There is a pre-travel disease called panic. It might be worse for women travelers. Here is how to travel panic free from The Women’s Travel Group, an award winning tour company.
Step 1 is plenty of extra time for every stage. Have with too much time at the airport. Airports can be crowded, stand on line and ignore the line crashers. Airports have amenities: restaurants, bathrooms, ample seating, electrical outlets, USB ports. Most have free public wifi. Airports have work stations in public areas. There is decent shopping even if pricey.
For those of you who have a layover of many hours, check out new mini pods in airports. Minipods are “pay by the hour” cubicles under new brands: Yotel, Napcabs, Minute Suites, SnoozeCube. Most offer a bed, wifi, some have TV, desk, phone, office chair. They are usually sound proof. There are shared bath rooms and showers for a fee.
Boarding the plane feels chaotic and frenzied. Airlines seem to always be experimenting in better boarding. Relax, everyone is leaving at the same time. Your neighbor jumps the queue? Forget it and breathe. There will always be hogs; it is not worth an intervention that can get ugly or even just upset you.
You are now on the plane. Your overhead area is full? Look around, see if items can be moved to accommodate your bag. 99% of passengers cooperate. In case your bag is stored some distance away from you, have it securely locked. Magazines and plane props can be in the outside unlocked pockets.
Hopefully you downloaded a binge worthy television series. On Emirates’ 13 hours to Dubai, entertainment offered a section called Binge Programs. Now watch 8 years of a television program you missed. A friend from Malaysia Airlines used to describe long flights as three meals and three movies.
Bring your pillow, or scrunch up your puffer or coat to create one. Close you eyes and keep them closed even if you do not sleep. Doctors call this quiet wakefulness; it helps. You valuables should be tucked somewhere safe while you nap.
Hotel arrival is less stressful but still not your home. Begin with a smile at check in. Don’t lean over Front Desk counter; this move that alerts the Front Desk to difficult guests. No messing around with cash. Have a porter tip handy.
Check your hotel room before the porter leaves: bathroom, safe, a/c. Many hotel rooms have televisions turned on when you enter. Ask how to turn it off. My rule: if anything mechanical is not working, change rooms now. Lock up valuables: passport, cash, credit cards, jewelry, even medicine if essential or opiates. Lie down. Stretch. Turn on music; many hotel TV’s have music sections. If not a music downloader, find concerts on Youtube in your devices. Now drink a full bottle of water and catch some sleep. .
This is Part 1 of Travel Without a Nervous Breakdown. Travel tips from The Women’s Travel Group with upcoming tours to Scotland and Ireland, Sicily, Malta, Mexico, Peru and many more. Call us to discuss any trip or any fear, 646 309 5607. We’ll hold your hand virtually. Our mailing list is here.
