Vacations can be fun, relaxing, and full of wonderful memories, but sometimes, things can happen when you travel that make you want to scream or cry or both. Most of these common travel nightmares are beyond your control. These are a few tips to help you prepare for and cope with the worst.
Illnesses
Both myself and my husband have had to receive medical care unexpectedly on vacation and in a foreign country nonetheless. It can be scary and time consuming. Make sure to have your insurance cards with you when you travel. Find out what your out of pocket costs might be if you have to go out of network. From there, decide if buying travel insurance is right for you.
Cruise ships have a doctor on board that can treat the most common situations. If you need surgery, however, you may have to be airlifted to the nearest hospital if you’re still at sea. That can be a costly situation. You should also explore your travel insurance options through your credit card company.
Take a look to see what they offer and then decide if you need more. If you do get sick, try to rest up as much as you can so you can get back on your feet. No one enjoys being sick, especially if you’re on vacation. But if it happens to you, get plenty of rest and take medication if needed.
Cancellations and Closures
Activities and events can get cancelled for no reason. It can be extremely disappointing, especially if you have your heart set on doing something. But I tend to overbook my vacation itinerary which helps in cases like this.
When I am in the planning phase, I write down all the things that I want to do and places that I want to go. But by the time I start to lay it all out and assign a time to everything, certain places or activities begin to get cut. There just isn’t enough time to fit it all in.
This makes for a lovely excuse of needing to go back again one day! If your activity is cancelled, there may be activities that were on the cut list that you can now add back in. It’s always a good idea to have some extra places or activities set aside just in case.
Weather
In our years of travel, we have cruised through a tropical storm, been surrounded by forest fires, and had to re-book a flight due to an erupting volcano. Mother nature is going to have her way, and if her way happens to get in the middle of your vacation, you have to be able to pivot and formulate a new game plan.
If all of your activities involve being outside and it is pouring down rain, you only have two options. You can either throw on your rain poncho and rain boots and see it all no matter what, or bypass the activities all together. If you have more than a day, you can flip your days around and do the indoor activities that day and hope for better weather the next day. Make sure you always pack your rain gear just in case.
Lost Luggage
Pack as much as you can into your carry on! The best remedy for lost luggage is to have as few checked bags as possible. You should have at least a few sets of clothes in your carry on. That way, you will not have to buy clothes if your bag winds up missing.
I also recommend putting a slip of paper inside your bag with the name of your hotel and possibly your itinerary on there. You could get lucky and your missing bag could show up within a few hours or by the next morning. But if you’re on road trip or a cruise, you may not be in the same place from one day to the next. If you have a piece of paper with your itinerary inside, it will make it easier for the airlines to get your bag back to you at your next destination.
Lost Reservations
Hotels can and do overbook from time to time. The best way to secure your booking is by making the reservation directly through the hotel’s website. If you book through a third party, your reservation could be one of the first ones cancelled. Also, if the hotel is booked through a third party, the hotel is not responsible for finding you other accommodations. If, however, you book on the hotel website, and the hotel cancels your reservation, it is the hotel’s responsibility to find you another room at a similar accommodation.
Theft
Pick-pocketing can and does happen almost anywhere. But there are a few things you should do to prevent yourself from being a target. For women, invest in a theft proof cross body bag. Travelon makes theft proof cross body bags and backpacks. When choosing a bag, make sure it is “slash proof”. This means that someone cannot use a pocket knife to cut the strap on the bag or slice the bottom of the bag, spilling the contents. (And yes, this does happen.)
Other features you should look for are locking zippers or something where you may need to push a button to move the zipper. This prevents someone from unzipping your bag without you noticing. And if you can, try to get a bag that has at least one RFID pocket to keep your cards and passports safe. Alternatively for both men and women, you can use a money pouch, worn underneath your clothes. That way, your cards and cash are safely out of view.
Never under any circumstances, flash a lot of cash or open your wallet too wide when out in public. If you’re buying something, and someone sees that you have more cash in your wallet, you could become a target for thieves. Lastly, always make a copy of your passport and keep in a safe place. If the worst happens, and your passport is stolen, it is easier to get a replacement if you have a copy.
Scams
Many countries have tourist related scams. In Rome, there were men dressed up in Gladiator costumes offering to take your picture. But then they would demand payment for that service in order to get your camera back. Also in Italy, there are scammers who slip a string around your finger or wrist and begin making a bracelet. They then demand payment for it and refuse to take it off until you pay them. In other areas, there are scams involving a group of children who gather around an unsuspecting person. While some of the children are there to distract, one of them is stealing your wallet.
I’m definitely not saying that you shouldn’t trust anyone when traveling, but always be careful of your surroundings. Keep an eye on your belongings. And be alert! You are more of a target when you are busy looking at your phone than when you are looking at everyone around you.
Travel nightmares are never fun but you shouldn’t let them ruin the vacation experience for you or your family. Be prepared for anything, but never stop making memories.
