What to Do When Travel Turns to Disaster

Laying out on a towel watching the sunset on a private beach with a special someone is what many imagine when booking and planning a relaxing vacation.

Far too often, this scenario doesn’t pan out because of unfortunate events that occur all too often during travel. Oftentimes, instead of beaches or nature hikes, it ends up being hospital bills and lost luggage.

Hopefully, this kind of scenario will never be relatable. Just like fire drills, escape routes, and other emergency procedures that many go through to prepare for the “what if” situation, it is also wise to be prepared to know what to do if a vacation takes a turn for the worst.

In the case of travel, there are three precautions that everyone should take, especially if traveling internationally.

1. Know Your Insurance

Knowing insurance policies is a good practice in general, but especially true when traveling. Traveling creates quite a few unique situations that don’t happen during a typical day. Below are just some of the different scenarios that may need insurance.

• Driving a rental car
• Driving in a different country
• Signing waivers for extreme activities
• Medical needs in a different country
• Medical needs in a different state (out of network)

The list could continue, but the point is clear; traveling creates very unique situations that make otherwise clear resolutions murky.

In the case of driving, some insurances may not want to cover a client if the client is covered for a 2005 Honda Civic and the accident happens in a 2022 Mustang GT. The insurance agency may also hesitate if in a different country or if local laws are different.

Long story short, checking into these unique situations is wise, and it is also a good idea to have an attorney look over anything that seems questionable. The same goes for medical exams, emergency room visits, and any other scenario that gets an insurance agency involved.

2. Take Precautions With Luggage

Nearly 0.5% of all luggage gets lost between check-in and baggage claim. While this seems really low, if on a trip with four others, each with one suitcase, that is a 2.5% of having luggage disappear. Still not a huge percentage, however enough to take precautions.

There are typically four reasons that luggage gets lost, and each one has a simple precaution that can be taken.

• Luggage Receives Incorrect Ticket – Following being scanned, every once in a while, the tag placed on the suitcase is given an incorrect destination. Simply asking to see the tag after being scanned at the desk can prevent this from happening.
• Luggage is Taken by Wrong Person – It is very easy to grab the wrong suitcase, especially if it is a typical sized black suitcase that looks like most of the other luggage. The solution here is simple: either get unique luggage or tie a bright string around the handle of the suitcase.
• Luggage is Lost or Misplaced During Layovers – There isn’t too much that can be done to prevent this, however keeping valuables in a carry-on can help with not losing expensive or invaluable materials such as a laptop, passport, or other legal documents. Clothes can be bought anywhere, but without a passport, you could be in real trouble.

Most of the time, the luggage will find itself back to the owner. However, as mentioned, taking these precautions will save a lot of headache and stress.

3. Get Familiar With Local Laws

This tip is especially true while traveling abroad, but could be the most essential. For example, if traveling in certain parts of the world, it may be illegal to wear a pride flag, a cross, or share a political agenda.

In other parts of the world, if someone gets pulled over in a car, the police can arrest them and they may not have a right to an attorney, speedy trial, or any other rights that many are accustomed to.

Every country is different, and knowing the laws isn’t always fun to research, but it could save you from being in a really tough situation.

By taking all of these precautions, travelers can feel a bit more secure about actually making it to the beach and enjoying the sunset.