 fit in-car tech for you. Select this option when you check out online or visit your local Halfords to find out more.
6. 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.
7. Pet Travel
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 distraction when travelling which isn’t good when you’re trying to concentrate on the road ahead.
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 Battersea Dog Harness, which is easy to attach to a seatbelt, with the Battersea Seat Belt Clip, 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.
8. Car Cleaning
Before you head out to your chosen destination, giving your car a quick glow up will make the journey feel more clean and comfortable, and will help you arrive in style too. We recommend picking up the £8 Halfords Car Cleaning Bucket Bundle to keep the outside of your car gleaming.
This car cleaning bucket includes:
- Halfords Car Wash Sponge
- Halfords Car Wash and Wax 1L
- Halfords Microfibre Cloths 5 Pack
- Halfords Heavy Duty Bucket
To keep things smelling fresh on the inside, why not pick up a car air freshener? Our favourite scent is the Jelly Belly 3D Very Cherry Air Freshener. As well as it’s sweet cherry aroma, it adds a fun pop of colour to your car interior.
For all your staycation needs, you want Halfords. Head over to Halfords.com to shop travel essentials, from car security to pet travel. Or, visit your local store and chat to one of our helpful colleagues.
