I love traveling, but about a week before leaving I have terrible anxiety. My biggest fear is not so much for my safety, but for the people at home. I get so freaked out that I start wishing I didn't have to go. DH doesn't have as much vacation time as I do, so I sometimes travel overseas without him.

The following will probably sound strange, but please bear with me. One of the biggest things that causes anxiety is worrying about my dog. At least DH and other loved ones know where I am, how to reach me, and when I'll be back. I can only imagine what my dog is thinking. Does she think that Mommy is lost and can't find her way home? Or does she think Mommy has abandoned her? :-(( If you don't have a pet, this must be a hard thing to understand, but I'm sure you pet-lovers do.

Of course my all-time biggest concern is for the well-being of the people at home. I always worry that a close family member will get sick or pass away in my absence. The one thing that has helped to relieve that concern is having a cell phone that works worldwide. Although my loved ones at home always know my travel itenerary, it's good to know they can reach me at a moment's notice if I am needed. So it's always comforting to realize the phone hasn't been ringing during my trip. :-)

"I too suffer from pre-travel anxiety.However, once my bags are checked, I've passed through security and I'm sitting at the gate with my bording pass clutched in my hand-I'm on vacation!"
That is a perfect description of me. I just went to Mexico during Christmas week. The few weeks before we left I was very anxious. Not about anyhing in particular. Once I was checked in at the airport I was totally relaxed. I never stress while I am actually on vacation, just before.

My only anxiety comes from the possibility that something will go awry and prevent my long-planned, hard-earned and much anticipated vacation. I leave for the airport ridiculously early to alleviate fears of traffic, parking problems, being bumped, etc. When I land at my final destination I start to feel totally relaxed.

Sallie, I'm a travel lover and I get that anxiety every time. My friends and family can't figure out why I am so nervous in the few days before I travel. I've accually been talked out of cancelling a vacation at the last minute because of this wierd anxiety.

It has nothing to do with a fear of flying or fear of leaving home. All the anxiety goes away when I get to the airport departure gate. Then I'm totally relaxed and can't wait to get on the plane and start my vacation.

I think it comes from a fear of missing the plane flight. It comes up in dreams a lot.

Ditto here also....my spouse and I travel by plane about once a month and I still worry that the plane will go down. I know it is a totally irrational fear and still do it after many years. I worry when my parents travel too. I really don't know what the answer is but sounds like you handle it pretty well, just don't let the fear keep you from doing the things you want to do in life. Happy travels:)

Almost all my leisure travel is solo "by default, not by preference," within the United States. I find that contributes a lot of pre-travel anxiety on top of the more conventional pre-trip worries. The usual travel hassles are often more difficult when you're alone, and I often worry about whether I'll face discrimination, long waits, or discomfort at restaurants (perhaps the biggest hassle of all for the solo traveler). I also wonder whether the families, couples, and groups I meet while traveling will regard me with fear or apprehension because I'm a solo male (I very rarely encounter any other solo travelers of either gender). And then there's just the feeling of second-class stigma attached to solo travel in the United States that's very hard to be rid of, thanks in large part to a travel industry that sells only "double occupancy" or "family-size" products.

Mind you, once I finally get my very sorry arse out the door, I almost always have a pretty good time on my solo adventures. It's usually not as good as the trips I make with a compatible companion. But it's still good, and it's better by far than staying home. I'm not going to let the lack of a companion or any stigma keep me from traveling! But the weeks before my solo journey begins are too often more of an ordeal than they ought to be.

How great to realize that i'm not alone - and not some weirdo-misfit! I usually get some free-floating anxiety in the days before departure (or sometimes right after I've committed to a trip), even though I love travel. At this stage of the game, however, I've come to know myself pretty well (finally!) and it seems to help for me to just give myself a little mental talking to ("Snap out of it! You know how it goes; this happens all the time; you'll be fine; you'll get over it....") And, I do!