Travel Disasters Every Tourist Should Be Prepared For
Travel Disasters Every Tourist Should Be Prepared For
Plato Quote I
November 7, 2021
Heraclitus Quote I
November 23, 2021Traveling allows you to create memories lasting a lifetime. But these memories aren’t always about the beautiful places you visited or the new cuisines and cultures you explored. Sometimes, they’re about the things that went wrong and the lessons you learned the hard way.
Even carefully devised plans can go down the drain when unexpected circumstances knock at your door. But take heart in the fact that where there’s a problem, there’s also a solution. Plus, it’s common for things not to go as planned, and sometimes it’s for the better!
Before you board your next flight or hit the road again, here are the top 7 travel disasters that every tourist should be prepared for. We’ll also discuss the reasons behind their occurrence, relevant statistics and probabilities, and inspiring takeaways from each situation. And hey, these are the worst-case scenarios of what can go wrong during your travels – it can’t get any worse (well, hopefully not).
1. Lost Luggage
Imagine landing at your destination super excited for your vacation to find out that one of your luggage bags went missing! While that’s bad enough, having your expensive jewelry, electronics, and important documents in the lost bag is even worse. (That’s your sign to keep essentials and high-value items in your carry-on.)
Reasons
Your luggage can go missing due to several reasons. The routing label on your bags can go missing or get damaged. As a result, when your bag reaches the distribution area, the staffers won’t know where to send it, and so, it’ll stay there (until you contact the authorities and ask them to find your lost luggage).
Sometimes, human error can be the cause. For example, the attendant may type in the wrong destination code, taking your bag to the wrong place. Or, an employee placed your bag onto the wrong baggage cart, leading it onto the wrong plane.
Probability And Statistics
Global statistics claim that airlines misplaced a whopping 24.8 million pieces of checked luggage in 2018. Travel Stats Man stated that $1.25 billion worth of luggage was lost or stolen in the same year.
With the numbers being that high, there’s a decent probability you might end up losing a part of your luggage. If the airline is at fault for the misplaced luggage, you’re likely to recover your lost items within 24 hours.
Reflection
Losing your luggage can be extremely inconvenient, but it’ll teach you a thing or two about how airlines handle – and well, mishandle – baggage. Take control of the unknown by ensuring that you keep all essential items such as ID, debit/credit cards, medications, and electronics on your carry-on luggage. That way, if you confront this travel disaster, you only have to worry about replaceable items such as clothes.
2. Natural Disasters And Bad Weather
Sometimes, nature can come between you and your ideal traveling experience. From large-scale interventions, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and hurricanes, to lesser significant problems, such as excessive rain and extreme temperatures, there’s a lot you could face.
Reasons
Without delving into the details of geology and scientific reasons behind natural disasters, you’re likely to experience these scenarios simply because Mother Nature decided to have it that way for you. Not to say that you should leave it all up to Mother Nature – doing your research on your destination(s) and analyzing the possibilities of natural disasters during different times of the year will help you book your trip during low-risk months.
Probability And Statistics
On average, natural disasters kill 60,000 people (0.1% of the population) – and that doesn’t include only travelers. So, while facing a hurricane or earthquake during your travels might be terrifying, it most likely won’t kill you.
However, preventative measures are still necessary, and people are becoming more and more cautious. According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, $1.3 billion was spent by 67 million Americans on travel insurance in 2006 – 20% more than the preceding years.
Reflection
Experiencing a natural disaster would really be the worst-case scenario. Still, you could later find comfort in the fact that you emerged out of it safely. Consider it a new experience (though not so pleasant), in which you witnessed Mother Nature doing her thing firsthand. You might also learn a handful of ways to protect yourself from the natural disaster you experienced and be a source of knowledge and inspiration for people wishing to learn more about it.
3. Theft
Let’s face it – every part of the world has its dangerous places, with pickpockets and thieves being almost everywhere. Thieves can steal your passport, creating problems for you while boarding your return flight. They could snatch your phone, making you lose connection with your family or your wallet, which would mean losing your money and credit cards. Besides that, other belongings (and even entire luggage bags) can get mugged.
Reasons
Getting robbed during traveling is likely to occur because you’re new to the place and aren’t familiar with the unsafe zones of the area. Plus, every region has its own way of handling pickpockets, which you probably don’t know about. Sometimes, your things can get stolen because of a mistake done on your part; with so much going on, it’s easy to forget essentials on counters, in stores, or in bathrooms. Additionally, theft is widespread in airports, owing to the enormous crowds and exhausted travelers.
Probability And Statistics
Thefts and robberies are becoming so common that they have begun to influence tourists’ decisions regarding traveling. According to SafeWare, a famous source of theft information, 10% of the world’s laptop thefts have occurred at airports – if you’re carrying a laptop, keep it close to you! However, don’t let these incidents stop you from traveling. By taking necessary precautions and researching the danger zones of your destination beforehand, you’ll be good to go.
Reflection
Losing your essentials can be a nuisance, but there’s always something to learn from each incident. If your phone gets robbed, take it as an opportunity to enjoy your time without social media and screens (you can always find alternative ways to contact your friends and family). If other luggage gets snatched, you can test your limits and see how well you can do with minimal items. Plus, from this experience, you’ll learn how to guard your things better and increase your awareness of your surroundings.
4. Navigation Problems
When you’re in a new area, it’s easy to have problems with navigation – probably not the worst-case scenario, but still counts as a travel disaster. Navigation issues can occur in two ways: you don’t know where to go, or you have no idea where you’re currently located. Either way, getting lost is a tremendous time-suck and can cause you to miss out on previous arrangements.
Reasons
Usually, people who don’t have a strong sense of direction can lose their way. Getting lost is also possible if you don’t have a stable internet connection or an all-in-one GPS installed in your phone (both of which help with navigating).
Probability And Statistics
The likelihood of getting lost is high, especially for those who do not possess an innate sense of direction. However, the probability also relates to your level of preparation. Organizing your itinerary, familiarizing yourself with foreign signs, or learning the directional words in the language of the country you will be visiting are all ways you can decrease the probability of this travel disaster.
Reflection
If you ever happen to lose your way, take it as an opportunity to discover new places – who knows, you might unexpectedly have the best adventure of your life. Remember – sometimes, it’s OK to get lost.
Also, it may be a sign that you should brush up on your ancient navigational skills without depending on technology. This may not seem important if you’re traveling in a city, but imagine getting lost in nature where you don’t have a friendly local to point you in the right direction.
5. Issues With Documentation
One super common travel disaster includes documentation issues. For example, your visa waiver (typically 90 days for American citizens visiting European countries) may expire during your stay while it needs to be valid for the entire stay.
Sometimes, airport staffers may confuse the rules imposed on different countries. For example, the general rule for traveling to the U.S. is that your passport is valid for at least six months after the planned time of return. However, citizens of some countries may only be required to have their passport valid during the time of their intended stay in the United States.
Since the pandemic, different countries have implemented their restrictions for entry. Some countries have issued a travel advisory to prohibit unvaccinated non-nationals from entering their country. Some countries have insisted that passengers produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 72 hours of their departure. The Points Guy has a great article listing a country-by-country guide to where you can only go if you are vaccinated.
Reasons
Documentation issues can occur due to various reasons. The airport staffers may not have complete knowledge (as exemplified above). Frequently the traveler is at fault because they haven’t researched all the travel requirements needed to enter a foreign country.
Probability And Statistics
According to research conducted by IATA Airlines, 60,000 travelers are turned back due to incorrect documentation yearly. The research further suggests that one in 25,000 passengers board planes with documentation problems and are later sent back by the destination airport. Though the chances of you being one of those passengers are slim, you should still double-check your documentation requirements before heading to the airport.
Reflection
Documentation problems are annoying, especially when you’re not the one at fault. But if you view it from a different perspective, they provide you with the opportunity to learn more about how travel requirements and documentation work. Plus, the experience will encourage you to connect with authentic sources and get accurate knowledge before your next trip.
6. Injury Or Illness
Another worst-case travel disaster includes getting sick during your travels. This, of course, has several levels of severity – from a common cold to a broken bone, you could experience it all. It’d be no surprise for you to face stress-related problems, which would especially accompany any other travel disasters you face. Plus, you could get stomach problems, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. With the ongoing pandemic, another solid addition to this list would be contracting the coronavirus.
Reasons
The climate change you experience while traveling between hot and cool regions could make you fall sick. Overdoing your physical capacity, getting infected, lacking sleep, or having an accident during your adventures (such as falling during a hike) could also be to blame. Eating unsanitary food and drinking unbottled water often contribute to sickness. The latter is possible because your gut may not be used to the tap water contaminants of the new area.
Sometimes, sickness is possible merely due to a change in timings – or possible neglection – of regular medications.
Finally, you can contract COVID-19 if you come in contact with infected people and don’t comply with the recommended SOPs. Crowded hotspots, such as airports and train stations, are cesspools of pathogens.
Probability And Statistics
Getting sick during vacations (and over weekends) is so common that doctors have named it ‘leisure sickness.’ A 2019 Airline Water Study conducted by dietdetective.com and the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center revealed that many airlines had provided passengers with unhealthy water. Another research shows that the airplane tray tables have approximately eight times more germs than lavatory flush buttons!
With so many germs surrounding you, the probability of falling sick is considerable, mainly because your immune system is likely to weaken during traveling. Added to the above, 38% of respondents of a particular survey stated that their top concern while traveling is the fear of falling sick.
Reflection
Getting sick is inconvenient, sure, but it comes with its benefits. It gives you a much-needed rest that you probably wouldn’t take otherwise. You get to sit back and view your trip from a different perspective. Recalling the fun moments you’ve had, expressing gratitude for your health, and looking forward to creating more memories once you’re back on your feet are a few of these.
In addition, it serves as a reminder to feed yourself healthy food and clean water no matter where you are. If nothing, fighting those pathogens will give a boost to your immune system!
7. Missed Flight
Finally, a travel disaster you can experience is missing a flight. There’s a possibility that you reach the airport to find out your plane has already taken off. Alternatively, you may be stuck in the long airport security line and end up missing your flight.
Reasons
Perhaps, you could miss your flight because of bad timing – some people tend to reach the airport a little before their take-off time, which is a pretty bad idea. Being there at least 3 hours before will cut out this risk.
Mixing AM and PM while checking your flight timings, forgetting something essential at home, or a lost boarding pass could also be why.
People are often late to the airport because of bad weather conditions, car problems, and traffic. You’d be surprised to know – there’s a (slim) chance of you missing your flight simply because you missed the boarding call!
Probability And Statistics
Generally, 5% of people who book their flights fail to show up and consequently miss it. At times, this percentage can go as high as 15%. A survey has shown that one in every seven travelers miss their flight due to long security lines. People between the ages of 20 and 37 were most affected by this issue.
Reflection
Missing a flight due to things you can’t control, such as bad weather and traffic jams, shouldn’t let you down – remember that you can’t control the uncontrollable and should go with the flow. If you happen to be at fault in the whole scenario, be positive about catching the next possible flight and take the incident as a lesson to be more punctual.
A Word Of Advice
Mishaps can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. But they’re worse when they rear their ugly head during your travels. However, the key is to keep your positivity intact, stay relaxed, and go with the flow. More times than not, everything turns out just fine. Besides, every travel disaster and worst-case scenario gives you a thrilling story to tell your friends and family about when you return!
Control what you can control and make the most of what you can’t. Plans seldom go unchallenged, so make preparations, do your research, and you’ll have no problem navigating these travel disasters in the future.
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