Rick Steves Warns That Being This Common Kind Of Traveler Can Ruin Any Vacation

There's a popular saying that's often used to discourage worriers from descending into an anxiety spiral: "When you worry, you suffer twice." That phrase is particularly important to remember when you're traveling. If you spend your whole trip worrying that something bad might happen, you could miss out on experiencing some of the most joyful parts of your trip. Sometimes it's a challenge not to feel a little anxious, but Rick Steves says it's best that you try to avoid being overly consumed with worrisome thoughts when you're traveling.

Rick Steves is one of the world's most famous travel experts. He's particularly popular among American travelers, and he specializes in European destinations. Throughout his career he's written dozens of best-selling travel guidebooks, hosted a popular television show on PBS called "Rick Steves' Europe," and led many thousands of travelers on organized group tours throughout the continent. He's a gold-mine when it comes to travel tips, and he's trusted by travelers all over the world. When Steves talks about things to avoid while traveling, the world listens. Worrying is one of those things he advises against.

In an article entitled, "Making the Most of Your European Trip" that Steves wrote for his website, he says that you shouldn't "be a creative worrier" when traveling to Europe. It could very well ruin your vacation.

"Some travelers actively cultivate pretrip anxiety, coming up with all kinds of reasons to be stressed," Rick Steves writes in his article. He's definitely on to something, but if you aren't a travel pro like Steves, embarking on a journey to an unfamiliar country can feel super stress-inducing.

There's a lot to think about and plan for before you even arrive. You might be nervous about having to interact with people who don't speak the same language as you, or worried about missing your plane, train, or bus during a tight connection. You might be nervous about what would happen if you got sick while abroad, or if you were pickpocketed and lost access to your travel funds. There are all sorts of things to worry about, and if you think about them for too long, your head will start spinning. You may even start to wonder if you should travel at all. But worrying is just going to get in your way. There's definitely value in being prepared for worst-case scenarios, but Steves says that worrying isn't worth the trouble. "Don't sweat stuff that hasn't yet happened (and is very unlikely to happen) to you," he advises.

Steves says that even if something you're worried about does happen during your trip, it might not be as bad as you imagine. "Every year there are strikes, train wrecks, political unrest," he writes, "and yet millions of people travel to Europe every year and enjoy fun, richly rewarding trips."

There's something about Rick Steves that is so comforting and inspiring. Some people have even called him "The Mr. Rogers of Travel." There's no better place to turn than a Rick Steves book, blog post, or television episode if you're in need of a good travel pep talk. In his article, Steves urges travelers not to sell themselves short. He reminds us that we are totally capable of rolling with the punches on vacation, and that even if something worrisome occurs, we'll be able to get through it. "Chances are, in the past you've managed to handle tougher problems than whatever your trip might throw at you," he writes, urging readers not to underestimate themselves.

Although there are some genuinely dangerous situations, health hazards, and other serious problems that can occur when you're on vacation, don't spend too much time dwelling on them. It's good to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, but being a creative worrier will only put a damper on your experience.