List: 10 travel annoyances and how to deal with them

Traveling to new places is exciting and invigorating. It enables one to explore foreign cultures and traditions, meet interesting people, and create memories that will last a lifetime. It generates a greater understanding and appreciation for our world as a whole and works to dispel stereotypes and other cultural barriers. Traveling is also, however, almost always accompanied with small inconveniences and obstacles that, while not life threatening or cataclysmic, can put a damper on the travelers’ spirit. Here are a few of my “travel annoyances” and tips on how I deal with them.

1) Barking dogs and crowing roosters
Perhaps my biggest travel pet peeve (no pun intended…), barking dogs and crowing roosters are unavoidable when it comes to being on the road. I’ve found that an earplug in one ear and my ipod earphone, softly playing Enya, in the other work exceptionally well together to block out any yapping or cock-a-doodle-doing. If you have one, a fan is also a great white noise for unfamiliar night sounds that might make you irritable and bleary eyed in the morning.

2) Montezuma’s Revenge
Thinking twice about that street side taco you ate for breakfast? If Montezuma strikes, it’s important to be prepared. Before you leave on your trip (especially to third world countries without reliable water or sanitary cooking methods) visit your doctor and ask them to prescribe a medicine for diarrheic infections. Over-the-counter drugs are good to have as well, but aren’t as strong and may take longer to be effective. Remember to drink lots of water and stay hydrated!

3) Lost Luggage
As inconvenient and frustrating as it is, lost luggage is a fairly well known bother among frequent travelers. Pack a carry-on bag that has an extra set of clothes and other necessities that will sustain you for several days until your bags arrive at the airport. Airports are typically very accommodating when it comes to lost luggage and they’ll do their best to get your bags to you asap. Don’t whine, complain or go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Maybe you’ll even find that it is possible to survive with one set of clothes and a toothbrush. How revolutionary.

4) Unrest among the troops
Traveling with friends or family is great. You can share memorable moments and enjoy new sites and experiences together. After a few weeks (or perhaps even a few days), however, things can get a bit tense. To avoid a major clan meltdown, try to give each other space and remember that you don’t have to do everything together. Go to the beach by yourself, have lunch with just your mom or ride the bus around the city with your best friend’s boyfriend. Just kidding on the last one…

5) Natural disasters
Wind, rain, snow, sleet, the only weather condition that can’t be complained about is sunshine. But, face it, you’re going to have some bad days at some point in your traveling career. Instead of staying inside your hotel room watching raindrops slide down the window, get out and explore the underbelly of wherever you are. Enjoy a cup of jo at a local coffee shop and chat it up with the other customers. Visit a museum or aquarium or catch a show at a nearby theater. Get crazy and buy some rubber boots and an umbrella and splash through puddles around town.

6) Sunburn
Please, wear sunscreen. You’re skin will love you and you’ll love your skin in ten years time. If you do find yourself red as a lobster, buy some aloe vera gel and coat yourself every few hours. Dabbing milk on your skin will help relieve the pain and slices of potato and cucumber will reduce inflammation and redness.

7) But I don’t have time for that!
Americans are noted for their strict agendas and time constraints. When you’re on vacation, leave these restrictions at your office and enjoy the freedom that traveling allows. Try to leave your schedule as open as possible so that you can hop on a bus at the drop of a hat or attend a festival that you learned about from a stranger on the street.

8) Special price for you!
If you’re traveling to a third world country, be prepared to get mobbed by street vendors trying to sell you their trinkets and souvenirs. It’s fine to look, but the more you dawdle, the harder they’ll press. If you’re not interested, simply walk away, but be polite, don’t act angry or irritated by their persistence. Remember that they’re trying to make a living and they have families to feed too.

9) Where the &*@) am I?!
Several days ago I was on my way to a yoga class and I missed the turn onto the road that would lead me straight to the studio. Instead, I ended up taking a tour of backroad neighborhoods until I reoriented myself and got back on track. While initially peeved, I soon found myself enjoying the joy ride. The large houses were beautifully landscaped and the views of the ocean were stunning. Whether you find yourself lost in a city or on the road, stop for a minute, look at your surroundings and take a moment to enjoy what is around you. Don’t stick your nose in a map and agonize over how you’ll find your way back to the hotel or right road. It will all work out.

10) Out of the loop
No TV, no radio, no Internet… what is a traveler to do? It’s often hard to stay informed on what’s happening in the world when we’re on the road, but that’s not always a bad thing. Take a break from world news and focus on what’s happening around you. Pick up a local newspaper (if it’s in a foreign language, this is the perfect time to break out your dictionary and learn a little of the local tongue). Talk to native people and find out what’s going on in the area, or if you’re really going through media withdrawal, grab a few magazines from a newstand and browse the current headlines to see if there’s actually anything important you’re missing.