How to get over having to cancel a trip
Unexpected life events—from sick pets and injuries to sudden financial stress—frequently derail fully booked vacations. This triggers intense frustration and a sense that planning is impossible, though many choose to cancel simply because the underlying stress would keep them from actually enjoying the getaway.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Taking a shorter domestic trip or driving to a nearby cabin insteadDid this help you?
- 2Downgrading the trip to a cheaper or closer alternative, like a local cruiseDid this help you?
- 3Looking for pet-friendly accommodations to bring a sick pet alongDid this help you?
- 4Hiring specialized cat sitters or catteries that can administer daily medicationsDid this help you?
- 5Using rolling luggage and ensuring accommodations have elevators to avoid heavy lifting.Did this help you?
- 6Checking if bookings are refundable or using credit card travel insurance for medical cancellations.Did this help you?
- 7Postponing the trip to the following year when life is less stressful.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m just feeling really sad and frustrated because it seems impossible to plan a trip without something getting in the way.”source ↗
“We had to cancel all our trips this year so far for a variety of reasons - its so disappointing but, I promise, life is long, you'll have a chance to go.”source ↗
“My husband and I have had 3 trips planned to Chicago at 3 different times, the first one had to cancel because of Covid which worked out as we also ended up having to put our cat down due to cancer. The second one had to cancel because our oldest dog was sick and I didn’t want to leave her in boarding not knowing how long she had left.”source ↗
“I had planned a solo trip last year and I ended up moving apartments, having a lot less money available than I thought I would, and just overall going through a stressful period and I knew if I went I was just not gonna have a good time, so I cancelled everything”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why do I keep putting off trips for later?
- 4Feeling guilty about cancelling plans at the last minute
- 25What to do when flights are canceled at the airport
- 25Guests dropping out after RSVPing yes for a wedding
- 2Why do vacation rentals keep cancelling reservations?
- 3Should we cancel our big wedding after eloping?