With the UK set to lift all travel restrictions, it seems the skies are well and truly open for business again. However, with 2021 seeing 76% less of us Brits travelling abroad, how eager are we – restrictions or not – to travel to pastures new? When it comes down to it, will we feel confident about travelling again?
I hope so. I love visiting different countries. And as popular as I know staycations are, I don’t feel like I’ve really been on holiday unless I’ve been abroad; which is why, last year, as soon as we felt confident, we booked a foreign holiday. We knew it was a gamble, what with things being so changeable (and with far more red tape than usual), but we also knew we’d regret it if we didn’t at least try.
Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and we had a wonderful family holiday in Croatia. Therefore, it’s no surprise my travel confidence is pretty high. However, I know so many people who find it difficult to shake their apprehension about travelling. Whilst completely understandable, it is also a massive shame, especially if a foreign holiday is something you long for.
Look, all is not lost. There are practical and straightforward things you can do to help yourself feel more confident about travelling again now restrictions are lifting…
6 Ways to feel more confident about travelling again
#01 Address your concerns
Travel anxiety builds if you allow it to fester unchecked. It’s time to face your concerns head-on in a compassionate but questioning way. What is causing you concern? Is it cancellations, testing requirements, or simply the unknown? Are you holding on to travel horror stories you’ve heard? Whatever concerns you, look into it.
I was predominantly concerned about two things as we approached our holiday: cancellations and testing requirements. Taking a moment to contemplate and research helped. We accepted that yes, our holiday might get cancelled, and that would be disappointing, but we’d be more disappointed if we chose not to go and then found out we could have actually gone. And with testing, it took me just under one hour to learn what was needed, both in the UK and the country we were visiting, and not much longer to sort it all out.
My point is we can make mountains out of molehills (I know I do), but by taking a small amount of time to question the stories we’re telling ourselves, we’ll more likely realise the facts are far more appealing.
#02 Prepare
Nothing builds confidence – and reduces anxiety – quite like being prepared. Spend some time researching your travel destination, get your insurances in order, read the government travel guidance.
Make sure to double-check everything. Your documents are more important than ever; get them all in order. And don’t forget to check the expiry date on your passport too.
Good to know: We made sure to book with travel providers who offered good cancellation protection – nobody wants to be out of pocket.
Contact your accommodation directly with a list of questions. What measures do they currently have in place to keep you as covid-secure as possible? We found our resort exceptionally helpful in informing us of the local situation, mask-wearing requirements; you name it.
#03 Talk to others
Reaching out to people who have travelled abroad within the last 12 months is a good idea. They can often reassure, offer helpful advice and through their first-hand experience help you feel more confident about travelling again.
I remember seeing so many horror stories on the news about massively long queues at airports and masses of people not respecting restrictions, but that honestly wasn’t my experience. Obviously, these things must have happened, but the news has an unhelpful way of making us feel that what they report occurs in every instance, which I’m sorry just isn’t the case here. To be fair to them, who wants to read about the people that travelled without any issues whatsoever? It’s not going to make exciting front-page news, is it?
If it’s helpful, I’m happy to answer any questions you have on my experience travelling abroad last year; just leave me a comment in the box below.
#04 Do it your way
Just because it’s likely to become non-mandatory to wear masks on flights doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear one if it makes you feel more comfortable. The same applies when you get to where you’re going.
Forget how ‘others’ do it, do it your way. The pandemic was traumatic; many of us carry scars. I know having long covid has made me far more nervous about catching covid again, so I will continue to sanitise everything to within an inch of its life if that’s what’s necessary to build my confidence up.
Work out what will make you feel most comfortable with travelling and do what feels right for you.
RELATED: How to Make Your Holiday Even Happier
#05 Look through memories of holidays past
A simple yet powerful exercise, reliving memories can evoke a strong desire to repeat your experience. Dig out those holiday photos, do a bit of visualisation, allow all the positive memories to flow back to you. And then do this…
#06 List everything you’re looking forward to
Anxiety surrounds events that haven’t happened yet. It’s, therefore, the type of thoughts we have about an upcoming event that determines how much anxiety we’ll experience. While this exercise won’t eradicate all anxiety (although wouldn’t that be nice!), it can help direct our thoughts towards more positive pathways. Simply list absolutely everything you’re looking forward to about your holiday. As the days pass, you can add to it and even pin it up somewhere; refer back to it when anxiety rears its head.
Additionally, why not have fun with a bit of a pre-holiday themed evening? Cook food from the country you’re travelling to, play local music, try a little bit of the language (or if you’re heading to an English speaking country, maybe try the accent?) Compile a little quiz, or try local games – come on, you know Google will have you covered on all of this.
The most important thing is to make it fun because holidays are fun! It’s beyond time we rediscovered that and regained our confidence to travel again.
A little note: This article specifically relates to general anxiety surrounding travelling again post-covid (although we’re not really ‘post’ it, are we; it’s more navigating a new normal). The advice within is not geared towards people travelling with health concerns or travel anxiety in general. Please seek professional help for these. Anxiety UK offers helpful advice here.
RELATED: How to Beat Post-Holiday Blues
How confident are you feeling about travelling again? Do you have any tips of your own to share? Whatever you’d like to say – or ask – please do! I’m happy to help, and I always love to hear from you. Just leave me a comment in the box below.
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