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Remember how much you wished for the pandemic to end in 2020 so that all of us can travel freely again? Well, thanks to the vaccines being administered, we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Pandemic-era restrictions are easing up. The mood in the travel industry is optimistic, with hotels, airlines, and tour companies reopening their doors to travellers. People can finally visit their loved ones or fulfill their long-overdue vacation plans, with caution of course.
However, not everyone is eager to take a trip.
What is Travel Anxiety?
If you have travel anxiety, you might still be hesitant to book your first vacation after a year or two of being stuck at home. Leela Magavi, MD, psychiatrist and regional medical director at Community Psychiatry in Newport Beach, California, explains that travel anxiety refers to the fear of visiting new places, losing a sense of control, and getting stressed over travel planning. Travel anxiety can cause people to avoid travel altogether. Due to the ongoing pandemic, therapists have seen a spike in people experiencing such apprehension.
Are you one of these people who experience travel anxiety? Let us be the first one to tell you that you’re not alone in feeling hesitant about taking a trip right now… and that’s fine. The best time to travel is when you’re ready. But just in case you’re thinking about stepping out of your comfort zone and booking your first trip, we have a few tips to accept and overcome these feelings.
1. Identify your triggers
What are the things you’re worried about? Do you fear crowded places? Or contract the virus in your hotel or mode of transportation? Do you worry about getting stranded in an unfamiliar place should the government impose another lockdown? List them down.
Figuring out the exact reasons behind your anxiety is the first step. By doing so, you can take specific actions on how to solve them and learn coping skills. For example, if you’re worried about meeting a flock of tourists, you can manage your anxiety by finding destinations that are lesser-known and scheduling your trip during off-peak seasons.
2. Book hotels with strict health protocols
After being told that “home is the safest place to be” for almost two years, a lot of us are worried about sleeping in other places, like hotels. To alleviate the fear of contracting COVID-19, we’d recommend finding a reputable accommodation property with solid health protocols and disinfection measures.
Don’t settle for the cheapest. Instead, go for the safest and most comfortable out there. Check the hotel website to see the actions they’re taking in terms of disinfection, hygiene, social distancing, and contactless transactions. You can sleep with some peace of mind, knowing your room has undergone major cleaning before your arrival.
You may also opt for serviced apartments, which are more spacious and fully equipped with everything you need to feel a little closer to home. They offer more privacy than hotels too. This serviced apartment in Dublin Leeson, for example, is complete with a living room, dining area, and kitchen, offering self-contained lodging.
3. Start small
Forget about backpacking trips for now or traveling to multiple places with different travel requirements over a short period of time. Instead, take small steps. Select the least anxiety-provoking ways to travel.
Choose a local destination — somewhere close to home yet allows you to see the beauty of the world from a different perspective. You can revisit places you’re familiar with. Plan short trips too, like day tours or overnight trips instead of staying for a week. Keep your list of must-see places to a minimum and embrace slow travel. Don’t rush!
4. Don’t go alone
Bring your family, spouse, or trust group of friends along. Not only bringing companions can help you ease travel anxiety but it can also make your vacation more memorable.
5. Bring things that help you relax
Do you read books or watch movies from your phone to help you relax? How about music to distract you? Or journal, with a list of supportive people you can contact? Perhaps a stuffed toy?
Next to bringing your medications (if you have them), think about stashing a few anxiety-reducing tools in your suitcase. You’ll be surprised how these simple things can make a difference in your vacation.
6. Give yourself enough time to plan
From the travel restrictions in your target destination to the restaurant you intend to visit for dinner, planning ahead is the best way to cope with travel anxiety. Give yourself enough time to hammer out as many details as you can to avoid feeling anxious and stressed.
Do the following:
- Arrange for being away from home (like collecting parcels or caring for a pet or plant)
- Research the best time for travelling to avoid crowd
- Research your destination well (transportation, nearby attractions, getting around, COVID-19 situation, crowd situation, business hours, etc)
- Read reviews before choosing a hotel or visiting an attraction or restaurant
- If possible, have a plan B, C, or D in case your initial plan fails.
- Have a list of emergency contacts
- Spend extra time for meditation before embarking on a journey
- List what’s within your control to avoid feelings of helplessness
7. Try exposure therapy to ease into it
Exposure therapy is another coping mechanism. When people are afraid of something, they tend to avoid the feared objects, situations, or activities. Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment developed to help people confront their fears and break the cycle of avoidance.
People are exposed to stimuli that cause distress in a safe environment. In the case of travel anxiety, you may start getting yourself exposed to travel in a setting you feel is safe. If you’re anxious about crowded places, for example, it may be helpful to start visiting a mall with a friend, and then try visiting these places independently.
To “be comfortable with being uncomfortable” is the goal of the therapy.
8. Always remind yourself to enjoy the ride
The goal is to have fun and enjoy the rest of your vacation. It’s not only about planning strategies to alleviate fears — but it’s also about looking forward to amazing discoveries and fun experiences.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a free-spirited writer who loves exploring the great outdoors. She loves traveling, eating, taking food and streetscape photographs, and simply enjoying new experiences and writing about them. To know more about hotels and travel blogs, you may visit PREMIER SUITES Dublin Leeson.
