Most of us have been there. You spend hours planning the perfect trip, and something goes array. Yes, it can be upsetting, and it can feel like wasted time and money.
The more you travel, the more something is bound to go wrong. But don't let this deter you from taking adventures.
From getting sick to getting pickpocketed, I've had a wide variety of mishaps occur while traveling. Hopefully some of these tips below will help you out when you encounter mishaps while traveling.
Mishaps Covered in This Article:
Bad Weather
Getting Pickpocketed
Lost/Stolen Passport
Lost luggage
Flight Cancellation/Severe Delay
Bad Weather:
If there's one thing you will never be able to predict, it's the weather. I try my hardest to look at rainfall averages in certain places and try to go when I think it will be the driest months. This has gotten me soaked without a rain jacket on more than one occasion.
My best advice for you is to look into indoor activities at your destination. If you're a museum person, this is simple. There are plenty of museums to check out in any city. This can also help teach you history about where you are, introduce you to their local art, or simply keep you entertained.
Other great rainy day ideas: check out local movies, get your laundry done (if you are traveling for an extended period of time), try your hand at a local cooking class, local comedy clubs, indoor shopping areas, or look into some indoor wine or beer tastings. There are a wide variety of options to check out in bad weather. Don't let a little rain get you down. Honestly, some of my Plan B activities from weather have turned out to be my most memorable moments from a trip. You just need to keep an open mind and a positive attitude!
Getting Pickpocketed:
This situation is more difficult to keep a positive attitude about, but it's important to remain calm when this happens. And, unfortunately, it can happen anywhere. I made a rookie mistake in a crowded market a few years back and had my passport stolen from my bag (my guess is they thought it was a wallet).
If you are pickpocketed, remember that what has been stolen is replaceable. You are not. Take a moment to remember that you are safe and that whatever has been taken can be replaced.
Steps to Take:
File a police report. You'll want an official record of what's been taken in case you'll need this for insurance purposes later.
Assess if this is something that needs to be replaced right away, or if you can enjoy the rest of your trip without this item and take care of it when you get home.
Replace item when the time is appropriate.
These steps might seem like common sense, but it's important to keep the perspective that even though having your items stolen can feel so violating, that when you take your emotions out of the equation, there are simple steps to take to recuperate and get back to your adventure.
Lost/Stolen Passport:
If you have the misfortune like I did of getting your passport pickpocketed and you happen to be out of the country, you will need to fill out this Lost or Stolen Passport form and make your way to a United States Embassy as soon as you're able. The US Embassy will be able to issue you an Emergency Passport to get you through your trip. When you get back to the United States, you can send in your Emergency Passport with a new form to receive a new 10 year passport. It's an inconvenience, yes, but you adventure is not over because of this mishap.
Lost Luggage:
The best piece of advice that I can give for your luggage to not be lost is to always carry-on, even in your longer trips. Check out my 10 Tips for Packing Light for advice on how to utilize a carry-on for almost any trip. Of course there are trips where luggage simply cannot be avoided; maybe you're going on a ski trip, rock climbing trip, camping trip, etc. and luggage is absolutely necessary.
Here are some tips for proactive measures to keep your luggage from being lost and how to help if it is lost:
Make sure you've packed your trip essentials in your carry-on. Have at least two days worth of clothing.
Buy Luggage Smart Tags to keep in your luggage so you're able to track your bags in case they are lost.
Check-in two hours early for your flight to ensure enough time for your bags to get to your plane.
If your checked luggage does get lost, report it immediately and make sure you have your baggage claim ticket to track down the correct bag. Make sure you have the correct address and dates where you're staying to ensure they can get your bags to the right place once they've arrived.
Flight Cancellation/Severe Delay
There's a lot to cover with this topic, but I will go through some of main tips to be aware of when you encounter a flight cancellation or a severe delay (more than 12 hours).
Contact the airline immediately to get an understanding of your options for rebooking.
Know your Federal rights when you travel. If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund for your ticket; whether your ticket was refundable or not.
Contract of Carriage Policy - (There is no more Rule of 240, and now each airline company has their own Contract of Carriage.) But, if there is a significant delay or cancellation to your flight that is not weather related, the airline can transfer you to one of their partnership airlines if a flight gets to your destination more quickly that your original flight. This should be done at no cost to you.
It's important to know the differences that airlines will offer you for various inconveniences. Check out this Airline Customer Service Dashboard from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a quick glance at what major airlines will offer.
Once your trip is finally finished, it's also worth reaching out to the airline to reiterate the inconvenience caused, adding in any receipts for additional expenses incurred to ask for reimbursement and frequent flier miles for the disruption.
The bottom line is that mishaps while traveling will occur on the occasion. The most important piece to remember when something goes wrong, is to stay calm and think through your options. A mishap does not mean that your trip is ruined, it only means that your trip is different now. Keep getting out there for adventures, and know that having to deal with mishaps will only continue to make you a more savvy traveller.
Share a comment below of your craziest travel mishap!
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