GUEST COLUMN: Take the stress out of travel, by Ant Clarke Cowell, HolidayExtras.com

With summer in full swing, in typical British fashion millions of us are jetting off to beaches further afield to relax.

With so much importance placed on our holidays, the countdown to our break can provide lots of excitement...and for many local people it can be stressful too.

According to new research by us, nearly half (47.4 per cent) of Midlands residents admitted that getting to the airport and encountering busy crowds at check-in and in the terminal, as well as lengthy queues at security, caused them to feel tense before their holiday.

The pre-getaway anxiety suffered by local holidaymakers isn’t just confined to the airport though, as one in five admit that they hadn’t slept a wink the night before their holiday, because they feared missing the flight or forgetting their passport.

For anyone that is on edge about waking up in the early hours of the morning to catch the flight, we at Holiday Extras have the perfect cure for pre-getaway jitters. We have teamed up with yoga experts to provide a selection of stress busting methods that could transform the next journey into an extra zen travel experience. Our company also offers a variety of advice to help make the most of a holiday and to be a Vacay Sensei traveller.

• Less stress, more breath – take deep breaths, controlling your breathing helps to focus your central nervous system and relax your mind.

• Don’t be a mouth-breather – breathing through your nose allows you take deeper and slower breaths.

• Stretch it out – stretching your arms and shoulders helps the flow of oxygen around the body, lifting your energy and helping you feel clear headed and relaxed.

• Preparing in advance – getting one step ahead of the game is one of the best ways to ensure that your holiday is stress free. HolidayExtras.com can help take the stress out of travelling with a few of their special services.

Why not try a stay in an airport hotel to avoid the stress of setting alarms and early rises?

Or, try out an airport lounge as a restful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the busy terminal.

You could see if you can book fast track security and avoid the queues, especially when you could be relaxing in an airport lounge! And why not give meet and greet parking a try and skip the bus transfers to and from the terminal.