Travel is supposed to be fun and relaxing, but sometimes it's just stressful. Airport security screeners snarl instead of smile. Bad weather disrupts outdoor sightseeing plans. Language barriers make simple tasks appear incredibly difficult. Travel stress can pop up at any time during a trip, it seems.
While it's practically impossible to plan a completely stress-free trip, you can take steps before and during your trip to minimize the impact of travel stress. It's amazing what a bit of planning and some useful knowledge can do.
Photo © Julia Freeman-Woolpert
As my husband and I get older, we find that we are more subject to travel stress, and that preventing it is key. Great tips!
Great tips. I usually wear slip on shoes (Crocks or sneakers) whenever I fly because it saves time going through security. I don’t do flip flops or sandals because I don’t want to risk getting my toes squashed by other travelers in the narrow aisle on the aircraft. But the last time I flew I did wear shoes with laces. Only because my husband always wears shoes with laces that are double knotted…. and since I have to stand around waiting for him to get his shoes on and off I might as well be doing the same. We just get to the airport early.
I’m in Rome. It’s raining. I’m so glad it’s raining. It means I don’t have to walk another 5 hours and can relax, a dirty word in many a traveler’s lexicon, but a good one in mine.
james
I can deal with the screeners, they are doing their job & have to put up with unpleasant passengers.
I can deal with the weather – nobody can control that.
Language barriers & strange local customs – well, that’s what I came to experience.
The items mentioned in your piece, I don’t get stressed about. What does stress me out is people who will not control their children! Travellers remember, not everyone loves your kids as you do, and not everyone wants to see the “cute” things they do!