We've all heard horror stories about trips gone very, very wrong, from lost luggage to crime, from crappy hotels to dangerous situations. I don't believe this is the norm for most travelers but for every "Before Sunrise" film there are six "Open Water" movies. Look away. Travel is fun and exciting and melodramatic as it may sound, often leads to us coming home better people than we were when we left, never mind if it's a weekend at a cabin just a few hours away that leaves us relaxed and refreshed or an eye opening journey around the world.

Still, it's easy to get anxious if you're heading out into the great unknown for the first time. Travel Happy posts Six Tips to Deal With Being Scared to Go Travelling.

1. Find time to think it all through
2. Read your guidebook
3. Write The List of what to pack - and start it early
4. Remember you’re not the first person to go where you’re going
5. 99 per cent of people are actually happy to help you
6. Have insurance and an emergency cash stash

That's the abbreviated list. Read the whole post here.

Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View.