When Trips Don't Go As Planned

Whether you have been planning a lengthy family vacation or just a quick weekend trip, it can be very stressful when things do not go as planned. Our number one tip to clients is to set realistic expectations that leave room for spontaneous magic but also for real life events that can still happen while you are traveling. I was very well reminded of this exact situation when me and my sons were headed to Walt Disney World for a quick weekend trip to regroup and bond. Even having been a travel professional for years, I am still learning we are not in control of how the day unfolds sometimes. You just have to stay positive and learn how to roll with the punches. 

The start of the weekend was slated by one of my sons missing the flight which meant he would not be attending our trip. That could have been enough to start on the wrong foot but I was thankful I was going to now have that extra special time with my youngest and we moved on with our day. After arriving to the airport and boarding the plane, we had technical difficulties and sat on the runway for an extra hour that was cutting into our small amount of time we had for a quick weekend trip. I tried to remind myself how thankful I was that they were able to fix the issue and that we were even able to get away for the weekend period. When we arrived to the airport we jumped into a taxi to head to our resort. On the way to the hotel, our taxi broke down on the side of the road where we waited over two hours for another driver to come and pick us up. At that point, I knew it was too late to visit Epcot and I was nervous after such a long day of complete "failures" it was going to be too hard to turn the weekend around into a positive experience. This is where I needed to accept that we are not able to control everything, but there is a lot we can control, such as our thoughts, actions and how we continue with our day. Below are five great Jedi mind trick to make sure you do not self sabotage your special time no matter what happens. 

5 Jedi Mind Tricks For Staying Sane

• REMIND YOURSELF OF ONE GOOD THING THAT HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE DAY                                            This is a great way to remain positive. It could be that you made it to the airport in time, that you remembered to pack your bathing suit, or that you are all together and safe. We can get caught up in the negativity quickly and the sooner we bring a stop to it the sooner our energy can change. 
• STAY CALM                                                                                                                                                                            It seems easier said than done in the moment, but there are very few problems that are fixed by rage or panic. Take a walk for a few minutes, take a few deep breathes, and remind yourself that you are going to wait to cool down while getting your emotions in order before working on solving the problem.
• DECIDE TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND                                                                                                                            Things can change on a dime so once a situation puts a kink into your plans it is important  that you decide to keep an open mind about how the rest of your time is going to flow. 
• MAKE A NEW PLAN                                                                                                                                                    Although it can be disappointing to have to cancel plans you had been looking forward to, make sure you to remind yourself it is ok to be spontaneous and make new plans. I like to think everything happens for a reason and it is easier to welcome change when thinking this way. Making a new plan in the moment can be fun and can also help shift your mood.
• MAKE IT A PART OF YOUR STORY                                                                                                                                Not every trip is going to be salvageable and that is ok. Some of the best laughs you will have down the road maybe recounting the time your weekend was a complete debacle from start to finish. The more you recount it with others in the future, the more you may actually walk away with a little smile.

For more great tips and tricks on traveling, make sure to reach out to one of our Starstuff Travel Planners by clicking here!