Some people don’t travel because they have panic disorder. That’s because being in strange and new places, away from home, makes them feel insecure. What’s more, these individuals fear having other people witness their nervousness and fear. But if you have a panic disorder, this condition shouldn’t hinder you from traveling. Follow these tips to manage panic disorder symptoms when traveling.

Be Prepared

When planning your trip, think about ways to deal with panic disorder symbols. Anticipating uneasy travel can bring more anxiety and stress. Therefore, prepare to face panic attacks by acquiring practical coping skills.

Such skills can include:

• Deep breathing
• Visualization
• Meditation

Always try these techniques when you encounter fears when traveling. Some research suggests playing complex games on a smartphone. Consider such a technique if it works for you.

Use Distractions

Focusing on panic disorder symptoms when traveling is not uncommon. Therefore, distracting yourself can help with their management. Rather than concentrate on your body sensations, focus on other activities. For instance, you can read your favorite magazine or a good book. You can also play enjoyable games.

When faced with negative thoughts, divert attention to positive ideas. You can also calm your thoughts with affirmations.

Accept the Symptoms

Some panic disorder symptoms can be overwhelming. That means you might not manage to distract yourself from thinking about them. In that case, let them run through their course. In most cases, panic attacks heighten for a few minutes before tapering off gradually.

Therefore, try surrendering to the symptoms if you get an attack while traveling. Remind yourself that the experience will eventually be over. Conceding to panic disorder symptoms can minimize your fears and give you control.

Talk to Your Doctor

Tell your doctor about your travel plan. Your healthcare provider will tell you whether you should travel in your current state or not. And this is essential if you have an underlying condition like agoraphobia.

Final Thoughts

Panic disorder is not an easy-to-manage condition. However, it shouldn’t be your reason never to travel. Instead, follow these tips to manage panic disorder when traveling.

The main reason for obtaining travel insurance is to ensure that you have a backup plan in case of unexpected events like illness, canceled flights, and lost luggage when traveling. However, the cost of the insurance varies from one policy to another, mainly based on the extent of coverage. Nevertheless, you need a travel insurance package that suits both your travel needs and budget. The following are useful ideas on how to get cheap travel insurance. 

Understand the Circumstances of Your Trip 

Choosing the right travel insurance requires a proper understanding of the particular circumstances or requirements of your trip. Start by calculating the cost of the trip and the items that you will pack. To avoid paying huge travel insurance premiums, consider getting a package that offers coverage of the same amount or slightly higher value than the cost of the trip and luggage. 

In case you plan to take just one or two trips within one year, a single-trip policy is a cheaper option. For frequent travelers making more than three trips annually, an annual travel insurance cover is the most cost-effective alternative. 

Buy Travel Insurance Early 

Travel insurance allows you to recover the cost of the trip in case you have a good reason to cancel it before departure. Therefore, it is advisable to get insurance as soon as you book the trip. Waiting to buy travel insurance at the last minute limits you from getting the full benefits in case of cancellation.  That would leave you broke if the trip does not happen. 

Talk to a Travel Insurance Specialist 

Instead of rushing to buy the travel insurance cover usually offered as add-ons when booking holidays, talk to an insurance specialist first. Whether you choose to engage your insurance provider, bank, or an insurance broker, discuss with them about your travel plans and budget estimates as well as the need for finding a cheaper policy. 

Generally, there is no short cut to choosing cheap travel insurance. Apart from the ideas discussed above, you should also take some time to shop around, comparing what different travel insurance providers offer. Nevertheless, you need a travel insurance policy that adequately covers your travel needs and budget. 

Italy is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe with vast natural landscapes, magnificent ancient relics, amazing art, delicious cuisines, wines, and unique cultural experiences. Whether you are looking to enjoy a beach vacation, romantic getaway, shopping expedition, or adventure trip, Italy has a fair share of something exciting for every visitor. Here’s what you should know when planning to visit Italy. 

Italy Goes Beyond the Big Three 

Most people who visit Italy, especially for the first time often plan their trips around just the ‘’Big Three’’ cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice. However, Italy is a huge country with so much to explore beyond those three cities. While those cities boast the most popular tourist attractions, your trip should also cover other rarely visited sights. 

If you decide to go further into the mainland or off-shore into the Mediterranean islands, there is a lot to discover. The Italian coastline is a burst with several beautiful white sandy beaches and fun activities to make your trip truly remarkable. You can also go further into the villages to see the vineyards and sample some authentic Italian wines. 

Trains Are the Best Way to Explore Italy 

While you can still rent a car or take the bus, trains are the best means of public transport. Italy has a well-developed railroad network that connects the cities to other parts of the country. Most cities have high speed and cheaper trains with efficient routes that cover most of the common tourist destinations. Make sure that you validate your ticket each time you take the train. 

Get Travel Insurance 

Indeed, there are endless attractions in Italy that will make your trip memorable. However, you can only have the best adventures if your mind is at peace. And, one of the best ways to do that is by obtaining proper travel insurance. Having travel insurance is important in case you encounter any medical emergency, cancel or miss a flight, lose your luggage among other unexpected issues. 

Whether you have been to Italy before or planning your first visit, the destination is packed with exciting sights and sounds to make your trip enjoyable all the way. With a good plan and an adventurous mind, your trip to Italy will be like no other.

Nothing feels better than packing your things and setting out on an adventure. It feels exhilarating. That’s because traveling gives you a chance to escape the norm. It’s a chance to step out of the comfort zone and taste something different. If you’re wondering whether traveling is necessary, here are some of the reasons why traveling can change your life. 

1. Travel Can Broaden Your Perspective 

Your life perspective can change once you see how other people view life. Seeing how people from different backgrounds live can make you more thankful and appreciative of your life. What’s more, it can give you a new sense of empathy and wonder for other countries and cultures. Soak in the lifestyle and languages of other people. You also realize what people in other countries value, which can be different from what you value. 

1. Traveling Can Teach Your to Live in the Moment 

Traveling can teach you to live each moment at a time. It teaches you to pause for a while and feast for the eyes. It prompts you to stop for a while and enjoy the moment. You pause for a moment to see some of the spots that you’ve probably been reading about in history books. Essentially, traveling teaches you to unplug and explore to discover yourself. 

1. Traveling Teaches You to Value Experience Over Material Things 

Some people don’t travel because they want to save money and invest in material things. However, this might not help with their overall wellbeing. Traveling teaches people to spend money on what’s more valuable. Instead of purchasing a luxurious car, a person can opt to invest in traveling. They realize that seeing new places and immersing in new cultures can be more fulfilling. Thus, traveling becomes a way of life for some people. 

1. Traveling Teaches You to Roll with Things 

When you start traveling, you experience challenges like canceled and delayed flights. You also lose luggage and endure frustrating moments. These are some of the experiences that teach you to roll with the flow of things. You learn to overcome any challenge that life throws your way no matter how difficult it seems. 

1. Traveling Makes You Open-Minded 

When you travel more often, you become more open to other people’s ways of life. You realize that people in different cities and countries live differently. This teaches you to appreciate other people and cultures. 

In a nutshell, traveling can change how you see the world. It can make you a more appreciative and accommodative person. 

Traveling is a universal experience that brings together people from all walks of life. Over the years, the travel sector has continued to record significant growth and, the trend is expected to continue. Millions of people travel to different parts of the world each year. Today, traveling is identified as one of the key agents of economic development and growth across the globe. But, just how many people travel every year? Read on to find out. 

World Travel Statistics 

Thanks to the internet and technology, you can now easily get accurate and reliable travel statistics from various online travel and tourism platforms. However, you do not have to go through all the stress when you can find all that information herein. 

According to the UNWTO, America received an estimated 217 million international travelers in 2018. That represents an increase of about 3% from the previous year. North America and South America were the biggest contributors to the growth. The same report by UNWTO also points to an increase of 7%, 10% and 6% in the number of people visiting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, respectively from the previous year. 

The total number of foreign trips originating from the US has continued to increase, hitting 38.32 million in 2017. In the past 17 years, it was only in 2002 that the US recorded the lowest number of overseas trips, estimated to be 23.4 million. Between 2000 and 2017, the number of annual visits increased from -7.35 to 10%. The UNWTO also reports that the number of international tourists grew by 6% in 2018 to reach 1.45 billion people. 

Millions of people travel to various parts of the world every year and, it is not very easy to keep track of every traveler. However, considering the projections by the UNWTO, it is safe to safe to say that more than 1.45 billion people travel each year. 

Guidelines for Traveling with Your Cat

Unlike dogs that can easily adapt to traveling, cats do not usually find traveling an exciting experience. As such, coming with your cat on a trip may not be as fun as expected, especially if you do not know the best practices for traveling with cats. The following are guidelines for traveling with cats that you should keep in mind when planning an adventure.

Make Sure the Cat is in Good Health

The health of your cat should be a priority considering you will be visiting new environments. Checking the essential vaccinations is important before the trip to make sure that the cat is in proper state of health to travel. The vet will advise you on further measures to keep the cat in good health throughout the trip.

Take Precautions

When traveling with your cat, you should be keen on keeping it restrained at all times when in public places like on the flight, in car, bus, train or boat. Crates and carriers are the most suitable for handling cats while on transit. It is also important to get an ID tag for the cat bearing your names and contact information. Some airlines have also not been good at transporting pets so; do your research before booking a flight.

Do Not Leave Your Cat in the Car

The crate or carrier provides adequate restraint for the cat and when you combine that with the hot temperatures in the car, you might come back only to find your kitty dead. Even if it seems cool inside the car, always take short breaks together with the cat whenever you are out. It will help your cat to stretch and avoid unnecessary accidents.

Even with proper travel plans, coming with a cat on a trip might still not be a bed of roses. Just accept that things could go wrong and focus on getting the most out of the trip.