If there’s anything that’s guaranteed to take my mind off a cold, rainy winter’s day it is planning a break. I love getting in the car and zooming off to stay in a hotel somewhere, taking my son Indio with me, of course. As my extended family is spread all over the UK, there’s always an excuse to pack up our bags and head out on a much-loved road trip. It’s important to have something to look forward to.
People think you have to go abroad to have an adventure, but there are lots of beautiful places to visit in the UK. I’ve been up to the Lake District, which is phenomenal, the Isle of Arran in Scotland and the Cotswolds. I don’t live too far away from the coast and there are so many places to explore. These days, travelling is so much easier – sites such as Airbnb make it simple to find somewhere to stay and take a mini-break. Even if you’re busy saving money, having a date to look forward to helps get you through the winter.
I love a road trip, and the most important thing about a road trip is to have a car that you trust will get you there. I also need something that is spacious, so I don’t get a bad back, or have to pull over and get out every hour to stretch my legs. The Ateca is just fantastic for long journeys; there’s so much legroom in the front (and the back) that I’ve found I can drive for much longer stretches than with some other cars. As well as being comfortable, I know I can rely on it to take me down country lanes just as well as motorways, so I do not feel limited in where I chose to travel.
It’s a practical car, too, which means the boot space is enormous. When I’m travelling with Indio, the car is absolutely packed as I take everything. I’ve spent my whole life travelling, so I like to get somewhere and make it feel like home; this means you could say I’m much more of an over-packer than an under-packer! I like to make sure I have all Indie’s things: the toys, and little bits and bobs that make him comfortable. When it comes to loading up the car before I leave, I think it’s fair to say I’m methodical – as I’m excited and looking forward to the trip, I’m a lot more organised. Packing to come home, however, is a whole different ball game; it’s like I’m slinging it all in a wheelbarrow.
How clean and tidy I keep the car while we are away depends on where we are going. There are plenty of great hidey-holes inside the Ateca for storing things, so the car is usually quite neat and tidy on the way somewhere. We often travel to Cornwall, where my dad lives, and Indio loves going to the beach. By the time we have to head home there are buckets and spades popping up everywhere in the car, but I always take it as a sign that we’ve had a great time.
