Self-drive holidays bring to mind three things — an exotic location, a fancy car and the freedom to explore both the land and the machine at one’s own pace. They impart an additional layer of romance to the notion of vacationing. If you can afford a foreign trip, even better. Operators specialising in this form of leisure are on the increase. From accommodation and routes to stopover points, they’ll have everything planned down to the last detail before handing over the car keys to you. Of course, you have the option of steering off the planned route to explore trails that catch your fancy. That’s the best part of the deal. Who knows, you may just discover the Loch Ness Monster!
Steer safe
Self-drive holidays are great, but do take care of these factors.
A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE CROSSES THE SAND DUNES IN THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN NEAR EGYPT'S WESTERN DESERT OASIS OF SIWA ON FEBRUARY 3, 2002. THE OASIS HAS ABOUT 230 HOT AND COLD MAINLY FRESH WATER SPRINGS, AND SEVERAL LARGE LAKES SCATTERED AROUND THE AREA, WHICH IS A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS ON DESERT SAFARI TRIPS. REUTERS/ALADIN ABDEL NABY
When you’re unfamiliar with the routes, the risk of accidents goes up, so drive at a leisurely pace, don’t drive too much and avoid night driving. Getting off the beaten track, you may misjudge timing, and not be able to get to the planned destination by the end of the day. Stress is the last thing you’d want from a vacation.
Do your research beforehand. A land that is violence-prone is preferably avoided, especially if you’re with kids. You don’t want to drive blindly into a danger zone. If you’re trying a new car, a new terrain and a new country, you may consider hiring a driver familiar with the land. He can navigate effortlessly and judiciously between the planned and the unplanned trails and you have the option of taking over from him .
In town
Then there’s always the option of exploring your own part of the country. With car rental service providers on the increase in cities across India, the choice of machines one could drive is widening. Google will take you to their doorstep. You’ll get to know and understand your own environment better and make some fascinating discoveries.
For some time now, I have been out on self-drive holidays almost every weekend, exploring less-frequented areas beyond Chennai. I may be taking some of these roads for the first time, but I know what kind of traffic to expect, the condition of the road surface, and also the mind of the drivers in this part of the country. These weekend explorations lead me into sequestered spaces near forests and hills, but the chances of running into a dangerous situation or losing my way are low, because I understand the people and the places very well. I know where to slam the brakes or steer clear.
The bottomline
Here’s the crux of the matter: there is no comparison between self-drive holidays in an exotic location and those taken near home. By its definition, an exotic location cannot be found near your turf, and exploring it with safety checks built into your self-drive package is a reasonable thing to do.
These holidays heal nerves frayed under stress and broaden horizons with the experiences they offer. You should also explore hidden trails close to your habitat regularly. Anyone who puts an entirely utilitarian value on motoring may wonder at this. But, as those who have done it would vouch for it, it’s a cathartic experience. It refreshes your mind week after week. It has other benefits too. It helps you to connect to the social and civic ecosystem you live in. It can also lead to a love for the natural resources found in your part of the world.
Not everyone who does such trips is environment-conscious, but I have seen people take immense interest in the protection of the waterbodies and green tracks they experience as part of these short but frequent exploratory self-drive vacations.
So, where are you going to drive this weekend?
