The Perils Of Traveling

When we travel, for business or pleasure, we expect everything to go smoothly. But seasoned travelers will advise you to plan ahead for unexpected bumps and bruises along the way.

Before you head out on your next traveling adventure, here are a few things for you to consider. Always plan ahead to minimize the stress.

OMG I Lost My Wallet!

Losing your wallet is one of the more disheartening moments for any traveler. Your identity and your money are gone. Depending on where you are, you might be able to make it for a little bit to get by until you can rectify the situation.

First and foremost, take a deep breath and retrace your steps. If you are able to go back to where you last saw your wallet, do so! If you have been swapping planes and trains for the last couple of days, that may not be an option.

This is when reaching out to family and friends can be your biggest help. Fortunately, there are companies that allow friends and family to send money online to you in just about any city in the world.

This can help you finish your trip while dealing with the headache of reporting your cards lost and working at regaining your identification quickly.

I Can’t Communicate With Anyone!

One of the most important pieces of advice we give to any traveler is to leave an itinerary with someone at home on your plans. Plans often change and you have to notify family of the situation.

Or perhaps you just want to speak with family while you are halfway around the globe. Either way, nothing is more disheartening when you can’t come in contact with family. Sometimes people have issues sending emails or phone calls don’t go through.

If you travel often, look for a service that provides you with email service just in case you can’t use your usual email. In the case of your cell phone, check with your carrier to see if they support international phone usage before you make your trip.

Many carriers now offer international rates so that you can still stay connected. Secondly, you can opt for a sim card that you purchase in the country you are visiting and get a temporary number to use while visiting and make international calls. In some cases, it’s a more affordable option than adding international service to your phone.

I Am In Need Of Medical Care, Now What?

If you are traveling in the US, getting sick or injured is a relatively easy thing to deal with. Your insurance claims can be filed by the medical team that is seeing you. If you are traveling overseas, getting sick can become a different adventure.

Firstly, if you are on medications that you must take to avoid being sick, make sure you have plenty on hand for your trip. Secondly, do what you can to avoid getting sick. Check advisories on food and water before you go to a new country.

To avoid injury, simply be mindful of your surroundings to minimize the odds of getting hurt. It can still happen but taking extra steps can help you avoid it.

Thirdly, look to see if your insurance is accepted in the country you are going to or if your insurance has travel options to cover you overseas. If that is unavailable, look for travel insurance that will cover you in the event you are sick or injured.

Traveling should be a fun adventure, even for those traveling for business. Small mishaps like a missed connection or flight delay happen and are unavoidable.

Other occurrences can leave us feeling helpless and vulnerable. Whatever happens, you will be okay and get through it. Just take a few extra precautions before heading out.