Travelers often like to venture off the beaten path. But needing to be rescued as a result is a whole different story.

     Leaders of the village of Baunei, on Sardinia’s eastern coast, say that’s just what’s been happening to travelers following the popular Google Maps app. And they’re trying to put an end to the misdirection that has prompted a reported 144 emergency calls from drivers and hikers over the past couple of years, according to CNN.

Misleading The Tourists

     “Too many sedans and hatchbacks are getting stuck on unpassable tracks — sometimes off-road vehicles, too,” Baunei Mayor Salvatore Corrias told CNN. “All because they follow Google Maps, whose instructions are often misleading on our roads.”

     So the village is urging people to use local tour guides or paper maps instead — just definitely not the technology they may be used to in their everyday lives.

     The Baunei Facebook page shows roadside police signs that say in Italian and English: “Do not follow the directions suggested by Google Maps.” It also includes images of vehicles on rocky paths, including some with ropes attached for apparent towing.

#Blocked

     According to the Daily Beast, the mayor has taken steps to get the navigation app blocked on the mountain village known for its hiking. He has also asked managers of tourist sites such as hotels, restaurants, and museums to use paper maps, the publication reported.

     “We’re aware of an issue in Sardinia where Google Maps is routing some drivers down roads that can be difficult to navigate due to their terrain,” a Google statement said. “We’re currently working with the local government to resolve the issue, and are investigating ways we can better alert drivers about these types of roads.”

International Road Blocks

     Other destinations have had their own Google Maps mishaps in the past. Between 2015 and 2017, tourists looking for the Blue Mountains in Australia were directed to a dead-end road more than 20 miles away, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Occasionally, those visitors would knock on residents’ doors looking for a restroom. In March 2017, a woman driving to the Grand Canyon followed Google Maps’ directions down a road in Arizona and ended up stranded for days when her car ran out of gas, the Dallas Morning News reported.

     Tourists in Italy blamed the navigation app in 2016 when they drove over a pedestrian bridge and along the Grand Canal in Venice, according to the Local. That same year, some tourists searching for Mount Rushmore were led by Google Maps instead to a church camp, the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal reported.

 A woman who worked at the Storm Mountain Center camp about 13 miles from the national memorial, Ashley Wilsey, told the newspaper that she often had to break the news to visitors that they were in the wrong place.

     “For the most part, people have been very friendly, but some people are very insistent that this is where Mount Rushmore should be,” she said.

Taking a vacation is supposed to be an opportunity to relax and refuel. But it’s not so relaxing if you end up getting injured during your trip.

This is what you need to know if you suffer an injury while you’re traveling, and which steps to take next.

1. Prepare Ahead of Time

Before you go on a vacation, it’s best to prepare in advance for any issue that could arise. If you plan to travel outside of the country, for example, make sure you plan ahead by having the appropriate international emergency numbers readily available on your phone.

You may also want to consider getting travel insurance. That can help to cover any medical expenses you may incur unexpectedly or assist if you should have to rebook a flight.

Though some countries have universal healthcare, they vary on how reliable and affordable they can be for travelers and ex-pats.

Don’t forget to look into insurance coverage if you’re planning to rent a car while you’re out of the country. Some rental companies feature great coverage, but others will insist you pay an outrageous amount out of pocket, and undergo an arduous process to obtain compensation.

2. Seek Medical Attention

Your health and safety are the most important thing here. Before you do anything else, always seek medical attention first. Follow the treatment plan prescribed by the medical professionals to ensure you enjoy the quickest and safest recovery.

3. Get the Details for the Others Involved

Some injuries that happen while you’re traveling may be attributable to the actions of another party, such as in a motor vehicle collision. In that case, make sure you gather all the details from the other party involved.

These will include the other driver’s:

• Full name and contact information
• Driver’s license number
• Insurance company phone number
• Insurance policy number

Depending on whether you’re in another state or another nation, various factors may become crucial when you fill out the insurance claim. You might be driving a rental car or under the auspices of an unfamiliar jurisdiction.

If such is the case, you’ll probably want to consult with a personal injury lawyer. He or she will be the professional who has a solid understanding of local laws and what your rights may be in this situation.

4. Collect All Documentation

Filing a claim to cover medical expenses or vehicle damage will require you to provide pertinent details to your insurance company. Out-of-state claims are filed similar to in-state claims.

You’ll have to provide vital data such as a police report and any photos or videos of the scene of the accident.

5. Talk to Your Host or Hotel

Getting injured might necessitate a delay in your return home. You may want to speak with your Airbnb host or hotel about the possibility of extending your stay.

The facility might already have booked your room during the coming days. Find out whether you may negotiate a room switch. Otherwise, you’ll have to look for another place to stay in the area during your recovery.

There is also the possibility that your injury occurred while you were on someone’s property. The owner could share some of the liability for the incident, and therefore your injuries.

Most establishments have protocols for these situations. Here again, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer if the incident happened on company property.

6. Go to Your Local U.S. Embassy

If you’re traveling abroad and didn’t obtain travel insurance, you should get in touch with the nearest U.S. embassy immediately. They’ll be able to assist you in finding the nearest medical and legal professionals who can address your situation.

The embassy may also have the ability to provide accommodations if you need them.

Summary

No one wants to get injured at any time, but especially while you’re on vacation. Always try to plan ahead by carrying the appropriate travel insurance regardless of where you may be headed.

Have local emergency numbers readily available. Most important, seek medical attention right away. You don’t want to find out you’ve had a traumatic brain injury down the road because you refused to seek treatment at the time.

Do you plan on taking a long-distance trip on the water? Traveling long distances on a boat is fun and exciting, and is an excellent way to see the world when you know where to dock along the way. The only problem with being out on the water is that you’re essentially alone, and you have to make sure your boat is in top shape and has been well-maintained.

While standard boat maintenance is fairly easy to manage, you may not have considered how your boat motor will impact your trip. If you’ve got an outboard motor, for example, you may want to consider getting an inboard motor before you head out, and here’s why.

Long trips require high fuel efficiency

Long trips require plenty of fuel. When your boat doesn’t have good fuel efficiency, you’ll need to refuel more often on your long-distance trip. You can certainly get a more fuel-efficient motor, but you won’t get that much more out of it compared to an inboard motor.

While an inboard motor is more fuel-efficient than any outboard motor, electric inboard motors are superior in this realm. Electric inboard boat motors are the ultimate motor for long-distance boating adventures since they don’t rely on fuel. You can’t get more efficient than that!

How far will you travel before stopping to dock? If you’re going on a long-distance trip, you’ll benefit most from an electric inboard motor for two reasons. First, fuel is expensive and getting better mileage will save you money. Second, you’ll be able to travel further without refueling, which could mean choosing your ideal destination rather than settling for something closer because of your motor’s limitations.

Long trips necessitate more power

Traveling a long way on a boat is better when you have more power, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with an inboard motor. Since inboards are constructed in a way similar to car engines, they have more horsepower and torque. You’re probably going to be traveling in a larger boat for a long trip, which necessitates more power. You won’t do well on a long trip in a small boat with an outboard motor. You need a larger boat, which requires an inboard motor.

If you need a detailed explanation for how an inboard motor works, this guide will explain everything. There are many different types, and they operate slightly differently. Knowing these details can help you decide if switching to an inboard is the right move.

You’ll create less pollution

Outboard motors can have a serious impact on the environment in several ways. There’s far more potential for pollution than you might realize. Not only do gas outboard motors produce emissions, but they can also pollute the water since they sit outside of the boat and are always partially in the water.

The Wisconsin DNR studied how boat motors affect water quality, and found that they often introduce metals and chemicals into the water. With respect to gas-powered motors, some of the fuel actually ends up in the water, unburned. For instance, a two-stroke motor deposits between 25-30% of unburned gas and oil into the water.

You don’t want to deal with maintenance needs

All boat motors require maintenance at some point, but inboards require less frequent adjustments. Since maintenance needs are less frequent with inboard motors, you won’t have to worry so much about breakdowns on a long-distance trip. As long as you’ve been maintaining your motor properly, an inboard motor is less likely to cause problems on a long trip.

Outboard motors, on the other hand, require maintenance more frequently, and that means there’s more of a chance that something could go wrong while you’re traveling.

Maximize your fun with an inboard motor

When you’re traveling far on a boat, you want to spend your time enjoying your trip and the beautiful scenery, not worrying about all the technical details or possible breakdowns.

Before you set sail, consider trading your outboard motor for an inboard motor and enjoy your trip knowing you’re polluting less without sacrificing your power.