This Van Life Essential is a Special Topic from the Lady Down The Lane Newsletter Collection. It was requested by a new van-lifer who was looking for tips on the road-Enjoy!
About Concierge Jo-Anna
"Creating the connection between good ideas & great results."
Simple tips you can use every day to make your lifestyle healthier, happier, more informed & inspired! https://mailchi.mp/56c81145060e/conciergejo-annacommunicationsconnector
Lady Down The Lane®
Special Topic~Van Life Essential~ From Concierge Jo-Anna
Hey there, Concierge Jo-Anna here, just dropping by with a tipsheet full of useful info for
ladies on the road. It doesn’t matter if you’ve chosen the lifestyle, or had it land in your lap
because of life’s difficulties, here are ideas, tips & solutions to what you’ll encounter as you
travel. You’ll find everyone’s set-up will be different. It’s personal! Experiment with what makes
you feel connected, safe, & comfortable! Bon Voyage! PS-Many thanks to my Canadian friend
Edith who invited me to dinner to ask about tips for life on the road & set this special topic letter
in motion!
1.) Make sure you travel with a cell phone that will work wherever you go. Stuff happens, &
you need to be able to reach out for help.
2.) An internet connection is vital. All carriers sell mobile routers, which work better than
cellphone hotspots. Do some research & pick what suits budget & travel needs.
3.) I have a husky, pepper spray & a small stun gun. Fortunately, I’ve never had to use any of
them. But, they are a deterrent & make me look & feel safer!
4.) When you’re travelling, you’ll need to find water sources & laundry facilities. Some
campgrounds have them, but if you’re boondocking in the wilderness, you’ll need them.
Kiosks in parking lots abound for ice & water cheaply, & coin-operated laundries are
everywhere, so scope them out as you go.
5.) Don’t forget to arrange club membership, so you can not only work out, but take hot
showers when you’re on the road. I have a YMCA membership, but Planet Fitness & most
of the clubs offer memberships that let you use any facility.
6.) You might want to get an IPostal1 account, if you’ll be gone a long time & have a general
area you’ll be frequenting. They’re inexpensive & can hold your mail & packages for you.
7.) Check out sites like: freecampsites.net/ioverlander & harvest hosts apps/usda forest
service/state parks/wilderness parks/water management sites/reserve America/KOA
sites and of course,-advertised RV sites if you have the budget. You can also park
overnight for free in most Walmarts & Cracker Barrel shops.
8.) Caveat-Different places require different arrangements-so CALL AHEAD & make sure
they’ll accept the type of vehicle you have, allow overnight parking, & whether or not to
pay in advance or if you need an online permit. *Please leave No Trace-Trash Or Noise!
https://youtu.be/vV4RAAIjH6U?si=jujLC57i3ILCzP-M
https://mailchi.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e823bd9106efb6c34a2218051&id=0a6027f6b5
mailto:ConciergeJo-Anna@outlook.com
https://mailchi.mp/56c81145060e/conciergejo-annacommunicationsconnector
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D84T8S8G
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D84T8S8G
https://mailchi.mp/56c81145060e/conciergejo-annacommunicationsconnector
9.) If you’d like to boondock, here’s a basic list of what you’ll need: A 5-gallon water tank
with pump for freshwater drinking for you & you pet/a 5-gallon gas tank/a generator
with enough wattage to run what you have in the vehicle/or solar panels/a power
pack with enough wattage for places that don’t allow generators/5-gallon water tank
for showering or doing dishes/a small portable camping shower/cooler or mini-
fridge/small fan-heater unit/baby wipes/toilet paper/alcohol wipes/portable potty/
bedding/towels/clothing that’s multi-seasonal/fire extinguisher.
10.) Make sure you have a designated spot for your keys. You’d be surprised how often
they’ll disappear! I have a hook by the van door that holds a small cross-body bag with
my keys, pepper spray license & credit card. I NEVER leave the van without putting it on,
because the wind swung my door shut once & $200 & a locksmith later, I was able to
get back in. Travelling is tiring &when you’re tired, you forget simple stuff, so build in
routine safeguards.
11.) It’s necessary & will give you peace of mind, to have roadside assistance, especially
for ladies travelling alone. Either through your insurance policy, through an outside
agency, like AAA, or an interstate or international 3
rd
party. You’ll eventually have
vehicle troubles somewhere, so protect yourself.
12.) I also travel with an electric kettle (must have coffee in the am & tea at night!), a small
1000-watt hotplate/cutlery, dishes, glasses for 2, & a cutting board.
*All of the items I’ve listed can be found just about anywhere, so shop around for pricing. I
have a small Promaster City van, & everything here is neatly tucked away with no problem.
If you’d like to see what it looks like: Jo-Anna’s van.
If you’d like to contribute to my travelling endeavors-you can subscribe or donate here.
I hope you found this newsletter helpful! If you have any more questions, please get in touch:
ConciergeJo-Anna@outlook.com. I’ll be launching subscriptions soon to my stash of ideas &
tips that I promise you’ll find helpful.
I share information that makes every day a bit better, healthier, more informed & inspired! For
more on what I love to do, check out my SplashPage. I am available for any projects you’ve
dreamed of!
Also-don’t forget to check out my new mini-book “Inspirational Ideas For The Best & Worst Of
Times”. It has kept me sane & productive through whatever comes my way-Enjoy!
Concierge Jo-Anna~Communications Connector
Special Topic~Van Life Essential~ From Concierge Jo-Anna
Hey there, Concierge Jo-Anna here, just dropping by with a tipsheet full of useful info for
ladies on the road. It doesn’t matter if you’ve chosen the lifestyle, or had it land in your lap
because of life’s difficulties, here are ideas, tips & solutions to what you’ll encounter as you
travel. You’ll find everyone’s set-up will be different. It’s personal! Experiment with what makes
you feel connected, safe, & comfortable! Bon Voyage! PS-Many thanks to my Canadian friend
Edith who invited me to dinner to ask about tips for life on the road & set this special topic letter
in motion!
1.) Make sure you travel with a cell phone that will work wherever you go. Stuff happens, &
you need to be able to reach out for help.
2.) An internet connection is vital. All carriers sell mobile routers, which work better than
cellphone hotspots. Do some research & pick what suits budget & travel needs.
3.) I have a husky, pepper spray & a small stun gun. Fortunately, I’ve never had to use any of
them. But, they are a deterrent & make me look & feel safer!
4.) When you’re travelling, you’ll need to find water sources & laundry facilities. Some
campgrounds have them, but if you’re boondocking in the wilderness, you’ll need them.
Kiosks in parking lots abound for ice & water cheaply, & coin-operated laundries are
everywhere, so scope them out as you go.
5.) Don’t forget to arrange club membership, so you can not only work out, but take hot
showers when you’re on the road. I have a YMCA membership, but Planet Fitness & most
of the clubs offer memberships that let you use any facility.
6.) You might want to get an IPostal1 account, if you’ll be gone a long time & have a general
area you’ll be frequenting. They’re inexpensive & can hold your mail & packages for you.
7.) Check out sites like: freecampsites.net/ioverlander & harvest hosts apps/usda forest
service/state parks/wilderness parks/water management sites/reserve America/KOA
sites and of course,-advertised RV sites if you have the budget. You can also park
overnight for free in most Walmarts & Cracker Barrel shops.
8.) Caveat-Different places require different arrangements-so CALL AHEAD & make sure
they’ll accept the type of vehicle you have, allow overnight parking, & whether or not to
pay in advance or if you need an online permit. *Please leave No Trace-Trash Or Noise!
https://youtu.be/vV4RAAIjH6U?si=jujLC57i3ILCzP-M
https://mailchi.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e823bd9106efb6c34a2218051&id=0a6027f6b5
mailto:ConciergeJo-Anna@outlook.com
https://mailchi.mp/56c81145060e/conciergejo-annacommunicationsconnector
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D84T8S8G
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D84T8S8G
https://mailchi.mp/56c81145060e/conciergejo-annacommunicationsconnector
9.) If you’d like to boondock, here’s a basic list of what you’ll need: A 5-gallon water tank
with pump for freshwater drinking for you & you pet/a 5-gallon gas tank/a generator
with enough wattage to run what you have in the vehicle/or solar panels/a power
pack with enough wattage for places that don’t allow generators/5-gallon water tank
for showering or doing dishes/a small portable camping shower/cooler or mini-
fridge/small fan-heater unit/baby wipes/toilet paper/alcohol wipes/portable potty/
bedding/towels/clothing that’s multi-seasonal/fire extinguisher.
10.) Make sure you have a designated spot for your keys. You’d be surprised how often
they’ll disappear! I have a hook by the van door that holds a small cross-body bag with
my keys, pepper spray license & credit card. I NEVER leave the van without putting it on,
because the wind swung my door shut once & $200 & a locksmith later, I was able to
get back in. Travelling is tiring &when you’re tired, you forget simple stuff, so build in
routine safeguards.
11.) It’s necessary & will give you peace of mind, to have roadside assistance, especially
for ladies travelling alone. Either through your insurance policy, through an outside
agency, like AAA, or an interstate or international 3
rd
party. You’ll eventually have
vehicle troubles somewhere, so protect yourself.
12.) I also travel with an electric kettle (must have coffee in the am & tea at night!), a small
1000-watt hotplate/cutlery, dishes, glasses for 2, & a cutting board.
*All of the items I’ve listed can be found just about anywhere, so shop around for pricing. I
have a small Promaster City van, & everything here is neatly tucked away with no problem.
If you’d like to see what it looks like: Jo-Anna’s van.
If you’d like to contribute to my travelling endeavors-you can subscribe or donate here.
I hope you found this newsletter helpful! If you have any more questions, please get in touch:
ConciergeJo-Anna@outlook.com. I’ll be launching subscriptions soon to my stash of ideas &
tips that I promise you’ll find helpful.
I share information that makes every day a bit better, healthier, more informed & inspired! For
more on what I love to do, check out my SplashPage. I am available for any projects you’ve
dreamed of!
Also-don’t forget to check out my new mini-book “Inspirational Ideas For The Best & Worst Of
Times”. It has kept me sane & productive through whatever comes my way-Enjoy!
Concierge Jo-Anna~Communications Connector