Why on earth do we travel?
Wouldn’t it be less stressful to stay at home?
As regular readers will know I spend a lot of time on the road - and in the air - and it will come as no surprise to those of you who do the same that getting from A to B has become an increasingly stressful experience.
It doesn’t matter if you’re driving, flying or taking the train it’s the rare trip that isn’t subject to delay.
Sundays are a particular nightmare. The other day my train to London was cancelled so I had to go to Bristol Parkway where the incoming train was delayed then wait 15 minutes at Swindon for a driver to come in from London. (Staff shortages are generally cited for the problems.)
Only one train an hour on a Sunday instead of two means that, as happened yesterday going back to Bristol, passengers frequently have to stand. Infuriating given the cost of the fares.
A tip if it doesn’t make you feel nauseous, always head for the less popular rear facing seats. And book direct with the train company so you can claim compensation
Gatwick seems to be in total meltdown. Coming back from Catania in Sicily earlier this month we boarded on time but we waited an hour on the tarmac due to air traffic restrictions.
And you literally couldn’t move in the baggage hall when we arrived back. The crowds were six or seven deep waiting for their suitcases. Fortunately I hadn’t checked in my luggage. Don’t if you can possibly get away with it.
And don’t get me started on the M25 most of which is subject to 50mph speed restrictions. You’d be lucky to travel that fast.
When I was in Canterbury on Saturday we abandoned plans to pick up a takeaway from nearby Faversham because the roads were gridlocked. With 1 1/4 hours to get there according to Waze and no doubt the same period coming back, the round trip would have taken 2 1/2 hours. Just wasn’t worth it.
Once you’ve set off there’s nothing you can do of course. I’ve learnt from experience there’s no point in pacing about, fretting and worrying about things you can’t control. Arm yourself with a good book or Kindle and Airpods or headphones. Some kind of sustenance if you don’t want to pay the outrageous prices airports and stations charge for a bottle of water and a sandwich. Set off an hour earlier than you think you need to. Then chill.
Is it worse than it used to be I wonder or am I just getting less tolerant? Of course, answering my own question, I’m still going to travel but it does make me think twice about how much I want to go on shorter trips, especially if it involves air travel.
Has the chaos on the roads and at stations and airports discouraged you from travelling and how do you deal with the inevitable delays? Share your horror stories!
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If I could have a superpower I'd be Teleportation! I love visiting places but not the travelling experience. I don't live in the UK, but every time I go for work the train London-Manchester becomes a nightmare: cancellations, delays, everyone trying to fit in the same train. So, I feel your pain...
Interested how few comments there are about trains as alternative to budget airlines for European travel. A niece who lives in Switzerland recommended Ffestiniog Travel when I was planning a 3-legged journey in July to visit her and attend a conference in Caux (Montreux). Ffestiniog equipped me with an Interrail pass - that took me back to my 20s! - and it was a great and relaxing trip via Paris. Reading about the horrors on trains in the South West i must also say that since COVID Greater Anglia to our home on the Suffolk coast has become relatively comfortable and reliable - the exception being when someone chooses to end their life in front of a train to the permanent detriment of the poor driver.