Road trip preparation - don't let road trips become nightmares

Road trips are fun, but can turn into costly nightmares. Using a smartphone can help road warriors bring costs and anxiety levels down while traveling, notes Consumer Reports.

Before the car even leaves the driveway, car owners would be wise to make sure they have appropriate car insurance coverage. A good trip can go awry if an accident occurs and one doesn't have the right kind of auto insurance.

Some navigation apps work just as well as a standard GPS system. Consumer Reports says an app made by TomTom, for example, can help lead drivers to their destination without the frustration of getting lost and in turn wasting money on gas.

For drivers who like to be on the road as long as possible, there may be little time to book hotel rooms in advance. MSNBC suggests using iPhone's HotelPal for booking rooms on the go.

Road trip preparation may be the biggest and best thing any traveler can do. There are so many things that can happen on a road trip. Having a plan in mind will help ease stress when the unexpected arises.