SerpApi.Org
You made it through airport security. You survived the long flight and landed safely. You're out of customs, and now the real vacation stress begins.
According to a new survey from travel transportation platform Mozio, the period between touching down at an unfamiliar airport and actually reaching your hotel is the most stressful part of an international trip for nearly 40-percent of travelers. The company's "Transfer Anxiety Report" surveyed 1,006 international travelers in the U.S. and U.K. about what happens during those crucial first few hours abroad—and how much they're willing to pay to avoid a transportation nightmare.
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The cities that travelers found most anxiety-inducing? Paris took the dubious honor of first place, followed by Cancún and Rome. To the surprise of no one who has ever left JFK, New York City took home top honors for the U.S. (at No. 4 globally), while London, Tokyo, Bangkok, Mexico City, Barcelona and Istanbul rounded out the top 10.
The biggest source of arrival anxiety, according to the survey, is the fear of being scammed or overcharged, cited by 41-percent of respondents. Other major stressors include not knowing where to meet a driver (33-percent), language barriers (32-percent), navigating a confusing airport (32-percent), arriving without cell service or data (30 percent) and concerns about personal safety (29-percent).
For some travelers, the stress is enough to cause a full-blown meltdown. Eleven percent of respondents said they've cried or had a panic attack at a foreign airport because of arrival stress. And that anxiety is changing the way people plan their vacations. Eighty-six percent of travelers said they research how to get from the airport to their hotel before an international trip, while 49-percent said they pre-book airport transportation at least most of the time. Nearly one-third have booked daytime flights specifically to avoid arriving at night.
Mozio operates a global ground transportation platform, so it's worth keeping the company's interest in pre-booked airport transfers in mind when considering the results. Still, the basic premise is hard to fault: After hours in transit, the last thing most travelers want is to begin their vacation by playing an international game of spot the ride-share driver.
The easiest way to avoid that particular travel stress may be the least glamorous part of trip planning: Figure out your first ride before you leave home. Research the airport, know where you're going, make sure your phone will work and have a backup plan. Because vacation doesn't really start until you're out of the airport.
