How to Stop A Vacation Emergency in its Tracks

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The airline lost your luggage, the hotel can't seem to find your reservation, you left your passport sitting on a deli counter, and you contracted traveler's diarrhea. That's pretty much the worst case scenario for any trip. Luckily, it is incredibly improbable that you would ever have to deal with a laundry list like this. However, even one of the items on that list can thoroughly derail a holiday. If you don’t believe me, just take a glance at these vacation horror stories. What is a traveler to do? Well, there is no foolproof way to guard against the perils of travel, but there are a few tips for you to keep in mind that just might help you prevent - or at the very least diminish - a vacation emergency.

Tip Number One: The Backups
This is a great rule of thumb for any wary traveler. Whether through some fault of your own, a robbery, or some kind of freak accident, the possibility exists that you might become separated from your identification somehow. If you lose your passport, you will want to alert authorities due to security concerns, but your more immediate concern will probably be how the heck you are going to get home. Thankfully, there are consulates around the globe that are dedicated to helping with just these issues, but to make the process easier you should always ensure that you carry a SEPARATE form of ID somewhere when you travel. If you keep your ID and debit card in your wallet at all times, make sure you have a passport or some other form of government issued ID in a separate location, along with some cash or a credit card, in case of an emergency. In short, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket – you never know when you might lose the basket!

Tip Number Two: The Lifeline
This tip will come in handy if you find yourself in need of some help from the home front at any point during your travels. When a vacation emergency strikes, you will be very thankful if you have a designated helper. This person should be a very trusted friend or family member, to whom you would feel comfortable entrusting personal information. Make an arrangement before you travel, informing your designated lifeline of your itinerary and all necessary info. Ensure that they are comfortable with dropping everything in case of a real emergency. You may need them to call airlines to make arrangements, enter your house to get documentation, or to otherwise be there as a coordinator from the home base. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your lifeline, but you might sleep better knowing that you have one.

Tip Number Three: The Exit Strategy
Whether you are suddenly ill or some emergency calls you away from your vacation early, you may someday need to change plans on a dime. Make sure that before you disembark you have collected all of the info you might need to get home – from the airline help desk number to the rental car information – all in one place and easily accessible. With everything in one place, if you find yourself needing to change your arrangements, you can do so seamlessly, without having to track down contact or travel information.

Of course, most of the time your trip will go off without a hitch (or at least sans vacation emergency), but following these three tips will help ensure that, should something unexpected occur, you avoid a major headache and get home safe and sound. Those who are particularly concerned may even consider travel insurance. You should be focused on enjoying your trip, so make sure you prepare well in advance and you will be free to relax without interruption or worry. 

Thank you to travel writer Emma Sledge. 

IVHE note - no body likes problems while on vacation, but having a nice vacation home to relax in when thing go wrong can certainly help make things better.