How to beat Travel Stress

Even Travel Agents Experience Travel Stress

There are loads of travel tips available on the internet – tried and tested methods on how to have a stress free journey. Recently I decided to try some tips on travelling with children that I found on Pinterest. Just to give you some background, I have a very strong willed 4 year old little girl and a busy 10 month old baby boy who had just learnt to crawl at the time.

I had packed various snacks, mainly healthy ones as too much sugar is not a good idea for a 4 year old in a confined space, but also a stash of sweets in case of emergencies (aka bribes).

I made an activity pack which included a new princess colouring-in book and crayons, stickers, a pack of Paw Patrol playing cards and a fully charged iPad with a surprise movie downloaded for Hannah.

I packed sufficient baby food, a change of clothes, nappies, bum cream, a blanket, a pillow, calpol, gripe water, spare dummies and a few squeaky baby toys for Jack.

Now, this was only for a two hour domestic flight.

I got to the airport on time. Not too early and not too late. Too early and the kids will get bored waiting, too late and we will have to rush.

I checked in online so that we could avoid waiting in a long queue, and also to ensure our seats were booking together – even though I had already pre purchased them. I was prepared. I had things totally under control. Way to go, me.

A Stress Trigger

When I got to the baggage drop desk, I carefully put all the hand luggage to one side (all within the allowance, obvs) and proceeded to put my checked luggage on the scale.

The airline staff member at the desk matter-of-factly informed me that one of my bags was 2 kilograms over the maximum single bag allowance and I had to move 2kgs from one bag to another bag. So one bag was 24kgs and the other was 15kgs. Technically I was allowed 70 kilograms pooled for the whole family, and was far below the allowance, but the clerk was unwavering and would not allow the extra weight in the one bag. She had no expression on her face, like her heart just wasn’t in this job anymore. Didn’t she realise what this mom had been through just to be standing there.

I know what you are thinking, as an experienced travel agent and traveller, I should know the rules. And I do. Obviously this was not part of my carefully laid out plan. I had to remember 1000 things but I totally forgot to weigh my bags, and I assumed they were well within the restriction. My trusty arm scale let me down.

According to this particular airline you cannot have more than 20kg in a bag – this is the rule. They would “allow” an extra 2 kgs but, that was absolutely it – no more.

Locating the keys to the luggage locks was the first challenge, as I was a bit thrown off guard and – after emptying all the contents of my handbag on the airport floor (mainly wet-wipes, old tissues and restaurant mints) – I managed to locate the keys in my jeans pocket. I then sat on my haunches, both luggage cases wide open for the world to see – I could feel all eyes on me, which was highly embarrassing. I may as well have been getting undressed in public! I then proceeded to spend several minutes trying to figure out what I could move across, because the smaller bag was already packed to capacity.

The queue behind us was starting to grow which was giving me an even bigger audience, adding to my embarrassment and annoyance. I managed to move a few toiletries across to even out the weight of the bags, but the whole experience was enough to derail my “stress-free” journey.  

I understand there need to be rules. The limit of 23 kg per bag is present because of limits in health and safety regulations for the people who have to load the bags on and off the plane. Fair enough. Also the plane actually needs to get into the air so it cannot be a free for all. But I have some experience from working at the airport and I know a thing or two about the “rules”. It all depends who is in charge and and if the clerk is willing to turn a sneaky blind eye for the small stuff.

Stress Can Be Caused By Small Things

This may seem to be a trivial issue for some but to me it was the pressure point that sent me into a panic. The delay meant we would miss the loo and nappy change time originally allocated – only those who have changed a nappy in an airplane toilet will understand the gravity of this situation. Jack was crying as he was now hungry and Hannah, who was now bored stiff, asked to watch kids YouTube on my phone for the 100th time.  To make matters worse I realised that my husband had reacted to some flu meds he had taken that morning and he had completed zoned out. He just stood there staring into the distance with Jack strapped to him in his Ergo baby carrier looking like Alan from the Hangover movie.

Later I found out that this particular airline, according to its website, has an option to pay for a heavy bag. If your bag weighs over 20kg but less than 32kg, a heavy-bag fee of R330 will apply at the airport. This means that not only does an airline allow it, but they gladly make money from it. An option I was never even offered.

Once our bags were checked in and I had managed to calm myself down and the rest of the journey was plain sailing thankfully. My husband slept for the entire flight. Hannah loved her surprise activity pack and little Jack was as good as gold. I even managed to have a sneaky nap when Jack napped. Result!

You cannot avoid stress completely when you travel. Flights are delayed, bags go missing, passports are stolen or lost and people can be inconsiderate anywhere you go. There are however ways to try prevent circumstances that may trigger travel stress. 

10 Steps to Avoid Travel Stress

1. Do not procrastinate your travel documents

Renew your passport, apply for visas, dust off the kids birth certificates and arrange your foreign exchange well in advance. Some people put their passports in a “safe” place but then can’t remember where that actually is so rather don’t leave taking out your passports to the last minute.  

2. Do not leave packing to the day before

Start collecting things in your suitcase or create a packing list at least a week before, so that you can ensure you have all the necessary items for the holiday. This will save you a last minute rush to the shops.

3. Take out travel insurance

Nothing alleviates the stress of a travel emergency quite like knowing you are covered by travel insurance.

4. Make sure you have had enough rest

Most people struggle to sleep the night before they depart for their holiday. Whether the insomnia is due to excitement, adrenaline, anxiety or your brain working overtime, rather ensure you go to bed early a few nights in a row before the holiday so that you can be well rested before you depart.

Stress is often worsened when you are tired.

5. Check in online

Most airlines allow you to check in online 24 hours before the flight, allowing you to secure your seats (if you haven’t been able to already) and reduce time waiting in queues at the airport.

6. Weigh your suitcases before you go to the airport

Avoid having any issues at the baggage drop or having to pay for excess baggage which you have not budgeted for. 

7. Prebook a shuttle transfer to your hotel on arrival

This is especially helpful if you are travelling to a destination you have never been before. It may be easier to navigate local transport once you have your bearings and have left your luggage in your hotel room.

8. Do not plan a jam-packed itinerary while on holiday

Allow breathing room for unexpected delays or changes in the plan. Stress often happens when you are rushing to be somewhere.

9. Go with the flow

You have worked hard for your holiday and you deserve to enjoy it. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Travel can be a beautiful mess sometimes, and it’s often the hiccups that make the best memories.

10. Give yourself a break

There is so much to remember when travelling and you may forget something and that’s OKAY. Except if it’s your passport or money – don’t forget that.

Comment on some stressful situations you may have been in recently while travelling and suggestion ways on how to avoid it happening to others.