Going on holiday is widely considered as one of the most exciting things you can do in life. It’s a chance to visit somewhere completely different (and often superior) to where you live and experience more of the world and what it has to offer.
However, while most people would probably agree that heading off on a getaway is fun, few would claim that it’s an entirely smooth-sailing experience – the reality is that travel can be stressful.
Yet people continue to do it. Which brings to light the question, how do people avoid stress when travelling?
Everyone’s coping strategies are different, but here are some of the most savvy solutions to common travel problems.
The airport
For many people, time at the airport which is the most stressful part of their trip. With queues, crowds and complicated security checks, you can end up feel overwhelmed before you’ve even boarded the plane.
But if you’re travelling overseas or long distance, there’s no choice but to brave the airport. However, some passengers are able to escape the manic airport by booking an airport lounge where they can kick back, relax and enjoy first-class snacks, drinks and facilities.
The delays
Flight delays are a major inconvenience for travellers and can completely derail holiday plans.
Unfortunately there’s no sure fire way to avoid disastrous delays, but research has found that flights which take off before 8am are less likely to be delayed because the airspace is less crowded during the mornings.
Another common coping method is connecting with your airline on social media, where you can keep on an eye on or sign up for real-time flight updates. This doesn’t prevent delays, but it does ensure that you’re kept in the loop and can make the necessary arrangements, such as leaving home later, browsing the airport shops for longer or booking overnight accommodation.
The language barrier
It can come as big shock when you land in a country with a native language that you’re unable to speak, especially if you run into trouble and require assistance. Therefore, some people invest in a language phrasebook or set aside some time to learn some basic lingo using interactive language apps like Duolingo and Babbel.
On the other hand, for those who don’t have the time to fit in learning sessions, translation apps such as Google Translate are a godsend – it’s able to translate foreign words through typing, photo and video recording, so it’s useful for a variety of situations.
The unknown
Another common source of travel anxiety is fear of the unknown. To combat this, some people take to pre-booking travel related items, so they can create a coherent itinerary and have a clearer picture of how things will pan out.
For example, they might pre-book their Gothic Quarter tour on TripAdvisor or Mackay airport parking on Looking4.com. In doing so, you can save time, money, and most importantly have less things to worry about when your travels begin.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to avoid stress while travelling, so be sure to give our recommendations a whirl.