Planning the ultimate trip is possibly one of the most fun things you can do – aside from actually taking the trip itself. While it can be a little stressful when you are in the process of arranging everything, once everything is ready, there is such a sense of relief and excitement that everything leading up to your departure seems simply insignificant!
But what if your dream trip isn’t the dream you always hoped for? Sometimes, just one small flaw can stop things further off the beaten path than you could have ever imagined, and before you know it, it has become a nightmare. It’s not fun to think about, and thankfully, it’s very rare, but here are a few ideas on how to cope when something goes wrong in a strange land…
1. Before you leave, make sure you have purchased travel insurance. It’s not a gimmick, nor is it a waste of your time and money – potentially saving you thousands. It doesn’t matter how much health care costs where you’re from (or not, in some cases), things are very different abroad and you’re not necessarily covered like you are at home. Thousands of dollars in bills won’t be fun, especially when you’ve spent a fortune on your trip to begin with.
2. Changing money in the currency of the respective country or countries you will visit is an absolute given. Often, when you arrive there aren’t many places to do this, unless the place you’re going is super-touristy. A great modern way to organize your travel money is to pre-deposit currency on an International debit card. If all else fails, you’ll want a back-up plan – so it might be a good idea to have family and friends on standby to lend to you, should there be any emergency expenses. Now there are a few cheap ways of transferring money to anywhere in the world, using services like Azimowhich can be used even on social networking profiles like Facebook.
International Currency (Photo credit: epSos.de)
3. Make a list of any important phone numbers you will need, both on your mobile device and on paper, to be stored in a safe place. If you have a legal or medical difficulty, you will need to contact not only your family, but also any relevant authorities back home and where you live. Store your family numbers under ‘ICE’ in your phone too, so someone knows who to call if you’re in a situation where you can’t tell them yourself. There are some great apps you can use to keep your costs down while traveling, such as Skype and Viber. Remember, roaming charges will inevitably cost more than at home, usually even if you have an inclusive allowance.
4. Make sure you have copies of your passport and other forms of Identification, in case of loss or theft. Back these up digitally, so you can regain access, at least temporarily. It’s always good to find out where the nearest consulate to your own country is – they can give you advice or support in case of anything from a natural disaster to terrorism. You can find more about consular provision for American citizens and citizens of the United Kingdom before leaving.
5. Make friends. When you go somewhere new, you can feel potentially isolated, especially if things don’t go as you expected. It is a good idea to have someone who knows the law of the country, or who can help you with things like language barriers and practicality. Failing that, it is a very good idea to equip yourself with some basic language skills, as well as an idea of how to observe the cultural practices in the place you are visiting. This can be really important – things that are acceptable where you are may be offensive or even illegal elsewhere.