Summer holidays: 5 rules to survive the journey home

On the way back from holidays, everyone is frustrated. Saying goodbye to your holiday spot is never easy, and the thought of returning to your daily routine, not to mention hours on the road, is enough to make anyone irritable. All it takes is a traffic jam and tensions explode in the family car. At Cocolis, we care about our users. That’s why we’re sharing five survival rules for that infamous journey home.

Rule #1: Prepare your journey home

Whether you’re travelling alone, with family or friends, preparation is key. All these scenarios have one thing in common: travelling costs money. To make it worthwhile, post your route on Cocolis before you set off. Chances are, all or part of your journey will be reimbursed. You can choose to make a stop along the way or drop off the parcel at your destination. Anything is possible on the platform! So, WHATEVER happens next, you can always say: “At least my journey didn’t cost me too much.” Once the money issue is sorted, there are a few more things to consider. Alone or with others, you need to keep yourself entertained. Plan a playlist that matches your type of journey. Family: go for Disney classics; with friends: the songs you listened to together during the trip; alone: you can FINALLY listen to that podcast you’ve been meaning to try for weeks or put your favourite song on repeat without anyone judging you. For a family trip, we recommend this excellent article about car games for kids. Finally, if you’re travelling with others, prepare a list of topics YOU want to discuss during the journey.

Rule #2: Dominate the conversation

We all know that friend who loves being the centre of attention, that super chatty child whose speech is impossible to follow, or that grandparent who’s always giving their opinion even when no one asked. Don’t let the moaners take over, those who see the journey home as the perfect time to let loose. From the start, take the lead in conversation.

Of course, you’ve already prepared your list of topics (see rule #1). If you’re short of inspiration, talk about the benefits of the circular economy or explain Cocolis’s ecological impact. Chances are you’ll either captivate your audience or at least bring some peace to the car.

Rule #3: Keep your cool

Zen, let’s stay zen

"Are we there yet?" "I need the toilet!"

The joy of driving your family from one end of the country to the other... But solo travellers aren’t spared either. All it takes is the wrong train carriage or plane seat on the wrong day, and you’ll spend your journey with a child screaming or kicking your seat. And let’s not forget the cat meowing for hours... All these situations are a recipe for frustration. They’re the PERFECT opportunity to put those yoga, tai chi, or qi gong classes you paid a fortune for into practice! One word: ZEN. Remember that when you feel like strangling the noisy culprit. And if you’re driving, here’s a phrase to calm yourself down.

"Just a few more minutes until the Cocolis break, phew, I’ll finally be able to have a smoke... or just breathe."

And in any case, you can remind yourself:

“At least this journey didn’t cost me too much.”

A special case

But beware, there’s one situation that can ruin all your good intentions. What’s the phrase all parents dread at the start of a car journey? “Alice has been sick.” “Where do babies come from?” OK, there are a few... But the one we’re thinking of is ALWAYS followed by a scream of distress... Got it? WE FORGOT TEDDY! When you hear those words, even the most zen parent’s heart rate will skyrocket and a bead of sweat will appear. You know that without that ragged bit of cloth that once was a rabbit, a bear, or maybe even a t-shirt, your life is over. DON’T PANIC. Once again, take a breath and think COCOLIS! Take 3 minutes to post your SOS as a sender on the platform (for lost teddies, we recommend also emailing contact@cocolis.fr so we can share your post on our social media). Then, get back on the road calmly, explaining how Teddy will soon find someone trustworthy to bring him home.

Rule #4: Make use of your pet

Our four-legged friends can be both a curse and a blessing on these journeys. For starters, having Whiskers or Sausage with you is a great excuse to avoid taking along the kind of people described in rule #2.

"We’d have taken you, but you see, we’re already ‘full’ with Hector taking up three seats on his own." "It’s a shame you’re allergic to cats, otherwise we could have brought you..." And what a great distraction for kids! If you’re stuck with a screaming child in the train, just produce a dog, cat or chinchilla and you’re sorted for the whole journey. In the car, a pet is also the perfect excuse to stop when YOU need a break. Just pretend you’re tending to their needs.

"We’ll stop here, Roxy needs the loo." And if you’re travelling alone, you get pleasant company without the downsides of carpooling with humans. In fact, travelling solo with Tigrou or Simba leaves you plenty of space. Perfect for carrying a maximum number of parcels in one go!

Rule #5: Enjoy your journey home

Yes, it’s not always easy to face the return journey. But once you’ve avoided most of the pitfalls, it can actually be a pleasant time. If you’re alone on the train or plane, it’s the perfect moment to finally relax. With family or friends? The journey is a chance to make the holiday spirit last a little longer. Follow these few rules and you’ll turn these journeys into happy memories.

Safe travels everyone!