Vacation is stressful! The old
adage “I need a vacation from my vacation” was created for a reason. “Who has
the boarding passes? Why did Tanisha kick her shoes off? Who has the handi
wipes? …and more!”
We understand that going away
can be quite a test on your patience and nerves. Whether you’re with your
family, as a couple, a group of friends, or even alone – stressors loom around
every corner. So we wanted to share a few tactics that can help you relax
through the myriad of stressful events that may happen on your trip:
Packing
Lesson 1: Pack lightly. Lesson
2: No, lighter than that. The more luggage you have, the heavier you stuff it,
the most stressed out you’ll be when any other of the following situations
occur. On your trip, you’ll want to dress
comfortably, but practically. When do you do pack, aim to bring your most
versatile clothes, things that can be worn both actively, but also work as a
piece for dressing up? Things you can
sit, stand, and walk in for hours on end while still looking fashionable (if
you so desire). Rolling your clothes instead of folding will accomplish two
things: there will be more space in the suitcase and they won’t wrinkle.
Stuff every nook and cranny of
the luggage, you’ll be surprised how many cubic inches you leave unused.
Packing a small rolling suitcase will also make your life easier, rather than
lugging a duffle bag. Plan ahead by going to a drug store and buying the tiny
toiletries you may need on your trip, or the accessories that make travel
easier like ear plugs and a sleep mask. And please, go light on the shoes, one
or two pairs are sufficient. Spray the luggage with some freshener to keep the odour
fresh and weigh your luggage beforehand to avoid extra baggage fees. Don’t
forget a distinct tag for everyone’s suitcase so it is easily recognizable at
baggage claim!
Flight Delay or Cancellation
This is definitely a “make the
best of a bad situation” situation. You can never really be sure when a delay
will hit you – yes it might be obvious because of snow or rain or fog, but
sometimes there’s a mechanical fix or the wing’s need to be iced down or
something happened halfway across the world that just somehow affected your
trip. If you’re in an airport – head to the nearest restaurant, airline lounge,
or bar and enjoy a bit of relaxation time. Did you bring some work with you or
a book to read on the plane? Well, start digging in. Make sure you’re seated
next to a recharging station, this delay might be awhile.
If you’re really afraid of
delays or cancellations, buy flight insurance so you can head home without
worry of losing your money. Know your rights when it comes to flights though,
and feel free to tweet or Facebook the airline to get status updates and
politely game the system. You could also go up to the customer service counter
and ask what flights may get you to your destination faster, and they’ll
probably rebook you. This may also be a good time to get some sleep to prevent
jet lag (see below). You could also make some new friends at the gate, bond
over the nuisance.
Jet lag
A disruption of your normal
sleep schedule and a trip across multiple time zones can often lead to what is
known as “jet lag”. There are many tips and tricks to combat this issue so your
vacation isn’t ruined by lack of sleep. Taking care of your body is the first
step, make sure you’re hydrated and eating healthy before your flight. If
you’re on a red-eye, keep going the next day, don’t fall asleep at 9 am and sleep through the day, you’ll really
mess up your rhythm. Before you leave, start shifting your sleep schedule
towards the time zone of where you’re headed – for instance, go to sleep an
hour earlier two nights before, and two hours early the night before your trip
– that can help you adjust. Avoid alcohol on the plane, your sleeping will
be fragmented and you’ll wake groggy instead of refreshed (same with sleeping
pills). Try taking melatonin (the hormone that helps you feel tired at night)
to adjust your cycle.
Getting lost
There are two options to
consider when you realize you’re lost in a place you’re not familiar with –
enjoy the mystery, or solve the problem. If you don’t mind getting lost, just
relax and throw yourself into the adventure of finding your way back. See the
nooks and crannies of the city you may have missed by staying in the main
tourist areas.
If you want to get back on the
beaten path, the easiest step is to ASK someone! If you speak the language,
asking how to get back to your vacation rental or restaurant or wherever should
be a synch. Another option is to use your smart phone to pull up Google Maps or
Apple Maps or whatever app you prefer for directions. Plot a course back to
where you need to be. If you’re abroad and do not have an international data
plan (though you should highly consider this add-on to your plan if going
abroad for a week or more) you should download a map of the city or area when
offline before you go. Search for a place in Google Maps and zoom in such
that all the area that you wish to save is visible on the screen. Tap the
Search button on the keyboard and all the visible area will download to your
phone almost instantly.
Waiting in line
The tips for keeping a cool
head while waiting in line are endless. The best way to stay calm is to wait with a friend! When you’re inside your own
head, things can get messy – but if you’re chatting alongside your travel
buddy, the time passes faster. The more comfortable your clothes and shoes on,
the easier it will be to “do the time” on the line. Make sure your phone is
100% charged before you leave the vacation rental so you can browse for hours
if need be, and grab a snack or two to keep yourself fed. If you do have the
kids around, try some distracting games like “I spy with my little eye…” etc.
As always, the best tip is to get “there” early so waiting in line becomes less
of a necessity. If you’re at a theme park – prioritize which rides you want to
go on and try to get those done ASAP, so if there are lines, you know you’ll
get on without issues at some point. If allowed, always use the Fast Pass
option to cut the long lines. Lastly, bring your favorite book and always know
where the closest bathroom is, just in case.
Losing items
Lost items often stay lost,
but if you act quickly, you can increase your chances of recovering your item.
Don’t panic! Contact the location where you assume you left the item – be it a
restaurant, vacation rental, sports stadium – wherever. It may be that a
good Samaritan turned it in and it is in the “lost and found” of the
establishment. If no luck and you’re
able, retrace your steps and see if you dropped it along the route you came
either walking or biking etc. Call the cab company and see if you left it
there. If you believe you were robbed, call the police and report the
incident immediately. Back up your important documents (like passports) on your
mobile device so you can pull them up on your phone in a pinch.
The best strategy though is
awareness and prevention. Check for your valuable items always before leaving
an area. If possible, don’t even bring valuables with you, so if you lose
something, it wasn’t that important anyway.
Unruly children
Traveling with children of all
ages is difficult, but young ones especially as they are thrown out of their
normal routine into situations that challenge, excite, and confuse them. So the
first tip is to try to keep as much
normal structure and as many rules as possible. If you can keep bedtimes,
favorite snacks, toys, and electronics relatively the same, you’re off to a
good start. Give the kids plenty of warning that the vacation is upcoming so
they aren’t taken unawares and begin
teaching lessons about new situations that might arise, like an ethnic meal
that they don’t like. Arrive at all of
your events early as kids slow down the boarding/checking in process. Try to keep
things simple and streamlined, not much bouncing from activity to activity each
day. Schedule time to wind down before bed so kids can fall asleep easier.
Watch the food intake on vacation because kids can whine for junk food and
candy when on the go! The best way to keep children calm is to keep calm
yourself, so keep your cool, if you can.
Taking a taxi in a foreign country
You’re always on high alert
when traveling in a taxi or haggling with locals while on vacation. You don’t
want to get taken or made to look like a fool. As we mentioned above, it is
important to have offline Google maps saved to at least have a chance to direct
the driver where to go. You could also take a physical map with you and try
that way – if there’s a language barrier this is especially helpful since you
can trace with your finger. In many countries,
it is still common to charge tourist different prices from locals, and
it’s even more common to drive the taxi the long way in order to charge
more, so be courteous but be alert!
