Customize Your Travel Plans According to Your Needs

“Up in the Air” was by any measure a successful movie right out of the gate. It’s an intriguing story on many levels. The main character, Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, flies around the country on business. Although he is in a somewhat ugly business – Ryan fires people for a living – he is quite content with his life that keeps him permanently on the run. Because he is so busy jetting from one assignment to the next, he rakes up an astronomical amount of frequent flyer miles, which gives him access to a highly exclusive club of airline customers with perks and privileges unknown to most earthlings.

Travelers Search for Ways to Get Around
The Hassle of Today’s Air Travel

The airline industry has only been too happy about the free advertising it received as a by-product from the film’s popularity. It could surely use some accolades. Since September 11, 2001, air travel has become increasingly cumbersome and passengers are on the lookout for as many breaks as they can get. Long gone are the days when one could just show up at the airport a few minutes before departure, amble through the gate with no security checks whatsoever, get on the plane and relax. Remember any of that?

It is indeed remarkable how the public has adapted to the many added inconveniences of today’s travel. However, the high level of stress we are now exposed to inevitably takes its toll and should not be underestimated. The good news is that, although you may not qualify for the most prestigious VIP status yet, you can get some of your needs met and travel in relative comfort.

Avoid unnecessary stress, plan ahead and allow for extra time
Whether you travel for business or pleasure, short or long distance, by plane, train or car, you have to prepare yourself for any number of surprises, some of which may elevate your blood pressure. Experienced travelers know all too well that careful planning is half the trip. You don’t want to turn into a worrywart, but you should always look beyond the best case scenario before you head out the door. And while you can’t foresee all eventualities, it is a good idea to have several back-up plans in place, in case something goes terribly wrong. It doesn’t matter as much what is thrown at you, as long as you know how to handle it.

The best antidote to travel-related stress is to have plenty of time to deal with unforeseen problems. If at all possible, allow for more time than you think is needed, just as an abundance of precaution. It is much less aggravating to have to wait a little longer for your connecting flight than to risk missing it because you didn’t expect the lines at the security check points to be so long. The same goes for seat assignments, luggage, car rentals, hotel reservations, etc. All possible obstacles can be better dealt with when you’re not in a hurry.

Build up your strength before you travel
Even in this day and age, traveling can be physically demanding. I’m not just talking about running through airports and parking lots while hauling heavy luggage. The moment you leave home, most of your routines get interrupted. Your bathroom rituals, your eating habits, your sleep pattern – everything you do day in day out without thinking becomes an issue. Particularly your exercise regimen and diet restrictions are much harder to maintain when you’re outside your familiar surroundings.

So it makes sense to invest a little extra effort to get in shape in the days and weeks before your departure. Eat highly nutritious foods and work out longer and more often than usual – not only to build up your physical strength but also your immune system. Adding more fresh fruits, vegetables, fruit juices and vitamin supplements to your diet can also help. Fortifying your immune system is especially important when you travel long distance or to foreign countries where you may be exposed to potential health hazards your body is less equipped to handle.

Do not make the all too common mistake of exhausting yourself – physically and mentally – before embarking on your trip. Regrettably, most travelers continue to work or run errands right up to the last minute. It would be much better to have enough time to take (at least) one full day to rest before you go. You may also consider getting a little more sleep than usual to prevent or lessen the effects of sleep disruption when you cross several times zones and are likely to suffer from jet lag.