For as long as I can remember, travel has made me nervous and excited in equal amounts. There is something to be said about the comfort of familiarity, knowing your surroundings, and knowing what to expect from your day.
Travel makes you step out of your comfort zone and into the unknown, which can cause travel anxiety for many, including myself. I’m sure this is why many people don’t travel and have no desire to travel. Wanderlust anxiety is characterised by apprehension, fear, and unease about the upcoming trip.
Some people are scared of going somewhere where they can’t speak the language, don’t know what their hotel is like, etc. It’s easier to stay home and do what you do every day because that’s comfortable for many people.
How the anxiety of travel affects me!
Over the years, I’ve slowly gotten better at dealing with my travel anxiety. Travel anxiety manifests itself in many different ways for different people. As we know, no two people are the same. Some of my traits of travel anxiety over the years have been:
- I pull the car over on the way to the airport to check if we’ve got the passports, knowing very well that the last thing I did before closing the door at home was check that they were in my bag.
- Being at the airport a minimum of three hours before our departure because, as you know, there could be a cyclone or a massive sinkhole on the way that could cause us to miss our flights!
- I weigh my luggage every day for a week before departure to ensure an extra two kilos haven’t stowed away in my bag, thus putting me over the weight limit!
These are just some of the things I do not too feel so anxious about travel. Technology has advanced in the last few decades, making it more comfortable to travel. Some of the things you can do include:
- Before you book your hotel, put its address on Google Street View and look at the area. You can see what restaurants and shops are nearby. Most importantly, it gives a real-life picture of the place you’re staying.
- YouTube is an excellent resource for finding out what to expect for flights, hotels, attractions, and more. In reality, someone will have flown this airline, stayed in this hotel, or gone to this attraction and made a video about it that you can watch
- Book your travel using reputable sites like Booking.com for accommodation or Viator for guided tours. When booking flights, you should go through the airline’s direct site rather than a third-party site.
Even after having visited over 45 different countries, the anxiety of travel still creeps up on me like a stranger at night. The most important thing is not to let it get the better of you. There’s a big world out there, and you should experience it.
Don’t be put off by people saying things like “Why would you want to go there?” and “It’s not safe there”. There’s a fair chance these people have never been there and have had their views formed by what someone else has said.
Read More from We Travel Alone
If it makes it less stressful and less likely to trigger anxiety, get someone else to plan your trip. For many, a travel agent gives them extra comfort and safety when booking travel. My wife has me book all our trips because she doesn’t want the stress and anxiety associated with it.
I like booking travel. I include Bec in the process and value her opinion and support in making decisions on accommodation and flight times when I’m unsure. It can help to talk about travel with people as well. Either way, don’t let your fears hold you hostage. You can manage your anxiety and enjoy your trip by preparing for travel. I know we do, and so can you!
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