4 Tips For Stress-Free Travel
How to make the most of getting back out there!
It’s 2022. The borders are opening up again. We’re finally able to travel again! Whatever kind of trip you’re planning, make it a stress-free one with my top tips for stress-free travel.
Get to the airport early — and get lounge access
I hate to be late.
I have nightmares about missing planes, unpacked bags, and long queues. I will be at the airport two hours before departure for a European flight. Four hours before for an international flight. I will also build in around half an hour’s wiggle time for every step of the journey.
My traveling companions used to find hanging out in the airport so early frustrating. Then I discovered lounge access.
I had assumed airport lounges were only accessible to the well-to-do and well-heeled. The airport lounge at my local airport in Manchester costs around £25 per person. The prices are variable based on demand. For that, you get a buffet of hot and cold food, an open bar, a comfy chair, and a good view of the runway. You’re going on holiday, why not start your trip off with a little bit of luxury? Let’s face it if you buy food and a couple of drinks at the airport it’ll cost you £25 anyway.
Plan to be flexible
I’m a big fan of planning what I want to do when traveling. Months before my departure you’ll find me browsing Trip Advisor and scouring blogs for the best things to do in my destination. It’s great to have the stuff to look forward to. You’ll also make sure you don’t miss anything, but make sure you allow for some flexibility in your plans!
It’s your precious time off, and you are meant to be relaxing after all! Planning for every moment can often leave us feeling rushed. We fail to enjoy the moment as we’re already thinking of how we’re going to get to our next destination.
Over planning can also mean you don’t get to enjoy the unplanned, serendipitous moments. Things like running into a street festival or being invited to dinner. We also don’t take into account how we might feel on any given day. After a busy day exploring the city, we might not fancy a dancing class.
I like to plan for a few variations of activity for each day and leave a few days without any itinerary. Then I can choose what I feel like doing on any given day. Unplanned days can be filled up with things I discover during the trip, things I missed on another day if my plans went awry, or just used for some good old-fashioned R&R!
Take advantage of a local connection
One of the best ways to see a new place is to try and find someone who can show you around. One of my favourite travel experiences was visiting California. My husband went to University there. Not only was he able to show me all his favourite places, but we also were able to meet up with some of his friends. They took us to some great restaurants, gave us tips on where to go, and got us off the tourist track!
Before your trip hit up Facebook to see if anyone you know lives in the area. If not, see if you have friends of friends who might be able to help you out. When we lived in Dublin, we hosted the friend of a girl we’d stayed with in California. We were able to show her around the city as her friend had done for us. As a bonus, we enjoyed some of the more touristy activities we wouldn’t have done on our own.
Prepare for a delay
Delays are an inevitable part of travel.
Accept this.
Assume you’re going to face delay at some point in your travel. You’ll make the whole situation a lot easier on yourself.
Make sure you pack yourself a good book and download a few movies and TV shows to your phone, iPad, or laptop. If you’re halfway into a good book, a delayed flight means you get more time to read. Back this up with a fully juiced portable charger, to make sure your devices stay charged the whole way.
You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got a good variety of snacks with you. I like to take some practical snacks, like granola bars, alongside some treats like sweets and chocolate. Water is also a necessity. If you’re planning on meeting someone at your destination, share your live location through your phone. This way they can see how you’re getting on without you having to worry about keeping them updated.
Those are my top tips! Do you have any trips planned for this year? Let me know in the comments and follow for more travel, health, and wellbeing!
