Did anyone feel irritable a couple days before their trip?

It's probably just travel-related stress; there's a lot to think about ahead of a trip!

Always. I am the one who plans these trips, this time RS BOEE for 4 people, so I feel responsible for making sure things turn out well and it sometimes gets to you.

Not irritable, just anxious ... did I forget to do something, will my flight be open, did I get my train departure times correct, etc ... goes away after I get my boarding pass and we go wheels up.

Just the opposite. Even though I know I’m going to experience hell on earth, (a.k.a. LAX ) in order to take the a flight I’m happy.

Flying is not something I’m thrilled about but a travel necessity.

Much more irritability on the freeways of LA.

I am also the one who plans the entire trip, but I love doing that. But there is so much to do and think about with 4. We are taking adult sons for the first time. I’m trying to relax today realizing I’ve done the best I can, and what happens….happens. It doesn’t have to be perfect…just being in Italy is perfect. I’m not an anxious person, but today It has its hold on me.

YES!
I love the planning and the prepping. I leave in 10 days and once you reach the intermediate phase between not having anything else to plan for and not actually being on the trip yet, it gets irritating. Let's go already!

Lulu you have put an incredible amount of energy into detailed planning for this trip. You have thought through and rethought through every aspect. My guess is that you are worrying if you missed something.

You are going to have a wonderful time!!!!

I get nervous a couple of days before all my trips. I start to second guess myself and worry about -- everything! I wonder why I even planned to take the trip -- there are just too many things that can go wrong. It goes away as soon as I am on the plane. (And yes, I am the one who plans the trips.)

I am increasingly on edge up until the point I am seated in the waiting area, ready to board.

"My guess is that you are worrying if you missed something."

Yep - that always does it for me too. I've learned to make physical checklists I can refer to as the countdown to getaway day approaches but even that doesn't completely put my mind at rest until the wheels come up on departure.
Now if you'll excuse me I need to check the expiration dates on our passports for the 12th time before our trip next month...

I’ve tried to set some de-stressing points for myself. That helps. The planning begins months in advance but the last 4 days or so are relegated to more relaxing tasks. T-minus 4) Cleaning needs to happen if we are going doing a house exchange—the whole day, music blaring. -3) hair and nail appointments done. -2) the kitchen closes. -1) a whole day devoted to packing and relaxing. And we’re off!

Not irritable, but "close to departure" I get what I call the "travel willies" ie, those feelings of anxiety. It's nerves too.

Carroll, that's me! I wonder what made me think I wanted to leave home where I am comfortable and know how everything works! I
also have three checklists, a cleaning list, packing list, and paperwork/notification list, and I still get nervous. It makes for a trying time. And, yes, I also do all the planning. But when we pull away from home I forget my nervousness and the adventure begins!

I’ve spent today with my sons, who have never traveled internationally, giving them pointers in packing. That kept me busy and helped the anxiety. I went through the “why are we going, I don’t want to now”, about a month ago. As the day progresses, I’m feeling a bit better. Nails done tomorrow, a couple minor errands than last minute checking off my list. Everyone’s stories have definitely helped me from not feeling alone, so thanks for sharing.

I just always fear there's some little detail I've left out in my incessant trip planning.

It's a little pressure packed to get the flight dates to correspond with the dates checking into hotels and dates checking out. Remember we always lose a day in transit going east. And then we move to a different city every 4 days, and it's too easy to make a date mistake on the next room reservations. Then throw in the transportation reservations on how to get to Point A to Point B--and the transportation to and from the train station or airport. Every place is different.

I hear of those traveling with a family of 5-7 persons. That's when anxiety and nervousness should show up. Travel with two people is a cinch in comparison. Just keeping up with their luggage would make someone flip out.

David, I totally agree about traveling as just a couple. I told everyone carryon only with a backpack. I’ve told them for 2 years and even bought my oldest luggage for Xmas a couple years ago. He lives out of state. We would talk and he’d say he just doesn’t understand how he can do it. I told him I would show him how when he got home. He’s staying for awhile and checked a bag to come home.

He gets off the plane with a duffel bag and said he’s taking that because there’s no way he could go with the carryon. Plus his backpack is small. I was so annoyed at him. So, he’s having to carry around this duffle bag, it’s not even a rolling one or has shoulder straps. I wanted to strangle him, but oh well…he’s the one who has to carry it around.

Lulu- Regarding your nails, I always get a gel manicure right before I leave (and regular pedi), they will last me at least 4 weeks and look great, no chipping. I keep them very short.

My excel spreadsheets keeps me from getting nervous and anxious, plus I know I can buy whatever I forgot when I am there, but seriously that has never happened. I did get a cold on my first trip, and just popped into a pharmacy, took what they suggested and forged through the trip.

I am super organized with an accordion like folder that contains everything I need which also keeps my anxiety low, any reservation (Hotel, museum, tours, trains) are printed, and tickets are placed in the correct city tab, including envelopes with $$ for any event that said cash only. I have multiple copies of passports for Hotel check in's to hand them. This is organized weeks before I leave and double checked the day before.

I LOVE everything about travel. From the moment we leave the driveway we both say in Unison "And we are Off..Andiamo!" because vacation has started.

It had been 2.5 years since I travelled internationally, and I had about 3 months' worth of planning into my recent trip to London...my anxiety was a bit more than I'd ever experienced on previous trips, like I kept thinking it would be snatched away from me at the last minute, and it wasn't until the plane was preparing for take-off that I relaxed...perhaps even shed a happy tear or two.

24 hours to go until we leave!

Letizia, I literally just returned 30 minutes ago from my gel nail and regular (high shine) pedi! LOL! I cleaned the kitchen and family room this morning beforehand. I have nothing to do! Im packed except for my makeup and brush. I’ve helped my sons and one is completely done and the other is doing laundry TODAY and told me he has to go get walking shoes and a couple other things. He did nothing yesterday. I’m so over it, I’m almost laughing. He’s a grown up man, so I can’t say anything. But the control freak Mom in me cringes. I’m type A, he’s a B.

I also have everything I need in hard copy and saved in my email folders by city. Im going to sit and forward that info to one done today to put on his phone, too. Mine is organized by city and I have the color coded itinerary, too.

I feel better today than when I made this post. Anxiety down a lot, replaced by excitement. The nervous butterflies are still there, though, but I’m in a better place. Not snappy or irritable anymore. When those wheels pull up at JFK, then I know I will be ok.

Christa…I totally get shedding a tear. It probably felt good and your anxiety drained along with it.

I’ve helped my sons and one is completely done and the other is doing laundry TODAY and told me he has to go get walking shoes and a couple other things. He did nothing yesterday.”

I have a son just like this. Never do today what you can do tomorrow. It would never occur to him that they might not have his size in the shoes he wants. Or that it might be a good idea to break them in. Meanwhile I’ve been checking things off my to do list for weeks. How can we be related?!

Have a wonderful trip!

I've got six days and counting to departure, not irritable (my wife might disagree) but nervous about forgetting things or any last-minute snags. I'm used to these feelings, they go away once I'm moving. Everything focuses on my checked bag, carryon, neck wallet and pockets, my world shrinks to what I have with me. Then a miserable night aloft, then landing and the adrenaline kicks in. Onward and upward. ;-)

Looks like the common theme among all us planners is the thought we missed something or got something wrong ... I'm in good company!

I love the planning and the prepping. ... once you reach the intermediate phase between not having anything else to plan for and not actually being on the trip yet, it gets irritating. Let's go already!

@Vandrabrud ... 100% agree! ... and I'm tweaking the plan up to (and maybe including) departure day

I am increasingly on edge up until the point I am seated in the waiting area, ready to board.

@Stan, with the way airline cancellations happen these days, I'm not calm until the wheels are up

My excel spreadsheets keeps me from getting nervous and anxious ... accordion like folder that contains everything I need ... any reservation (Hotel, museum, tours, trains) are printed ... multiple copies of passports ... organized weeks before I leave and double checked the day before.

@Letizia ... excel spreadsheets - check ... accordion like folder - check ... multiple copies of passports - check ... organized and double checked - check ... also backup copies of tickets and passports in my draft email folder and as a photo on my phone, validate ATM cards for different banks are good, checking off items on the departure checklist with the wife to verify we are all set at home (sprinkler system good, mail stopped, timers set) ... with the final act being the obligatory house walkthrough before I close and lock the door that all lights are off, water not running, doors locked, etc...

Maybe we should plan a planners convention in a fun location and swap planning tips and stories over some longnecks and margaritas :-)

@Lulu ... you planned the work now work the plan ... have a great time!!!

once you reach the intermediate phase between not having anything else to plan for and not actually being on the trip yet, it gets irritating.

This period is perfect for planning the next trip 😉

As I've aged I get more anxious before a big trip. Sometimes I cry at night the few nights before we leave. My husband does NOT get it. "I thought you loved travel!" lol! And I get irritable with him because I do all the planning, and run things by him, but he doesn't want to think about it. So, a few days before we leave he will ask me, "So, where are we all going again?' But we are always fine once we get to our destination.

And I hear you about the type B adult son. My 20something went to Amsterdam and Germany a few years ago and did not take a second pair of pants! Because...why would he need them? He was wearing a pair. He just brought underwear, socks, and a couple shirts.

Have a wonderful trip!

I find I usually get irritated the last day of my trip. Vacations rarely seem long enough.

I'm can't help being a little nervous going through security. Why? There's always an issue, which is usually my fault. I left my watch on, had chapstick in my pocket, or something stupid. In recent years I've been taken aside for a random check and brief interview.

I can't remember going through the x-ray machine only once.

I keep everything on a Google Drive doc for reference, and of course a paper copy.

Arrival day is usually rough while being in a mental fog and trying to stay awake.

We always forget something. Last time it was nail clippers.

We leave in 11 days .... I got what I lovingly refer to as "travel tummy" last weekend when I started to pack - well I did a trial packing session to see if I could get everything I wanted to bring in my carryon including the CV test boxes :(

Today my irritability is work related - even worse :(