What to be afraid of this summer and what to do about it. How about you? What are you afraid of, and what should you be afraid of? Let’s do a lightning round of travel phobias. Disruptions. Travel advisors say they’re seeing increased anxiety levels when it comes to delays and cancellations. “It’s probably among travelers’ most common fears, especially during the busy summer season,” said Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at ASAP Tickets. “Weather, strikes, aircraft maintenance delays and staffing shortages can cause significant problems across the travel industry, resulting in thousands of missed flights.” What to do about it: Book tickets that offer flexible change policies and consider a travel insurance policy that covers long delays and cancellations. Natural disasters. The Los Angeles fires in January have made everyone hyperaware that Mother Nature could be a wild card this summer. “I’ve had a surge of people inquiring about natural disasters,” said Sunil Gupta, the co-founder of a tour operator in India. “Even the wildfires have shown us that even the most sought-after destinations aren’t untouchable.” What to do about it: Get a good travel insurance policy and work with a travel advisor who can help you avoid the most disaster-prone areas, like the Caribbean, during hurricane season. Politics. It’s no exaggeration to say we live in uncertain times, politically speaking. No one knows where that will leave us this summer, but you don’t have to be a political scientist to be afraid of the possible fallout.  What to do about it: Don’t call off your overseas travel plans just yet. Be discreet. “I’m going to pretend to be Canadian,” said John Hedtke, a technical writer from the Seattle suburbs. Well, he’s close. Continue reading here.