Holiday anxiety - anyone else?

[maldivemoment]

We’ve never done a city break as a family but just booked Paris for next week. Myself, husband and x2 kids (10&13)

Completely irrational, I know, but anyone else suffer from ‘pre-holiday anxiety?’
Between now & next week I’ll be anxious about everything related to these few days away. 😭

Anyone else? Any tips?

OP Even if you do a fraction of the worrying and prep, it will still be fine! As long as you have a ticket you will get there, even if there are delays. Try and take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
And remember, there are plenty of relaxed, laid-back, or disorganised people. They still get there on holiday! Don’t waste this time by worrying. Think of all the fun aspects!

No, they have not incorporated debit card access on the Metro yet. Unless things have changed. We go every year and have never been able to use our debit cards.

If people are coming by Eurostar, I always recommend buying the Navigo travel passes on the train. They sell them in the café. They are more expensive than buying when you arrive. However, the machines and kiosks at the Gare du Nord can be absolutely rammed when you arrive. The cards you buy on the train are already loaded with two journeys each. This helps to get to your hotel, and then you can just charge up the card at the machines in the Metro stations as needed.

I do, but in my case it’s generally linked to packing for my diabetes. Do I have enough spares? Have I packed right in terms of what can and can’t go through scanners? Do I have enough hypo treatments for the journey? Will I get a dickhead on security again arguing about my pump going through the body scanner etc - once I’m through security I’m generally fine and worry less about the journey back.

Just to Conwy harbour which is a two hour drive fro us. I’m nervous!

Every year! I have to get diazepam from doctors for the week. Holidays with kids are so stressful and tiring, you have to watch them like a hawk and they moan about sight seeing, heat, food etc.
We tend to go with extended family so we take turns supervising. Last year we booked a huge villa with a games room, gym, play area, private pool, maid service. Hardly left the complex and plenty of grandparents and aunties to help.

I am not looking forward to my upcoming holiday. It's just a hassle schlepping the kids across Europe, packing, check in, security, flight, care hire wait, getting into our place, unpack. I find I enjoy holidays in Retrospect and like having the experiences.

Paris will be fab. What are you doing there @maldivemoment ?

Cor...what's that like not worrying about stuff? Why is that lol?
Is it you just innately know things will work out, how you've been brought up, self resilience, drugs (joking)....
How does it feel living in a world where the default is seemingly stress and anxiety?

@Titasaducksarse

I don't know really, I think it's a combination of luckily having a great secure upbringing and just an innate not giving a fuck about anything much.

Basically don't worry about things you can't change and if you are upset about something then do something about it is my philosophy- if you can't do anything about it then fuck it 😃

I don't worry much about travel either. Not worth it. Muddle along.

@ZenNudist just cramming it all in & soaking up the Parisian vibes. No real itinerary, which is prob not ideal! 😬

Thank you for asking.

@Shoxfordian can I please have you on speed dial?

Only when flying, otherwise I'm just excited! I do have a check list to make sure we haven't forgotten anything important such as medication etc.

I’m the same OP, I don’t particularly enjoy going on holiday and tie myself up in knots before going away 😭

I definitely need to learn how to live like this!

That sounds great.

I am the total opposite, I take everything incredibly seriously and get so wound up by pretty much everything. I wish I could just tune all that out (including DD always wandering about on holiday with a face like a slapped arse) and enjoy myself. I’m fine with places I’ve been to a lot, like where we go frequently in the West Country, but new places and planes are just awful.

I also hate that you have to book so much in advance instead of just deciding where you want to go on the day and rocking up.

A hot chocolate from Angelina Paris will relax you @maldivemoment 😊

I suffer from this really badly! I think the key to it is the fact that you are taking the whole family, and if you are like me have a sense that you are now responsible for everyone’s good time. Imagine if this was a couples break, or you were on your own. No worrying about late flights meaning kids have to sit around for hours, finding food that everyone likes, managing everyone’s expectations, wrong shoes or clothes being packed. Instead, if the flight was delayed- great another drink at the bar! I can read more of my book!

Conwy's lovely.It's only about 2 hours from us too but it's a whole different world.

I worry a lot in the run up as feel there is so much to remember. I’m going away in May so have booked my waxing and hair appointment. I taje soap and solid shampoo so I’m not carrying heavy bottle that can leak. A bar of soo takes up no space. I have a list on my phone and add to it when I remember sonerhing. Other than that once I get through security I don’t stress lot. What will be will be. Oh although I do say to the taxi driver before we depart give me two seconds to just check I have money, phone, passports etc…

OP the metro is easy to navigate. Walk along the Seine, lounge around on the grass sunder the Eiffel Tower, it’s worth goi g up to Sacre Coer. Also a walk through the Tuileries gardens is lovely for a break from the city. Lots of benches and chairs. We’ve got a baguette avec fromage from a bakery and sat there watching the world go by .Fantastique!

Agree 100%

Horrible as it might feel, that it anxiety doing it’s job. It’s the emotion that’s triggered when there’s something that’s too important to ignore - like studying for an exam, getting ready for a first date or going on holiday. If you didn’t have some level of anxiety you would see the value in doing, well, anything.

I get anxious about going away. It's a combination of anxiety about leaving house empty (worse since a neighbour had an awful flood), managing all the stuff for the kids, worrying that kids will moan and husband will get grumpy because it's supposed to be a treat, plus all the general forgetting stuff, passports etc. it's getting a bit easier as they're getting older as we don't need so much stuff but on the other hand they moan more and have their own expectations etc so that is then an added pressure. It was also particularly tricky for a while as we had an elderly cat and that was a worry but he's no longer with us now so that is one less thing to think about.

Generally I don't get anxiety about holidays, but for some reason I get anxious leaving the house to head off. Not sure what I'm anxious about. Leaving my home unprotected maybe? It's gone by the time I get to the airport.

Love this. I’m pretty much a cross that bridge when I come to it kind of person. No point worrying about things that you can’t change.