Does traveling turn people cranky?
 

Yesterday I saw a couple at the airport curbside yelling at each other, and the lady hitting the man on his head with a newspaper. This is not the first time I've seen such behavior. Is it jet lag? Spent too much money and taking it out on others? What is it?

Only troll posts make me crankier the travelling.

Ohhhhhhhhhh, I'm SO embarrassed!!
I didn't realize anybody saw us!!
My wife caught me packing my heavier items into her bags.

I think that it could be a little of all of the above. My DH starts to get a bit cranky towards the end of the trip. He says he misses his bed! Me, I am just a very happy traveler until I have to come home(and do laundry and unpack). I think that couple have some major issues beside traveling :-(.

Traveling for work, which I do often, makes me VERY cranky. Mainly because I have to rent a car and drive (I HATE driving) and I don't usually have a navigator to help me along and I get lost. And it's ALWAYS in an area with very high traffic (because that's my job...solving traffic problems :-B ). I can't WAIT for my trip to the Capital Beltway next week! 8|

LOL, I WISH I had seen that sight!

I am never cranky.
OK, I am sometimes cranky, but never when traveling :D
I am always happy to be on the go and dragging my dear Yankee along or sometimes, he drags me along, so we get along famously and with big grins :D on our travelweary faces.
Jet lag makes me nap, not cranky.
Spending money makes me even happier.
so count me in the group that is a Happy Traveler :)

Sometimes I get cranky when my travel companion is someone other than my husband. When you spend so much time with someone while travelling, it is sometimes hard to get used to their quirky habits that you don't normally see.

Few people spend 24 hours/day with anytone - spouse, kids, etc. So when you end up 24-hours/day with someone in a hotel room - with no escape to work, yard, other room in the house - stress can build up.

Sounds like typical behaviour at the local super market. I don't think it has anything to do with travel, some people are just cranky all the time.

Airplane travel does make people cranky. I've seen passengers turn really nasty to desk attendants and flight attendants over trifling things. Nursing literature says it is mainly dehydration, stress about safety, and having to change bathroom habits- plus fatigue.

The travel of commutes make some drivers, Mr. or Ms. Hyde. I see road rage quite frequently in Chicago area traffic. There was a road rage incident late this summer near Wrigley Field, between a pedestrian and a driver, during which one was killed and two injured. That's pretty cranky.

Most people on this board are happy travelers, but many people won't go on a trip even if you treat them. My aunt wouldn't go on a free trip to Hawaii she won- said she had no desire to travel.

How insightful, Patrick.

JJ5: That nursing literature needs updating. These days it's not dehydration and change of bathroom habits that cause travel stress, it's horribly overcrowded airports which, thanks to 911, are now something straight out of a George Orwell novel, standing in line two or three hours for check-in, being packed into airplanes and treated like human cattle; hotels, car rental companies etc who nickle and dime their customers to death, and on and on.

In short, travel in this age of supply-side economics, insatiable corporate greed and mass hysteria over security has become a royal PITA. It's no wonder people are cranky.

Psych studies have shown if you take rats and put them in overcrowded conditions, deprive them of food they become so stressed that they attack each other.

According to many posts here about behavior by air travelers, we seem to have responded the same way as rats to the same conditions.

Hubby and I are happy travelers. I do remember growing up that no trip with the family ever started off without a huge fight between my parents. Usually it was when mom was packing. The next thing you know, someone would say something that got the other one mad and we kids would be in the middle of a war zone.

As far as traveling with others, we try to severely limit who we go out of town with. Many a great friendship has ended over a vacation together. We have only couple that we could go anywhere with for almost any amount of time without arguing because we are very comfortable with each other and can separate and go our own way without hurt feelings. We have two couples that we can only take short weekend trips with. The rest of the world we do not travel with. Due to work, we are not able to travel but about two weeks a year with 2-3 mini weekend or day trips in between so we do not want to ruin the few vacations we have.

I think people travelling with kids are much more likely to turn cranky. Too many people to please!

I agree with Judy Rem. I'm like a spoiled brat at the end of vacation.
:(

Suzanne's post is a crack up. She hates driving, and her job is solving traffic problems. Who better?

I don't know, guys - cranky is one thing, but yelling and hitting is a whole other issue. Does feeling cranky and out of sorts give you licence to behave like a 4-year-old?

Yes

What makes me cranky is when I'm sitting in my seat on the airplane and some doofus who is carrying enough luggage to stock a store, hits me in the head (arm, knee, face etc.) and acts as though I'm somehow in the way. Listen, I am a nurse and fully understand emergencies and unplanned for events, but I think failing to pack better doesn't fall under any of those cattagories.

And no, hitting isn't acceptable. Although I have been sorely tried at times (woe to the next person who hits me with their luggage).

I think when anything messes with two of our basic needs: sleep and food- we can get cranky. Travel will surely do this. But, I have a philosophy that helps me through the tough spots in travel. When you leave the comforst of home (and your ego-centric schedule) and venture out into the real world you are most vulnerable to learn a lot about yourself and others. I find when I travel to another country I may be learning about another culture very different than my own, but more importantly I am learning about my own culture in contrast. It is healthy to get out of your comfort zone and survive out in the real world. When I observe others who can't act civil just because something did not go their way (don't like the food, service, etc), I first get a good laugh and then wonder why these people travel. JJ5's aunt has enough sense to stay home where I think some people should stay! Of course there are those who act the very same way at home. Consider it free entertainment.

That's just the way we are when we get frisky, "offlady". Don't worry about me; I gave her a good paddling when we got home! Sorry you misunderstood. <g>

Of course people, if human, will open up and admit they occasionally do become cranky while travelling. And why not? Making up afterward, oh lots of fun. And you stay honest and open about feelings. However, I do admit to the possibility that some saint may post here, in which case that person will say they remain totally cheerful and smiling no matter what's going on. LOL, interesting thread.

I'm usually cranky when NOT traveling!

Leona, laughing with you!!! Thank goodness, a real person! LOL, have a good day.

I myself personally am never cranky. I remain totally cheerful and smiling no matter what happens. I am utterly delightful at all times. ANYBODY GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT???

Meesthare,
I know you are, honey. You are always unfailingly cheerful. As I am.
Personally, reading Fodors at times can make a person cranky, if one were so inclined to be cranky, which I am not, ever, like Meesthare.

I don't think hitting someone on the head with a newspaper is acting like a 4 year old. Four year olds don't read the newspaper. Now if she had hit him on the head with a toy train then she'd be acting like a four year old! ;)

I think unusual schedules throw people off. Maybe they were travelling from the Dr. Phil show and he had said something there to embarrass her. As if!

I think it's so amazing one or two people can read Fodors and feel cheerful. Danny, are you slipping something into these threads? LOL.

Looks like you have been inhaling something yourself, blacktie or whatever..lol

but of course ... but only the freshest of the fresh air on this lovely fall day ... simply amazing how nice it all is. Makes one smile for the right reasons, and appreciate an unending stream of fabulous days with sweet breezes. Ah, life is good, travelling or not!

I love my mood swings :)

Yep, I get cranky when I'm tired and hungry and jetlagged and ...

Meesthare, now that's the ticket! Go gettem

I love to travel. I also love to hit my husband off the head with a newspaper. I don't think they are mutually exclusive.

I love to travel.
I wasn't even cranky when I had a burst eardrum on a flight to the Bahama's, or when husband dragged me to Brian Piccolo's Park(nothing there except grass and a cement track)in Florida, and I had double pneumonia, He had to see the park he says.

I only get cranky when I have to come home:-)

Torontopm-
Your husband deserves a swat on the head with a newspaper for dragging you to Brian Piccolo Park! I live in that area. It's a nice park, but hardly a tourist attraction.

When you're making a ten hour drive to the beach and your four kids under eight years of age are getting cranky, the old man gets cranky. And so does his wife.

Poochie:

He's deserves a swat on the head with a newspaper and 40 lashes with a wet noodle if you ask me. He takes advantage of my good nature when we are on holidays that's for sure. But don't worry he got it when we came home:-)

I think it's important to know which newspaper was being used as the weapon. My sweetie prefers to be bopped on the head with the Times Literary Supplement, if he's given the choice. I would suggest that the Sunday New York Times might be considered in extreme cases. Otherwise, the National Enquirer might suffice.

I will just hope for the opportunity to hit the Yankee over the head with a Le Figaro :D

I only get cranky when I arrive home and face a suitcase that has to be unpacked and a bunch of laundry to do, telephone messages that have to be returned, groceries that have to be bought, mail to go through and -- well obviously I get cranky after the travelling is finished. Hate that part!

LoveItaly, we've all been there, and can empoathize. But, thankfully, there's always another adventure just around the next corner, and very soon, you'll be rejuvenated, raring to go, and completely disdainful of the previous cranky mood. Life takes over, you're happy, and once again planning.