Oh No! 10 awkward scenarios that you may face during overseas travel

Travelling is fun and one of the best ways to rejuvenate your mind and body. However, no matter how well you plan the trip from your side; there may be times when you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation. Some typical scenarios include flight cancellation, lost luggage, illness or injury, and being mugged. While such problems may leave you feeling helpless in a new country, having a comprehensive international travel insurance plan can help. 

Travel insurance covers medical emergencies, loss of personal documents and baggage, flight delay, third-party liability, and more and saves you from financial distress and other hassles. For maximum benefits, buy international travel insurance within 15 days of booking the tickets. You can purchase a travel insurance policy online with a few clicks and travel without worrying about the risks.

Common travel problems that you may face during an overseas travel

Even when you have planned a trip well and have all the essentials and travel documents with you, specific problems might crop up. Here is a list of common issues faced by travellers while travelling abroad and what you should do to avoid them:

• Losing luggage: Arriving at the destination and not spotting your luggage is a nightmarish experience. This can ruin your holiday in no time. 

What you should do: To avoid an awkward situation, pack some essentials, such as a few sets of clothes, toiletries, and medicines in your carry-on luggage. Also, do not keep important documents in the checked-in baggage.

• Flight cancellation or delay: These situations may cause a lot of stress and inconvenience during a trip. While the airlines may compensate you, depending on the severity of the problem, this may not happen every time. 

What you should do: If the flight is delayed by many hours, you can request the airline staff to accommodate you in a hotel. Also, keep your travel insurance handy. In case of flight delays, insurers reimburse for the essentials you purchase.

• Getting lost:  It is easy to get lost when you are busy admiring the surroundings. This can lead you to a dead-end or walking in circles.

What you should do: Download offline maps on your phone in the cities you will be visiting. You can access these maps even without an internet connection and save yourself from many hassles. Be prepared with a plan of the city you are visiting so that even if your phone battery dies, you can identify the street on the map. 

• Being mugged: Mugging is more common in some countries, so it is essential to check government warnings when planning an overseas trip. 

What you should do: Do not wear or carry valuables, make photocopies of all important documents and keep them in another bag, and do not stand out like a tourist.

• Illness or injury: Almost everyone falls sick during an overseas trip. You may catch a cold in the new atmosphere, have an upset stomach or suffer minor injuries.

What you should do: Carry important medicines with you and drink lots of water all day. Also, take ample rest and do not overexert yourself.

• Language problem:  When you are in a new country, you may not understand the local language. This can be a challenging situation if you want to communicate something important.

What you should do: Use body language, sign language, and gestures to communicate. You can also try to learn some basic words of the language before you travel.

• Missing a flight: If you get stuck in traffic or reach the airport late due to some reason, you may miss your flight, and this can spoil your entire vacation.

What you should do: Reach the airport early to avoid hassles. In case you miss your flight, talk to the airline staff and request them to accommodate you on the next flight. If it was not your fault, the airlines might offer compensation or a free hotel stay.

• Running out of money:  This is a significant problem, and it may arise at any time. If unexpected charges crop up or you have to make urgent purchases, you may run out of cash.

What you should do: Save more money for the trip and carry an international debit or credit card for such situations. 

• Not finding vegetarian food: If you are a vegetarian, finding the right food can be challenging in a foreign country. 

What you should do: Before you start for the trip, look up for vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the city you are travelling to and make a list. You can also carry some dry snacks with you to be on the safer side.

• Losing your phone: This is a severe problem. It may leave you feeling handicapped, especially if you are travelling alone. With all contacts on your phone, you may not be able to get in touch with your loved ones. Your phone may also have e-tickets and other important data.

What you should do: Carry a small sling bag in which you can keep your phone and other important documents with you safely. Do not keep your phone on the restaurant table while eating and avoid using it in public places.

Conclusion:

While you may face certain challenges while travelling abroad, being proactive and careful can help. Also, buy international travel insurance once you have booked your tickets. You can take a basic or comprehensive international travel insurance policy, as per your requirement and stay covered. Check different plans and their terms and conditions, and purchase the right travel insurance policy online.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.