Ready for a luxury road trip, but nervous because you have kids? Don’t let that stop you. Get in, so I can show you how I plan a luxury road trip suited for the entire family. I’ve always been a car lover and have dreamed about several cars I would have over the course of my life, but one car brand that has always stood out to me is Cadillac.
Cadillac is a legacy brand for my family and it seems like they get better with time. My grandfather had a Cadillac, a really unforgettable off-white color. Similarly my grandmother, after her husband passed away, was left with this navy blue two-door Cadillac with blue interior. It was so luxurious, had wood grain and a car phone which was definitely a huge deal. My grandmother was a smaller lady so the both of us in it, definitely is a memory I’ll never forget. Currently, my dad has a Cadillac from his brother in law, so maybe I’m truly next in the family to have one.
For the weekend Cadillac was so kind to loan us the 2024 CT5-V which is such a head turner. Let’s get into how I plan for a luxury road trip with my family as we head to Disneyland to celebrate our son’s 1st birthday.
Planning a Luxury Road Trip
Choose Your Luxury Car
Whether you’re renting or looking to purchase something that works long term, choosing the right vehicle is the most important part of a luxury road trip. I’m super grateful to Cadillac for setting us up with the 2024 CT5-V. We’re used to being in an SUV, but it felt really good to be in a sporty car again.
For now it’s just us three and it has all the room that we needed to get to and from Disneyland safely, but in a way that makes the whole trip an experience. I’m such a car girl so of course there were a lot of things that I personally enjoyed.
Let’s get into the color because I’m very simple and classic when it comes to cars, but there are certain colors that are certainly worth stepping out of your comfort zone.
The stunning CT5-V that Cadillac dropped off is in this incredible but unexpected blue tone called Midnight Steel. As someone who drives an SUV on the regular, it didn’t feel awkward or too low to the ground, it was actually much more comfortable and easy to get into than I could have imagined. That new car smell is always so captivating, and as someone who used to choose light interior prior to having a baby, the Whisper Beige seats with Jet Black accents really draws your eye into the car in all of the best ways.
It has all of my personal favorites in a luxury car which make any luxury road trip top tier:
- Push to start and there is this exhilarating roar once the car cuts on and it definitely speaks to the feel and features of the of the CT5-V.
- Keyless entry plus sensored interior lighting as you approach the car
- Lighting package which includes LED headlights, illuminated sill plates, door handles and interior lighting
- Navigation and a Bose premium 15 speaker audio package; our playlist sounded amazing
- Wireless phone charging
- Heads Up Display
- 12” Diagonal Driver Display
- Climate package which includes my first time ever experiencing a front driver and passenger power lumbar massage feature. Additionally, when you’re backing up and the car is getting close to a wall or something in the garage, the driver seat vibrates to let you know and honestly I’m here for all of it.
- It has 360 HD Surround vision which is great for parking and making sure you’re in the lines all around
- A non negotiable for me is a sunroof, and for a sedan, the Ultraview Sunroof is perfect for letting in natural light during the day and catching that last minute magic as we left the park at night
- 19” Alloy wheels with diamond cut satin finishes, a spoiler, grille header decal and so much more
I appreciated how spacious the CT5-V was; we didn’t even need to adjust the front seat after adding in the car seat and base.
Destination and Occasion for your Luxury Road Trip
Where are you going? What is the luxury road trip for? In our case a milestone occasion to celebrate our son’s first birthday and instead of throwing him a party, we wanted to create an experience for him and as a long time Disneyland goer, it only made sense to take our baby there. However, just as much as the experience is for him, it is definitely for me and my husband too.
Luxury doesn’t stop just because you become a parent. Luxury doesn’t stop just because you have a car seat and stroller in the back. The more you take them out, the better it gets.
Living in LA, the drives are not as scenic and unless you’re heading to or near the beach, we usually need to take a freeway. The drive from LA to Anaheim is all freeway, so the least you could do to enhance the overall experience of a luxury road trip is make it a worthwhile destination that is something good for everyone involved.
In our case it’s a theme park and fortunately everyone going really does enjoy Disneyland.
A Detailed Itinerary
I’m a rule breaker and since this is a 1 day trip, I planned a more foundational itinerary.
- A start time or arrival time is key. That’s when things kick off and depending on if the itinerary you decide to plan is super detailed and tight, people need to know what to expect time wise. For any trip, I’m the on time friend. Given that this is a luxury road trip and a 1 day trip, I want to be able to enjoy all of the things, including the car while I can, for as long as I can. If there is a start time for anything I’m hosting you can just prepare for it to start on time.
- A dinner reservation at a full service establishment
I want to sit down and be waited on. Eating inside of the theme park, with an exception of a few restaurants is very casual, buffet style and don’t get me wrong, that is fine. I’ve eaten at Disneyland plenty of times, but ever since 2021, I made it a priority to make reservations for a full service restaurant. We go to Downtown Disney and some of the things that are important to me for a luxury road trip when it comes to luxury dining experience: - Something outside of the park, we head to Downtown Disney
- A space that accommodates the average size family but could accommodate more if required
- Has a solid menu and depending on the occasion a full service bar
- Full service experience
In 2021, when you had to reserve all of your food for Disneyland before they lightened up their health rules, I remember thinking I don’t want to feel rushed just because the next person’s time was coming. Theme park trips can be made to feel luxurious and I feel like a nice dinner is the one cohesive thing we can do.
Additionally, as a new mom, I want to sit down and have a nice meal too. I want to get off of my feet and not have to do the heavy lifting when it comes to at least one meal. I like to plan an early dinner, before 7:00 pm, but after 4:30 pm. I like to leave room for late night dessert and treats and time to do whatever else we decide.
- Free Time until departure time
Free time is key, like I said, for this particular luxury road trip, I wanted a foundational itinerary. Maybe we want to chill and watch the parade, or maybe someone wants to go home, maybe people want to do some holiday shopping, this is the time where everyone is free to stick together or do what’s best for them. After dinner we went to ride rides, ended up getting stuck on Winnie the Pooh and then after that my parents and aunt left. I actually ran into a colleague and then our friends and their baby left and we went on to ride more rides before ending up on Main Street to get my ice cream.
I personally love getting my Strawberry Streetcar Sundae from the Carnation Cafe on Main Street. It’s a waffle bowl dipped in white chocolate with pink sprinkles, vanilla ice cream, strawberry ice cream, graham cracker pieces, whipped cream and strawberry sauce. It is divine! We caught the tail end of a parade, but it was still nice to see.
We normally stay at a Disney resort since my parents drive the furthest, but this time I do want to go home plus we have our dog, so a resort stay was not a priority this time.
What to Pack for a Luxury Road Trip
This list will vary depending on where your destination is and what’s important to you. Having a little one there are some things that are non-negotiables:
- Car Seat
- Stroller
- Wipes
- Diapers
- Sippy cup with lid
- Snacks for the family (I packed: Apples, apple sauce pouches, water, assorted baby munchies, healthy fruit rollup, RX Protein bars)
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Jackets/Knits/Sweaters
- Socks (if not already wearing them)
- Blanket potentially
- Cash and Card
- Disney Accessories
- Polaroid Camera
- Digital Camera
- Portable Phone Charger
- Car charger
- Hand sanitizer
- Lotion
- Lip balm, gloss, oil or your favorite holiday lippie
Easy Going but Fun Playlist
The playlist for your luxury road trip should be fun, lean toward your destination and a little bit nostalgic, old school. I think those are the best waves to ride when it comes to music for car rides of any length.
I already play Disney instrumentals for our son when I’m not playing classical and recently on Spotify I found a playlist of the audio of the rides at Disneyland which is actually so fun to listen to while in the car. Truly feels like an adventure.
Outfits for a Luxury Road Trip
Whether your luxury road trip involves a theme park or a completely different set of activities, comfort is most important, but I never sacrifice, style and aesthetic. I decided that we would use Disneyland as our way to get holiday pictures. I’m bringing my cameras, digital and polaroid, plus the phone and we’re going to make it a moment.
I wore an all black ribbed one piece that was a tank style because I’m still breastfeeding. I threw on socks and my ‘Prada’ Mickey Ears. Black is safe, spill proof and it looked good in the CT5-V too. My husband wore black pants and a white tee and we got his and hers cable knit sweaters in this wheat color with an M patch for our son. I was hoping to get embroidery but, that’s turned out to be a bigger project that could not be done in person.
Our son wore a Ralph Lauren t-shirt with a bear on it and a pair of Ralph Lauren fleece sweat pants. Easy, comfy, but still a luxury moment for him too. What 1 year old outfit isn’t complete with a pair of crocs, cream colored ones to be specific.
The Overall Experience
Overall, the Cadillac CT5-V was so much fun to drive. It really elevated our luxury road trip and the overall experience and it was such a delight to get into after a long day at Disneyland. Additionally, it’s fun to be in a car that turns heads, though our distance wasn’t super far, this is definitely a car I would take on a road trip again simply for the fun and zippiness of it.
Driving it around the city proved to be just as fun and again kept people’s head on swivel. Sometimes I feel like it’s because a woman is driving, other times I know people appreciate a nice car and the way it sounds when it starts up and while you’re driving. It’s hard not to love it.
There aren’t a lot of cars I would say I’m interested in owning, but after driving the CT5-V, that notion is definitely changing. I’m looking forward to the remaining days with the CT5-V.
Were some of your favorite features mentioned?
Are you planning a luxury road trip in 2024?
You might have missed the day to day fun but check out the Cadillac story highlight, reel and IG post for the recap.
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