Trip advice: Advantages of starting early - eNidhi India Travel Blog

Trip advice: Advantages of starting early


Most of my trips are weekend ones- I’ll have the compulsion to start and end it between friday evening and Monday early morning. When a self drive rental is involved, rent has to be paid on a 24 hour basis, hence I’ll have to plan a 48 hours trip making the most of limited time.
I often plan the itinerary such that we start real early- 3 or 4 Am in the morning or even previous night. I feel there’re lots of advantages in starting early for a road trip, though sometimes I get resistance like “Only 150kms no? we’ll start at 6.30am” or “who’ll get up at 4am on a Saturday?”
But then, below are the advantages of starting early:
  • Get out of city super fast, due to less traffic during early morning hours
  • Reach breakfast hotels early-less crowd and better service
  • Reach destinations early-enjoy it when the crowd is minimal
  • Better bargaining abilities with the local vendors (Play the BoNi… card)
  • Chances of getting scenic sunrise shots on the highway if you get out of city before sunrise
  • Less rush at toll gates
  • At some toll gates, multiple entry tickets are valid till midnight. Make the most of it if you’re planning to return same day.
  • Ability to visit lesser known locations around your primary destination (you can’t think of anything else if you arrive late)
  • Buffer time in case of flat tyre, road blocks or other issues on the way
  • You might miss morning only activity if you arrive late (for example, Opening Ceremony in Ramoji film city)
  • At some destinations, parking fee attendants wouldn’t have come to duty that early. You get to save on parking fee
  • Open place activities (like climbing a hill) are comfortable to do early morning. By noon when the sun is hot, the same task will be more demanding
photographing morning sun
Above: File Photo of an early morning Sunrise photography, enroute to chitradurga
Some disadvantages:
  • If you’ve not had enough sleep, early morning driving can be risky. Even if you’re fully awake and alert, additional caution is needed as other drivers might be sleepy
  • Some destinations open only at 9 or 10AM and nothing can be done if you reach early-better  research and planning is needed in this regard (while places like Zoo/museum might open only after 9AM, places like viewpoints, temples, waterfalls might be accessible all the time. One needs to plan well to make the most of time
  • Some destinations won’t be at their best in the morning (for example, Dakshina Chitra on ECR will be buzzing with activity only in the afternoon)
  • If you’re low on fuel, most of the fuel stations won’t be open before 6 AM. Similarly roadside help (mechanical/for directions/eatables etc) may not be much
  • Starting early will be a challenge when family and kids are involved
Do add if you can think of some points

Related: Life saving skills from movies * Self Drive Car Rentals *

18 comments:

  1. Really good, cost effective and time saving, can make many trips, hurray! (We shall make short trips keeping ur tips in mind!):)

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  2. Add to that people like me, who hate to get up early unless absolutely required. But I do see your point.

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  3. Well documented advantages and disadvantages. I prefer to start early too. :)

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  4. Indrani:
    Thanks. Good to know I've company... Many said they just can't get up early...

    Mridula, Jnaneshwara and Prasanna: Many Thanks

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  5. we try to start early too, and though we first thought it would be difficult for our son, he surprises us every time. the chap who makes a ruckus when we wake him up at 7AM for school happily wakes up by himself at 4AM when we are travelling!

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  6. If there's a will, there is a way! He'll be a great traveler once he grows up... Let him start a blog right away!

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  7. i agree
    lot more advantageous for starting early... we do

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  8. I agree...there are advantages for example around Delhi if you start around Friday evening you can get the Friday night as well as Saturday Night..a time to be friends :P, But practically its like getting the most out of the least.

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  9. Its always better to be early than late.On reaching your destination, you get time to rejuvenate.

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  10. Tarun, For Delhi traffic, one will lose half a day by not starting early


    SRA sir,
    Exactly.
    Thanks

    Deepak,
    Good to know. Have seen some of your early morning pics

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  11. Good tips. Starting early is good at most times as it makes the day long for us to cover.

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  12. BoNi card could turnout other way also .. remember at Dubare they quoted extra tips for rafting :)

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  13. Shande,
    Sometime despite month long planning we do miss some points...

    Yes, that person was trying extract some more money.. good that we didn't opt for it..

    LR,
    Thanks

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  14. Superb, beautifully compiled and I agree with you.

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  15. Can't agree more! Me being an early bird, it is always beneficial to start early to get rid off the traffic woes in the city limits.

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