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Help with taming travel jitters

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Published on

July 8, 2025

Tips for nervous explorers.

BY TRAVEL WRITER – SARAH JANE

Here are eight tips for a calmer journey. Let’s banish that delightful game your brain plays called “What If Everything Goes Horribly Wrong?” Thanks to a steady diet of headlines screaming about wars, natural disasters, and the occasional oops-a-daisy airplane mishap, that little knot of anxiety in your stomach can quickly morph into a full-blown terror. Just the thought of trying to explain “extra pickles, please” to someone who thinks “pickles” are a type of exotic bird is enough to send you into a tumble.

1. Walking Style: Own That Lost Look

If you find yourself a bit turned around, here’s a secret: act confident. Stride purposefully in any direction, as if you absolutely know where you’re going (even if you don’t). The beauty of this approach? Eventually, you’ll either magically stumble upon your destination or, even better, discover a fascinating new neighborhood that isn’t on any map.

2. Google Maps Navigation

Get a head start by practicing with Google Maps’ navigation. Trust us, it’s better to accidentally get ‘lost’ on your own street while honing your tech skills than in a foreign city. You might even discover a new coffee shop a block away, or at least avoid getting totally turned around on your own street!

3. Souvenirs & Payment Advice

Souvenirs: When it comes to souvenirs, here’s a golden rule: never, and I mean never, buy anything from a street vendor that looks suspiciously like it was dug up from a historical site last Tuesday. Unless, of course, it’s genuinely, undeniably, ridiculously cool. In that case, absolutely go for it. Just… don’t tell anyone NZJane gave you the green light. And when you do, always pay cash. Let’s be real, “mass tourism” is often just a fancy way of saying “mass-produced trinkets.”

4. Over-Plan (If Your Brain Demands It!)

For those of us whose anxiety is best soothed by a spreadsheet and a perfectly colour-coded timeline, this one’s for you! If having every single second of your trip meticulously mapped out helps you breathe, then go wild. Know where you’re sleeping (crucial!), how you’re getting there (also crucial, unless you enjoy surprise walking tours with your luggage), and even what questionable local delicacy you’ll attempt to eat each day. Embrace that detailed itinerary – it’s your personal anti-panic shield!

5. Under-Plan (If Your Brain Prefers Chaos!)

On the other hand, if the mere thought of a rigid schedule sends you into a cold sweat, then congratulations, you’re a free spirit! Book your accommodation and your transport (unless you enjoy sleeping on park benches and hitchhiking with questionable strangers), but after that? Pure, glorious, unadulterated freedom. Leave your days wide open for spontaneous whims, accidental discoveries, or simply perfecting the art of doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes, the best travel stories start with “I had no idea where I was going, but…”

6. Stay Connected (So They Don’t Send a Search Party)

Look, your loved ones are probably already picturing you wrestling a grizzly bear or accidentally joining a cult. Do them (and your future self, when they inevitably call the embassy) a favor: let them know your basic itinerary and check in regularly. A quick text saying “Still alive, just ate something questionable!” goes a long way. It stops them from dispatching a drone search party, and it reminds you that there are people back home who actually care that you haven’t been eaten by aforementioned grizzly bears.

7. Mindfulness & Relaxation (Because Screaming is Frowned Upon)

Before you even step out the door (and definitely during those moments when you’re convinced your plane seat is shrinking), take a deep breath. Or ten. Practice deep breathing or meditation techniques before your trip, so they’re second nature when you really need them. It’s like a mental superpower that helps you stay calm when the airline loses your luggage, your hotel room smells faintly of old socks, or you just realized you packed eight left shoes. Better to breathe deeply than to unleash a stress-induced scream that makes everyone else uncomfortable.

8. The Official Line: NZ & Australia Government Travel Advice

Both the New Zealand and Australian governments provide valuable online advice portals for travelers. For New Zealanders, that means checking in with your benevolent overlords at SafeTravel.govt.nz.

Think of SafeTravel as your super-powered travel guru, courtesy of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Before you even think about packing that suspiciously historical-looking souvenir, hop onto their website. Here’s why it’s less “boring government advice” and more your personal travel safety net.