An untimely realization the minute the plane takes off can have massive consequences to the picturesque vacation you envisioned. Some vacation mishaps are unavoidable and simply a matter of luck. But being adequately prepared can cut down on the ensuing fallout in a big way.
Certain steps are easy, like labeling your luggage, and double-checking that you have all required tickets for planes or trains. But if you have a plan in place for when worse comes to worst, it can help bring back your vacation from the brink of oblivion. Here’s some disasters that could happen on your vacation and how to prevent it from ruining your trip:
Vanishing Passports
Discovering that your passport is gone can be harrowing. The best thing to do is react quickly. If you check all your luggage and still cannot find it, head back to where you last had it and check the area thoroughly. If you still have no luck, contact your embassy or follow replacement procedures. It can cost over $100 dollars to replace an adult passport, so weigh your circumstances accordingly.
To get an emergency passport, you need to show up in person to the embassy. This type of passport is only valid for a short duration, so you must prioritize getting a new one once you return home.
A great way to make sure you are prepared is to have a “emergency passport kit” wherever you go. Include a photo ID, passport-size photo, proof of U.S. citizenship, and travel itinerary. It is advised to have a copy of your passport and storing it in a different place from the original. This could even be a PDF on your phone.
Other Lost Necessities
Staying at a family friendly resort or an adults-only resort can provide a home base while on vacation, with a number of stores conveniently located so you can buy anything you may have misplaced. In fact, many times the stores are located within the resort, so an impromptu venture in a foreign land becomes unnecessary.
Flight Fiascos
It can be frustrating to miss out on your flight because you’re three minutes late to board, especially since your flight can be hours late without so much as an apology. The bottom line is that a flight-related crisis can happen to anyone, in spite of how organized and prepared you think yourself to be.
If your flight just departed without you, go to the airline’s desk. Depending on which airline is involved and whether or not the mistake was your fault, you may be entitled to a ticket on the next flight at no charge.
If the airline is unwilling to get you another ticket for free, you’re likely in for a shakedown. You might have to pay full price for the next available flight, and prices skyrocket as the time of purchase gets closer to the time of departure. Let this be a lesson to always be at the airport with more time to spare than you think you need. You never know when a security impediment or inclement weather can hinder your journey. You can also use flight tracking tools to see if your flight is arriving on schedule.
Missing a connecting flight can also mean unwillingly parting ways with your luggage. Go straight to your airline ticket counter to see if they can locate your luggage. They might be able to hold your bags until you arrive at your destination.
To better prepare yourself, always check your airport website for recommended arrival times. These differ from place to place, and some have notoriously longer check-in and security clearance times. If you want to go the extra mile in your preparation, see what other flights are going to your destination on your chosen date of departure and write them down. This way you have a fair chance at an alternative should your original flight plan fall through.
Travel insurance is worth looking into as well, especially in regard to remediating a missed flight. Car accident, illness, or natural disasters are generally covered, but missing a flight due to negligence on your part is probably out of the question.
Injury And Illness
Getting sick or sustaining an injury in a foreign place can add another layer of anxiety and frustration to an already precarious situation. For this reason, you should absolutely prepare for the possibility before you leave. Research the country’s emergency numbers and familiarize yourself with the local embassy. You should also try to locate English-speaking doctors in the area if you are unfamiliar with the local language.
Check on the amount of your remaining medicine or medication before you leave, and schedule a timely refill of prescriptions if necessary. If you are staying at a hotel and a situation presents itself, speak with the concierge. They will likely be able to point you in the right direction or have a doctor come to the hotel.
Make the Most of Your Trip
No matter what happens before or during your vacation, try and put your best foot forward. Most of the time, the situation that pops up can be easily fixed. You can be the most prepared person but something can still go wrong. It’s better to just accept what goes wrong and go on with your vacation and make the most of it.
