Make holiday travel less stressful

While travelling any time can be a major source of stress. Holiday travel - with baggage and children in tow, flight delays and congested roads - is especially anxiety-provoking. Although you can't eliminate the stress associated with holiday travel, these tips can help lessen its impact.

Accept the situation and plan ahead

Crowded aeroplanes, bad weather, harassed staff and unexpected delays are all beyond your control. Assume you're likely to encounter them, and recognise you can’t change them. Instead, focus on your reactions to these stressors. Form a mental plan for remaining calm and dealing with these stressful events. It will greatly reduce your experience of stress.

Give yourself enough time

Whatever your mode of travel, allow yourself more time than you can possibly imagine you will need. On the heaviest travel days, just about everything - from airport parking, security queues, and finding a taxi - can take longer than usual. Business travellers used to a travel routine may also find that travelling with the family doesn't run quite as smoothly. Allow adequate time for unexpected delays to help prevent anxiety and stress.

Make a few contingency plans

Prepare for the unexpected, like an accident blocking the road or lines of cones around roadworks. Always check airline departure times, along with weather and traffic reports before leaving home. Prevent panic by having backup ideas ready: alternative routes mapped out, bus or train timetables printed, and extra time allotted to leave early or arrive at your destination late, which may have a domino effect on connecting flights or other travel or check-in plans.

Check-in your bags

If you're travelling by air, check your luggage in rather than trying to get too much into overhead lockers. The risk of delayed or lost baggage is actually very small, and the freedom of movement gained is often worth the risk, particularly if you'll have connecting flights or stopovers in crowded airports. Security measures have also restricted how much you can take on board in many cases.

Keep children happy and well fed

Travellers with young children should plan for fun things to do during long delays, drives or flights. Have a few "surprise" novelty items to hand out at intervals. Since children (and adults!) tend to be more anxious when hungry, bring along some (non-sticky) snacks. If you’re stuck on the tarmac, in traffic or a long stretch of motorway, you won't have instant access to food shops. 

Think about changes of clothing

If your children are babies or toddlers, have an accessible change of clothing for you as well as for them. Your little frequent flyer may decide to spill his food on you rather than on himself! Or dress in layers, which can be removed if necessary. If you must arrive looking your best, think about travelling in comfortable clothes and changing on the plane or at the airport before you reach your destination.

Plan ahead for next year's holidays

If you find holiday travel unbearable, use this year's experience to discuss alternative plans for next year. If flying, motorways or ferries have been difficult, think about holidays nearer to home - or even “staycations” - staying at home but with daytrips to local attractions. 

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