A Key to Avoiding Stress of Travel During the Holidays: Go With the Flow

It’s that elbow-to-elbow time of year again, when everyone seems to be taking to the highways and skyways for a holiday getaway.

Although many travelers equate this season with teeth-grinding, headache-producing stress, it need not be that way.

Accept that unforeseen problems are possible, the experts say, and go into the trip prepared with some measures to deal with them.

“Take comfort things with you,” says Dorothea Lack, a San Francisco psychologist with expertise in holiday stress issues. That could mean taking a favorite food from home or any food you consider more edible and healthier than typical airplane fare.

You might also pack a small blanket and pillow in your carry-on, Lack adds, in case you get stuck in the terminal or the plane’s supply runs out.

If you’re traveling by car, food from home can be a healthier alternative to fast food off the freeway. If you’re not up to packing a whole meal-to-go, at least take snacks such as fruit to curb hunger.

Take games, books and other diversions, not only for children traveling with you but also for yourself.

If possible, Lack adds, “travel with someone whose company you enjoy.” And make a pact before you set out: Agree that you both will try to make the best of it when problems arise.

It is possible, she says, to make up your mind to have a good time regardless of flight delays or heavy traffic. For instance, being stuck in an airport is an opportunity to get to know other people, she says, and striking up a conversation with fellow travelers might also ease the stress through distraction.

Before leaving home, take time to focus on what is making you feel anxious and stressed about the trip, suggests Edna Herrmann, a Los Angeles psychologist.

For instance, is your stress tied to worry about whether you will get to your destination on time? “Be honest,” she says. “If you are usually late or just barely make it, double the time estimate [to get to the airport or the destination] to play it safe.”

If your stress centers more on fear of flying, she says, “the key is relaxation.” Herrmann advises in-seat techniques such as deep breathing or listening to relaxation tapes. If your anxiety is beyond those self-help measures, she suggests asking your doctor about prescribing a tranquilizer.

Maybe your stress is related to anxiety about what awaits you when you arrive--a sibling you don’t get along with, perhaps, or an elderly parent you feel guilty about not visiting more often. In that case, Herrmann says, rehearse the imagined stressful situation and how you will handle it maturely.

And keep perspective. “Probably 10% of what you worry about actually materializes,” Herrmann tells clients. And even then, it often is not as stressful as anticipated.

Some stressful situations can be avoided altogether if you prepare for them. If you’re traveling by car, check out road conditions before you leave. The California Department of Transportation maintains a highway information service; dial (800) 427-ROAD, and enter the highway route number to learn about conditions that might cause delays. Similar information is posted at the California Highway Patrol Web site, https://www.chp.ca.gov. Click on “traffic incidents.”

To avoid arguments about whether the driver is lost, consider downloading a customized map of your route from Web sites such as https://www.mapquest.com or https://www.mapblast.com.

Set a driving limit of 300 to 400 miles a day to minimize fatigue, suggests the Automobile Club of Southern California. Get out and stretch every two hours or so.

If you are flying, call the airline before leaving home to confirm the departure time, advises Thomas Winfrey, a spokesman for Los Angeles International Airport. Also confirm the terminal if you haven’t flown the airline for a time because airlines occasionally relocate their gates. To avoid aggravation, don’t take wrapped gifts as carry-ons, Winfrey adds. Security personnel might require you to unwrap them.

And don’t forget that all adults must have an officially issued photo ID to board a plane. For those who don’t drive, this can be a passport or an ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If flying out of LAX, consider parking in remote lots, such as Lot B (La Cienega Boulevard and 111th Street, $5 a day) or Lot C (96th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, $7 a day). Free shuttles go to the terminals. Learn about parking and alternative transit on the airport’s Web site, https://www.lawa.org. Or check the Travel section’s Web site, https://www.latimes.com/travel. Click on Sourcebook, then Where to Park at LAX. You will get a list of hotel and private parking garages with shuttle service near the airport.

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Healthy Traveler appears the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Kathleen Doheny can be reached at kdoheny@compuserve .com.