We have seen that even though some of these travel fears may be justified, none of them is scary enough to let it come between you and your dreams.
Today we finish our series with the last five fears and in the end, there will be no more excuses!
Travel fear 13: Losing your luggage
Does this sound like you? “Airlines are always losing luggage… What if I get there and have nothing to wear?”
This one happens all the time. The simple antidote? Don’t carry that much luggage!
In my article Packing light – What to pack for vacation, I go over my recommendations for packing smartly.
Basically I advise you to only use two pieces of luggage: A carry-on bag and a backpack.
Both are allowed to go with you inside the cabin of the plane, so that you don’t have to check ANY luggage and you get to keep an eye on them all the time.
This is beneficial for several reasons:
- There’s no luggage to be lost.
- There are no extra fees for extra luggage.
- You go green while you travel. Less weight on the plane means less fuel consumption and less carbon footprint.
Travel fear 14: Having excess luggage
Does this sound like you? “Agh, now I have to check the bag and weigh it so that they don’t charge me. How am I supposed to carry everything I need?”
Why is this scary? Well, not only because of travel fear 13, but because of the extra fees involved, which can be unexpectedly steep.
There really is a way to pack for up to a month in just a carry-on bag and a small backpack, with room to spare and even if you’re a woman!
You can do with much less than you think.
If you’re like me and just have to bring some, a few (or many) souvenirs, there’s a way around that too.
Head over to my article my article Packing light – What to pack for vacation where you’ll find all the information and even a video!
Going over to my YouTube Channel will provide you with enough information as well!
Travel fear 15: Missing a train or a flight
Does this sound like you? “Bad things happen when you travel… What if I miss my flight? What am I supposed to do then? I’ll be stranded in some airport and will have to sleep on the floor!”
How annoying, isn’t it? Certainly not a travel fear that should be holding you back, but definitely something to consider.
The recommendation here is to plan ahead carefully so that you have enough time to arrive to airports or train stations on time.
It always pays to arrive early everywhere. If you’re flying on a cheap airline in Europe, seats are not numbered, so arriving early will guarantee a better sitting situation.
Consider also that security checks sometimes take longer than expected.
The best thing to do is to have your travel plans clear, be on your toes about your transportation schedule, and avoid those tempting beers the night before your flight.
Oh, and don’t forget to bring an alarm clock with you, be it your phone, your iPod, your watch or just a plain clock.
Alarm service at some hotel is unreliable, so be responsible for your own wake up time.
Travel fear 16: Fear of flying
Does this sound like you? “I’ll never get on a plane. It’ll crash and I’ll die.”
Surely, a serious fear. If it’s immobilizing and they have to pull a Baracus on you, you might want to consult with a specialist in this kind of phobia.
If it’s not that serious, perhaps you can tame your anxieties with some breathing exercises and meditation. If you do a search in Google or iTunes, you’ll find tons of sources.
Above all, remember that statistically flying is the safest form of transportation and it’s not enough to get in the way of your dreams to meet new cultures.
Travel fear 17: Having to go online to research for your trip
Does this sound like you? “Sure, learning about the places is important, but who has the time to do proper research online?”
Yes, everything is online, everything you need to know is there. But sometimes you have to jump through hoops to gather and consolidate all the information.
I’ve spoken before about the value of doing proper research about your destination.
If you don’t have enough information about the history and culture of the place, you risk missing out on its most essential flavor.
I’ve also spoken about your travel wish-list and how you need to start planning your cultural travel at least five years prior.
If you take all of these tips and put them into practice, you can start being very effective with your trip planning.
If you’re still overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, you can always hire a consultant to do the work for you!
I will be personally offering the consultancy service very soon, so you don’t have to do it all yourself!
What better way to travel than to knowing all the right information and having everything planned in advance with all the necessary detail?
It’s just peace of mind and being able to enjoy your trips fully, without having to worry about what to do next, because you already know.
So there you go, 17 travel fears debunked! Don’t let them get in your way! Start planning today!
Did you have any of these travel fears? Has it stopped you before?
Share your comments in the field below or join the conversation in Facebook!
I actually thought we would have been victim to lost luggage by now with all our flying. So far so good! But because I do worry about it, we pack all important things in our hand luggage plus a change of underwear – Just in case :)
Oh, underwear is key!
Best way not to lose your luggage? Pack light and don’t check it – then the airline can’t lose it! The other thing I do is never buy black suitcases – if they do have to be checked, it is far too easy for others to grab them by mistake. My last one was dark green and my new one is purple – my name tag is bright red. No one is ever going to confuse mine for theirs!
Great post with great ideas!
Excellent tips! Thanks so much!
I used to freak out when flying but the more I fly, the less stressed I am unlike my travel companion. I am also scared of losing my luggage at the airport but it never happened. Great post.
I’ve always enjoyed flying… Haha… I guess my biggest fear is getting lost… but sometimes that can also render some pretty amazing experiences! Thanks so much for commenting!