sglw

I have tickets for travel to France for 15 days beginning on August 5. It is about 2 1/2 weeks before trip date and for some unknown reason can't get as excited as I usually do when travelling. It is really odd. I know you would all probably be horrified that. I don't even have hotel reservations
I've been known to travel without hotel reservations before, like the last time we went to Germany and Prague. We didn't have an issue and everyting worked out perfectly. I am not a religious fanatic but I wonder if what I am feeling is my 6th sense telling me this isn't the right time to go? Have you ever experience such a thing?
Help or advice will be welcome. I am not asking for convincing either way, I just want to know if this has happen to you.

SeaUrchin

Yes, it has happened to me often. I get so overwrought with the trip planing and all the things that have to be done before I leave that sometimes I just don't want to bother even going at all.

One trip I really decided I didn't want to go and I went anyway since everything was paid for and I had a so so time. Other trips I just go because it is planned and I have wonderful times.

I think it is what we make of it. Go and relax and have fun.

cathies

It's never happened to me! Send me the tickets and I'll let you know afterwards if you had a good trip

LoveItaly

The one time I had feelings like you seem to have sglw the trip was rather a disaster. I spent the entire time wishing I was home. So yes one time I did experience what it seems you are feeling.

Advice, I have little. Are you not feeling well? Are you not happy about going to France? Is there something going on in your life that causes you to feel you want to stay home? Are you taking a trip with other people that have caused you to wonder if their thoughts about the trip is not your thoughts?
Or is it just s bad 6th sense without knowing why?

I can't really offer any help or advice but I will say inspite of the miserable trip there were good moments so I am not sorry I took the trip. I just wish it had been more "pleasant" so to speak.

afterall

Sort of ...

Reading your post I caught on the word "I" but then it becomes "we".

Are you travelling alone this time whereas perhaps before you weren't?

If yes, then you'll be travelling in a different way and your apprehension is understandable.

If not, then I guess you've just run out of steam. And maybe as you haven't booked any hotels you should just book somewhere in your city of arrival and stay there. Relieve yourself of the pressure that comes with having to make the best use of the time, cost of tickets, etc.

Don't rush around; explore where you are very slowly. In other words, just veg out.

Travelnut

Very often, the last-minute tasks of the preparations (including transferring work over to someone in my office, etc) feels like 'work' rather than fun, so the anticipation gets a little lost. But once I get to the airport, it all comes back!

The only time I ever cancelled an overseas trip was when I realized I absolutely did NOT want to go and was actually dreading it, not just 'not as excited'. When I sat down in a quiet place and really thought 'what is the worst thing if we don't go?', I felt a huge pressure leave me instantly. We lost some money (before the 'cancel for any reason' trip insurance) but never regretted the decision.

That one instance was the only time - otherwise, it's just planning stress.

kybourbon

I have tickets to Italy in September (high season these days) and no hotels yet. I think it's the high exchange rate and the hotel uncertainty that's making you feel that way.

Luisah

Yes, but I have the habit of doing lots of research and planning before the trip and then when it gets close I feel kind of tired and begin to feel apprehensive -- kind of like the day before the wedding feeling -- do I really want to do this?

A couple of posters made good suggestions: find a quiet time and try to identify the cause of your lack of excitement.

MelJ

Every single time! About one week out I suddenly start thinking "I shouldn't go, I shouldn't spend the money, I don't feel like making packing decisions, What if there are plane problems?" On and on and on. Keeps me awake a bit.

Then someone will say "Boy, are you lucky" or I'll open a new guidebook and I'll be fine. The day of the trip I am as excited as a kid on Christmas--every time! In fact, for me, the vacation begins once I get to the airport (used to be after I dumped my luggage and picked up my boarding pass, but now I get the boarding pass online the night before and travel carry-on only).

You'll have a great trip and, deep down, you really do know it!!

amp322

I always feel like "Now I don't want to go!" before a big international trip. Taking care of bills, rearranging schedules, putting mail on hold, packing, etc, etc, makes me so tired, I don't even want to bother with the trip! Once I'm over there, I have a great time, and want to stay even longer.

If you are a world traveler, the more trips you take, the more routine it becomes. This is good & bad! I've been overseas (for at least 2 weeks at a time) about 15 times now. The last trip, although to a new place, failed to excite me like I've been excited in the past. Every trip is different, and you will make memories wherever you go.

You are lucky to be going to France, so go & enjoy. Last minute planning might be in your favor (last minute discounts, etc). Once you're over there, you'll have to kick in to travel mode, and you'll be fine.

azzure

I absolutely suffer from this syndrome! It goes away when I get to the departure gate at the airport. Only then do I feel as though I can relax and "get this party started".

needsnow

I never knew people shared this 'malady' - I am so happy to have read all these posts.
I definitely chalk it up to the stress of making all the arrangements, to the stress of knowing when I come home I have to pay the bills for all the charges incurred on the trip, etc.
I also feel the burden of being the one in my family to arrange everything - and there is so much money involved and the kids have such high expectations and what happens if it is awful? Think of all the money wasted, when what we really needed was a new bathroom!

But, I believe sometimes one is in the mood for an active vacation (seeing many sights every day, figuring out the transporation system, arming yourself with some key words if you don't speak the language, etc..) those make up "working active holidays."

And sometimes what you need is to relax someplace and not have to think about getting from sight to sight, or how to avoid the crowds, or where's the next budget place to eat. When what you really need is to get away,and not to "work" for your vacation - then that is the time to double-think where you are going and to see if some other kind of holiday would suit you right now.

I have also wondered when I feel apprehensive about travel if I was getting a premonition of things to come, a warning that I should heed. When actually - this feeling is all from the stress of travel(the planning, the money, the having to decide among so many choices of what to do, where to stay, etc...), and I agree with the other Fodorites that yours is too.

Let someone else help with the planning. Have someone else make some decisions, and so take some of the blame if things go wrong. Or, throw caution to the wind and say to yourself, that life is meant to be lived...that travel makes the brain tick like nothing else..that France is beautiful and you are lucky to be able to go....

Plan only to enjoy being in France. You'll do great.

FrankS

That happens when I bring the in laws along



Book a 5 star countryside chateaux for a couple of your days, you will perk up in a hurry.

Tim_Barnett

Sixth sense is always important. I'd say follow your instincts and stay at home. The best holidays I ever had were the ones where I had the courage to duck out of arrangements. Told the whole world I'd be in Mexico for a week, then stayed at home. Wonderful. Meant I could catch on good films, eat pizza and just be me.

slangevar

I've had it before... sometimes to the point where I feel panicky, but I've always gone on the trip and they've always turned out fine (knock on wood).

sglw

Thanks a million for your responses. It really makes me feel better to know I am not the only one that has experienced this kind of feelings.
I will be turning the big "40" the day before we leave, maybe that is also contributing to my oddness. I should be jumping up and down since not everyone gets to go to France to celebrate their 40th birthday and a couple of days later their 11 year anniversary.
I am grateful for the oportunities I have and also extremely glad to be part of this wonderful forum.

slangevar

Of course you're feeling uneasy! Landmark birthdays make most people feel reflective, uneasy and a little more mortal.

You know, a friend of mine once treated herself and a friend to a spontaneous trip to Paris on their 40th birthdays. She said that the trip made her more excited about the future because it showed her that she was still up for a bit of adventure.

Unless your 6th sense is screaming at you not to get on the plane, go on the trip. Facing the fear will make you feel stronger.

Good luck and have a great trip!

cathies

I wouldn't have replied so flippantly if I'd known there was a significant birthday involved. Those 'big' birthdays can be extremely daunting and I would understand completely that you are feeling a bit distracted. If it helps, I've had a few of those birthdays now and once the actual day arrives it doesn't seem so bad.

Hope you enjoy your trip and do celebrate the birthday.

Happy birthday,and congrats on the anniversary, Cathie

FainaAgain

Happened to me too, at some point I felt "burned out". But I was so glad I went on that trip!!

Kristina

Sglw-I will be celebrating my 40th in Paris this year too! Congrats!
BTW, I've been "easing the transition" by telling everyone I'm "almost 40" since I turned 39!