CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Vacations were designed to cure stress.

But now travel can create more stress, leading to anxiety and anger.

The biggest reason is a canceled flight, but also high gasoline prices if you’re driving and poor service because of low staffing.

Last summer, I had a bit of my own vacation-related stress – not horrid, but annoying. My family rented a house in upstate New York, set peacefully amidst the woods. As we did the dishes after dinner, the water pressure was low. Must be temporary, we thought.

It wasn’t. Showers were impossible, so we called the owner, who called a plumber, who told us it would take several days to fix. So. we had to find another rental, pack and unpack again - not a relaxing start.

Francoise Adan, MD, is the Chief Whole Health and Well-being Officer at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland and the Director of UH Connor Whole Health.

Nearly everyone I’ve talked to has faced travel travails. Some have decided it’s best to stay home and just visit the sights near you that you’ve never explored. Try local restaurants, visit museums, the zoo, the lake or beach, as if you were a visitor to your own city.

Sometimes a getaway seems necessary because a vacation takes us somewhere else, physically and mentally. Discovering new things is refreshing – especially if you disconnect digitally and really immerse yourself.

It takes us out of our daily routine and provides a fresh perspective – plus restorative time together with friends or family. All this is possible even if you only drive for less than an hour to another town or city, avoiding the havoc wreaked by canceled flights.

If you do travel, there are practical tips to minimize stress:

Lower your expectations. We hope for a perfect vacation. The odds are against it. Expect and accept snags, and don’t let them ruin your trip.

Avoid checking luggage when flying: That can make a canceled flight or missed connection can become more of a hassle.

Pack light: Struggling with luggage is aggravating. Bring snacks, and keep prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine handy, as well as an extra pair of contact lenses and glasses.

Avoid doing things at the last minute: That only it amps up anxiety, and you’ll forget something important.

Get the car checked ahead of time: A week or two before your trip, have someone check your tires, coolant, etc.

Rent a house or condo: That will let you make your own meals and will likely save you money. It definitely will give you flexibility.

Even if you do everything right, something will probably go wrong. That’s life.

First, don’t panic or get angry.

It makes everything worse. Instead, pause. Breathe. Count to 10. Not reacting immediately is always your best bet.

Second, adapt – you might even find a silver lining.

In our case, the house we moved to on our vacation was much nicer than the first.

Third, stay with what is happening in the moment.

Don’t start thinking your vacation is ruined. It just won’t be exactly the one you anticipated.

At the end of the day, it’s important to keep your sense of perspective. It will make for a good story.

Francoise Adan, MD, is the Chief Whole Health and Well-being Officer at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, Ohio and the Director of UH Connor Whole Health.

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