BANGKOK, Thailand – With the pandemic changing the way we travel, it helps to be creative with safe family road trip ideas, including for your pets! And nothing can recharge and re-energize like a visit to the sea, confirmed by science. American neuroscientist, Dr. Heidi Hanna says the health benefits of sea travel are plentiful, adding more reason to take coastal getaways.
The sound of waves decreases blood pressure and improves heart rate variability, salty ocean air reduces inflammation and improve immune function, and the vitamin D from the sea sun is necessary for metabolism, bone health, and immune function1.
So, to share a perfect sea-getaway, Nissan Thailand created a Prachuap Khiri Khan road trip in New Nissan Terra SUV, that covered a total of 500 kilometers on the two-day, one-night trip. To get maximum enjoyment and relaxation, the route included stunning beaches tucked into curving bays, steep mountain outcrops, and various lifestyle activities perfect for families with furry friends as all destinations were pet friendly.
Starting out in Bangkok at Mellow Garden Restaurant & Bakery, the group got a taste of what was in store for them when they saw the versatile Terra equipped with bike racks and an electrical bike for the trip. After a Rapid Antigen Test, everyone received a driving program briefing before departing on the first part of the journey to have lunch at Baan Issara, a popular seaside restaurant located right on the beach and famous for its fresh seafoods and authentic Thai cuisine.
The group followed routes preloaded into the navigation system, as each Terra came with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity that allowed everyone to update their friends and family with the latest social media posts while enjoying the best in digital entertainment via Smart TV Stick at the same time. This means they were able to watch Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ at the same time or enjoy playing video games on the 11-inch monitor supported by a best-in-class surround sound system from Bose Premium Audio.
In the afternoon, the group travelled to the Khao Kaloke viewpoint where the side of Khao Kaloke mountain casts a shadow covered a large area of the beach, with the shade offering a welcome respite from the mid-day sun. The group found it a wonderful place to relax with friends and family, and let their pets enjoy a free run along the beach.
After a quick stop for refreshments at Eureka Beach Cafe Hua-Hin, they headed to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park for the trip up to Khao Daeng viewpoint. The steep, rocky climb up to the peak put the Terra's 2.3-liter twin-turbo YS23DDTT diesel engine to the test. Even when fully loaded with passengers, pets, and camping gear the engine delivers 190 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, providing the best acceleration performance in its class.
Once they reached the viewpoint, the group was rewarded with sweeping views over mountains, coastal farmland, and the ocean. There was also a scenic seasonal lotus pond, which is visited by migratory water birds, all safely viewable from a wooden boardwalk.
Important for any road trip, the Nissan 360° Safety Shield intelligent safety features surround the car and includes pre-incident prevention to reduce the severity of unexpected events. These helped protect everyone on board for the trip whether driving out of Bangkok or along rural roads as the Intelligent Around View Monitor (IAVM) makes parking a large vehicle easy. The Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW), technology that can detect the movement of up to two vehicles ahead. It sounds an alarm when the car in front suddenly brakes to reduce frontal collisions and it works with the Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB), a technology that automatically brakes before a collision. While the Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) technology laser sensors helped detect any approaching vehicle when the Terra was in reverse like when it started the decent from the viewpoint.
In the evening, they set up a beach camp at Away by a Day. After the long drive, everyone was grateful for the comfort the Terra's spacious new interior cabin provided, including new seat cushions and back shapes. Auto Tumble Seats that automatically fold the second row by pressing a one-touch 'Fold and Tumble' remote switch on the center console, easy for third row passenger or your pet to enter and leave. Space between the passenger compartment and rear luggage allows the second and third rows to be reconfigured into a variety of styles, including a warm fold out flat bed that provided an extra touch of luxury and comfort.
After enjoying dinner at the campsite, the group relax with the cozy seaside atmosphere. In the morning of day two, the group and their pets headed out for a half-day program of lifestyle activities. There were three ocean-inspired activities, as well as others available for ocean sport lovers, with all services that can be provided by local businesses. These included banana boat ride, stand up paddle boarding, and jet ski that left the group refreshed and relaxed before travelling back to Bangkok.
Isao Sekiguchi, President of Nissan Thailand, said, "Nissan is proud to offer the new Nissan Terra, a multipurpose SUV that suite the needs of all Thai families. Nissan's goal is to provide the best level of safety, comfort and great entertainment to make trips with friends and their pets fun and stress-free, and the new Terra can be easily customized for any lifestyle activity whether it's biking or sea road trip. The new design creates a premium look that is completely functional for use in the city, or on lifestyle excursions."
Nissan Terra makes all activities on long road trips even more enjoyable. Whether is an off-road experience, sight-seeing around town or a restful evening with family, friends, and pets the Nissan Terra can be modified to suit the needs of all who want the very best in luxury comfort, safety, and entertainment.
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For more information, please contact:
Kamolchanok Charoenjindarat
Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Communications Department
Tel +66 (0) 2339 3400 Ext. 4113-4114 / www.nissan.co.th
1. https://www.byrdie.com/health-benefits-of-the-beach-4768898
