Five Easy Steps to Reduce Travel Stress
I travel a lot. I always have. So I completely understand the travel anxiety that naturally accompanies us whenever we venture outside of our comfort bubble.
Sometimes Life is all About Just Looking Out The Window
(Like This Recent View of Mt. Hood)
Nowadays when I travel my stress level is pretty low. I'm just responsible for me. However in years past, when I was responsible for organizing family travel to new and unknown / unfamiliar places, my stress level was consistently in the red zone.
And things can (and did) go wrong. There was a passport left in a taxi in Spain and running short of cash in Tokyo (accompanied by the sudden realization that the Japanese have lost faith in US banks rendering American ATM cards worthless in most Japanese ATM's).
All that travel has resulted in a planning routine to minimize travel anxiety.
Tip 1
I plan out the basics but leave room for spontaneity
There
are many types of travelers:
• The Overthinkers: They plan every second of their trips (I used to veer into this category).
• The Free Spirits: They can grab a backpack, passport and set off to explore without any flight plan.
• The Timid: They limit travel to pre-packaged tours and cruises.
As for me I travel with a framework that includes major accommodations and all major transportation legs. I concentrate time in desired locations and plan no more that about 50% of my sightseeing (i.e the "don't miss" sights) while allowing the remaining 50% of my time for unplanned /
spontaneous exploration.
I think of travel like tapas, I try to take little tastes here and
there, decide what I like and then go back for more of the things I liked.
Once I am settled in to a locale, I try to find a favorite little cafe or coffee shop where I can comfortably initiate chats with baristas, wait staff and locals. I'll begin conversations offering a genuine expression of fondness for the city I am visiting. I ask about local restaurants / cafes, getting around and sights they think a visitor should not miss. With very little encouragement residents love to share what is best about their home. Despite language barriers and pantomime, the experience can
be pretty wonderful.
Right now I'm planning two 2019 trips. In early summer I'll visit Scandinavia for a cycling vacation. Later in the fall I'll visit Prague for a week and then fly to Marseilles / Provence for week of autumn cycling.
In each case, my travel framework includes accommodation reservations (hotels and AirBNB's), a few activities and a lot of time for unplanned activities.
For
tourist-centric destinations (London, Paris, New York, Barcelona or Rome) I select the essential "must do" experiences and then see they offer
advance or "jump the line" tickets. Whether it is the Vatican Museums, the Segrada
Famillia or the Louvre, advance purchase tickets frequently spell the difference between enjoying a national treasure
or spending hours waiting in line in the sun.
To keep track of the planned parts I use the Tripit App. Tripit is easy to use and it comes in freakin handy.
Tip 2
I Pack Light
If I forget something it is usually ok. I just replace it at my destination (sometimes netting a souvenir in the process). I frequently stock up on some Nivea Men products that are not readily available in the US.
Need some help packing? Download the app PackPoint.
Remember: List all medical devices and prescriptions you need. Pack them well in advance. Also, remember "Medical Devices" are exempt from the one + one carry on rule. So when the gate agent points at your cpap machine and proclaims you have "too many items", just smile and say the magic words "thats a medical device".
Tip 3
I Travel Insured
For much of my life I traveled without any travel insurance. Then I fell in Dublin breaking my foot. After that I realized that good travel insurance is no longer a frill.
After a little homework I prucased a good annual policy. I focused on medivac, rental car and emergency medical benefits. I made sure it offered a 24-hour access line. My annual plan is from Allianz.
Tip 4
I Respect My Hosts
Relaxed people travel with less stress. When I encounter people who rant about bad travel experiences I find they are usually people that badmouth everything.
The standard will usually begin when they trot out that tired cliche about "rude" Parisians.
After 5 trips to Paris over the past forty years, I know that Parisians are some of the most accommodating and amazing people in the world. On a recent visit one of the individuals in our party walked with a cane. On every Metro train we boarded, no matter how crowded, Parisians quickly stood to offer him a seat.
I found out a long time ago that doing a little homework delivers huge payoffs. I know how to say "Hello", "Excuse Me" and "Thank You". I have a basic understanding of currency and local tipping customs. I see what plug adapter I'll need. I make sure my phone plan is sorted and enables me enough data to allow me to use maps. I make sure my credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees. I buy some local currency from my bank at home before I go (mine offers it without service charges).
When I arrive I eat local food and try to immerse in everyday life. I buy local (I love exploring foreign supermarkets).
In Spain I buy Marcona almonds. In Singapore I seek out Hainanese Chicken. In Paris I search for the perfect baguette. And, in Italy, I love the morning ritual of standing at a counter for a steaming cappuccino.
And finally....
Tip 5
I Try Not To Be a Dork!
I stay the heck away from countries led by certifiably batshit crazy people.
Now may not be a good
time to visit places like Turkey, Cambodia, Venezuela, Brazil, Hungary, the Philippines and Russia.
Wherever I go I try to fit in. I leave flag draped t-shirts at home. I go for easy care, practical and comfortable clothes.
I don't leave valuables (camera, phone, wallet) on a table while I eat in a cafe. I put my wallet somewhere other than my back pocket. I don't wear backpacks with zippers in the back. I use the safe in my hotel room.
If I'm approached by a swarm of kids in Barcelona I know they are setting me up to pickpocket me. If teenagers with clipboards approach me to ask me (in English) to sign something, I know it is a scam and I keep moving.
I always leave a copy of my passport with friends at home and I strongly recommend anyone that will be making periodic trips outside the US to apply for Global Access. If you are planning just a few trips download and use the free Mobile Passport app.
Remember, it is
far better to be "of" the world, than to merely be an observer of it.
Roadboy's Travels © 2019
