No one likes to consider the possibility of travel plans going awry, be it your accommodation closing down, natural disasters striking, or your bags going missing at the airport. As rare as events such as these are, you really don’t want to be caught saying: “I never thought it would happen to me”.
So what do you do when disaster strikes?
- Information
You’re unlikely to book your holiday abroad during known seasonal disturbances such as hurricane season in Florida, monsoon season in Thailand, or civil unrest in Africa. If you somehow missed all the warnings, drawn to the low prices like a moth to the flames, you may want to rethink your choice and book at a later time in the year.
Research your destination thoroughly. Don’t book a hotel in a bad part of town, known for pickpockets. Scour Trip Advisor or similar sites to read about other people’s experiences. It’s far better to do some leg work before you arrive, rather than winging it and regretting it.
- Travel Insurance
Though many may think it absurd, travel insurance can be a prayer answered when troubles occur. If your accommodation is burgled while you’re out, travel insurance can cover the cost of your belongings; if you fall ill or are injured, you can get treatment straight away; and if your accommodation has closed down, you can afford to book an alternative one!
Ensure you’ve researched your destination before getting insurance so you know the most likely worst case scenario and can comfortably choose the right cover for yourself. It’s a bit pointless to get coverage for natural disasters in South Africa, but quite prudent to take out personal liability cover if you’re renting a scooter in Asia.
- Lock it or lose it
Many of us want to believe that deep down, humanity leans towards being good. But with so many examples of violence, fraud, and selfish intentions, you need to balance sympathy with smarts.
When flying, lock your baggage so no one can insert illegal substances for you to inadvertently ‘smuggle’ out or get caught with. Keep your wallet and cell phone in an inner pocket of your jacket so it’s harder to be pickpocketed. Don’t become intoxicated on your own in a strange country, as you could wake up to find you’ve been robbed – or worse!
- Keep Calm
All those “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters you’ve seen around Facebook and Pinterest are onto something. Your first genetic instinct in a bad situation is panic, which is the worst possible move! You’ll act irrationally as your fight or flight response goes into overdrive. Don’t let this happen.
Instead, take a deep breath and give your incredible brain a chance to work out a solution. For robberies and theft, hand over the items, your life is worth more than material possessions. In natural disasters, find the appropriate cover (high ground, police station, emergency shelter) or follow the pre-determined evacuation routes. Calmly assessing what’s happening for a minute will allow you to minimize the chance of errors, and ensure that those with you are protected.
- Break out that smile
Smiling is a universal sign of happiness and one of the least aggressive facial gestures (provided you’re doing it right and not grimacing). If a sales person, waiter, or accommodation owner is being unhelpful or rude, don’t stoop to their level – because this really solves nothing. If you can, contact your travel agency or the salespersons manager to try and negotiate an agreeable outcome.
In countries where they speak broken English, explain your problem over and over again, in different ways, until the other person realises what is actually wrong. Many times issues crop up due to misunderstandings and if you can prove you’re willing to try and break through, then you’re miles ahead of the vacationer who starts spouting profanities or becomes sarcastic. If you’re smiling, you’re showing the other person you’re not bothered by their bad manners or their lack of understanding, and sometimes a bystander may step in to assist. If all else fails, walk away secure in the knowledge you’re the bigger person.
- Phone Home
If something has happened, contact your family back home and let them know you’re alright. They’re likely frantic with worry and terrified that they’ve lost you, especially if they can’t reach you on your cellphone and there’s bad television coverage of your holiday destination.
In many instances cell towers will go down – be it a natural disaster or civil uprising – so take to the internet and pop your loved ones a tweet, Facebook message, or short e-mail letting them know your fine and where you’re located.
What other tips would you recommend from first-hand experience?
Main image credited to Kieran Lynam (Flickr)
