While vacations are generally beneficial to mental health, they usually require organization and travel, and this can produce varying amounts of mental stress. Driving a car over a long distance can cause both physical and mental stress, especially if the driver attempts to meet a deadline. With air, ship, bus, or train transport available, the main cause of anxiety can be arriving at the airport, harbor, or station on time. The actual traveling itself is less stressful. However, in every form of transport there may be peaks of anxiety, for example, during take-off and landing and in turbulence in an airplane.
Rail travel seems to be the most relaxing way of going from one place to another.
Travel on board ship is unique in that passengers' stress levels generally change with the weather. The charts above give some indication of the average stresses experienced on a journey of the same distance using different forms of transport. Gaining the most benefit from a vacation requires planning and the ability to remain in a calm, unhurried state of mind. On a car journey, motorists should prepare themselves to be late if the unexpected, such as a flat tire or a traffic jam, occurs. Other travelers should be prepared to accept delays in flight, train, or bus schedules.