A convertible is a pleasant breeze, enthusiastic glances from passersby, and the pleasant feeling of being in a movie about the beautiful life. That's how I imagined a ride in a rented convertible through the south of Portugal, but in the end, the sun and wind were my main opponents.
In one week I drove an open-top car from Lisbon to Albufeira, from Cape Roca to the port with the yachts on the south coast, and now I'm ready to share a few of the tips that will make traveling in a car without a roof enjoyable.
For sun and dust protection
Doctors recommend protecting your eyes from UV rays, so I always take sunglasses with me. There are many different options for this accessory, but I chose the Aviators by Ray-Ban. The mineral glass lenses are set in a lightweight metal frame weighing only 150g.
While you find a convertible for rent in Dubai, the sunglasses came in handy to protect eyes from dust, avoid squinting from the bright sun, and avoid creating dangerous driving accidents.
You don't need sunscreen just at the beach. If you travel by car in hot weather you should use sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30, otherwise, there is a risk not only of getting a tan "under the shirt," but also of getting sunburn.
I like Sun Bum cosmetics. It has a light and non-greasy texture, a pleasant smell, and several variations of tubes. There are body creams and sprays with SPF from 15 to 70, lip protectors, and even hair protectors. In a convertible car, I took a spray with SPF 30 and applied it to all exposed body parts, including my feet.
A spray with SPF 30 is fine for an open-top car.
The windscreen only protects the front seat passengers from the dust and wind. Make sure that all rear-seat passengers always wear eyeglasses.
For comfort and convenience.
Headgear is an important thing when traveling in hot countries. If you spend a long time in direct sunlight, you may get a headache.
For road trips, I recommend baseball caps that have ventilation holes, a visor, and an adjustable back clasp. The Lacoste cap has saved me from sunstroke more than once, as the temperature rose to 37° Celsius while traveling.
To avoid getting tangled in the mop of long hair, I always carry a few transparent elastic bands in my purse. They go with any outfit and are suitable for almost any occasion. In a convertible, fluttering hair is more of a minus than a plus, as it can interfere with visibility. I like to wear my hair in a ponytail or in a braid while driving.
A windbreaker, sweater, or cape comes in handy when traveling in a convertible. It's most comfortable to take a zippered garment, such as a cotton Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt.
I went on a trip in the summer, but in a convertible car, at 120 km/h it sometimes got chilly from the airflow, so I didn't take my warm clothes away.
Earplugs came in handy to protect my ears on the highways. The simplest noise-canceling models will do. Travel is much more comfortable with earplugs, and they will also save you from otitis media and you can safely sleep on the plane or train.