Having the ability to travel the world is seriously such a blessing. There aren’t many things I enjoy more than diving head first into a new place, visiting iconic structures, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. But what about when things don’t go as planned? We always need to prepare for the worst while traveling to prepare you for those special circumstances that can arise.
Here’s Preparing for the Worst While Traveling: Tips to Remember
Tell Others About Your Itinerary
Whether you’re traveling as a family or flying solo, it’s important to make aware your travel plans to someone who isn’t traveling with you. I always print out extra copies of my itinerary and distribute them to a couple of close family members or friends. Doing this allows them to know where I’ll be and when I’ll be there, along with accommodation and contact information so they’re able to reach me if they haven’t heard from me.
Ensure that you’re only telling people you trust about your itinerary, especially if it’s detailed. Giving out too much information to people that you don’t know can put yourself in harm’s way, something we all want to avoid while traveling!
Buy That Travel Insurance
Trust me, I know how hard it is to dish out that extra $30 at checkout for travel insurance when you just dropped $500 on a flight but having travel insurance can come in handy for a number of reasons. If you end up needing medical assistance while you’re away, most insurances cover that. In the case of a delayed vacation due to things like strikes or natural disasters, then travel insurance could mean you won’t be paying out of pocket. When in the event of an emergency, call your insurer right away to see what you need to do about making a claim.
Important Things to Pack
There are a number of things you can bring with you on your trip, space permitting, that can aid you in different circumstances. Packing a small first aid kit is a good idea so you’re able to treat cuts and grazes if you happen to get those. Adding in medications or supplements, like CBD capsules, can help combat those yucky feelings while traveling.
Remembering to pack a few extra hygiene products in your carryon, especially in the case of lost luggage, is something I always do. Add in some baby wipes, hand sanitizer gel, travel-size toothpaste and deodorant to cover you on those long travel days.
Know What to Do if You Get Sick
Getting sick is obviously no fun but it’s even worse when you’re traveling abroad and need medical advice. Luckily there’s a worldwide symbol of a green cross that indicates a pharmacy. Take note of that so you’re able to look out for it if you’re in need of some medications.
While in Koh Samui in Thailand, I ran out of dramamine and found that green cross symbol on a building in one of the villages. Within minutes, I was walking out of the door with some nausea medication that lasted me the rest of the trip. If you’re facing some intense symptoms, especially in a country where illnesses are common, it’s important to take note of the emergency numbers, as well as where the nearest hospital or clinic is.
Check the Climate
Always, always always check out the climate and seasonal changes in the location you’re going to ensure you’re prepared for any mishaps. Why is this so important? Well, one example is how the hurricane season in the Caribbean being from September to November. Researching this beforehand and reading about what to do in case of emergencies in that region is important knowledge to have before traveling there during that time.
Make Copies of Your Documents
Making copies of your passports and other travel documents is something all travelers should think about. There’s always that off chance that you could misplace your things or they’re stolen so having a spare of those documents are imperative. A list of emergency contact details, printed out and not on the phone, can also be beneficial, especially if you lose your phone in the ocean or something! (How awful would that be?!)
Have an Extra Credit Card on Hand
This is something I had to learn the hard way on! A couple of years ago while traveling to Greece, our bank account got hacked, completely freezing our checking, savings, and even our credit card. After that unfortunate circumstance, we now carry a different credit card with us that is unrelated to our bank account. That way, if our account is affected the other card is still okay to use.
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