There’s a mindset that the seasoned traveler has, and that is, things can and will eventually go wrong!
I believe and prepare for that!
Expecting everything to go perfectly on your trip is only setting yourself up to fail. At some point in your travels, you’re going to get lost, lose something valuable, get scammed, miss your flight, train, or bus, get sick or injured… the list is endless because there are many moving parts to travel and many times you put your faith in others!
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
Starting with the expectation that something could happen will prepare you with mental toughness. When it’s done and over with, you’ll probably find it funny rather than frustrating, and you’ll have a story to tell.
So what do you do when and if something happens? I want to say something else, but I can’t. You know what I mean.
# 1 rule, don’t lose your temper when something goes wrong!
Losing your temper achieves absolutely nothing and can sometimes make things worse for you, and you look like a, you know what.
If you’re prepared with a Travelers Checklist, an Over the Counter med list, an Emergency Contact list, and taken necessary precautions and actions for preparedness, you’ll be prepared to handle just about anything.
Let me give you some examples.
- You lost your passport. Contact the nearest embassy to obtain a replacement. If you have traveler’s insurance, they can assist as well.
- You get sick. Since you have packed an OTC bag, you’re probably covered for whatever ails you. If not, the hotel can assist or, once again, if you have travelers’ insurance and you should, you have coverage and assistance with them.
- You lost your wallet. Albeit it a pain and significant inconvenience, you’re a savvy traveler and don’t have all of your financials in one place. You have cash and other credit cards in your safety deposit box or another safe place. You then contact any cards that have been compromised and stop them or have the apps and take care of it immediately!
- Your flight is delayed or canceled, or you missed your flight. You’ll get on the next available flight, and yes, you may miss out on something but, so what, you have the rest of your days to enjoy. Sidebar: I had a traveler on one of my group trips who missed the flight. She called our office to alert us, and we scheduled her on the next flight out (the next day). The cruise had already left port so, we arranged for transfers from the airport to the dock, a highspeed boat to our next port, and voila, she joined the group a day and a half late but enjoyed the rest of her trip. And she had a great story to tell!
So again, it’s all about a state of mind, general preparedness, and how you deal with mishaps. Take a deep breath, rationally figure out an alternative plan, and know that this will pass.
