Plan for The Worst, Expect the Best

Even with our Roundtrip travel insurance and a well-prepared itinerary, you will eventually suffer a delayed or late flight, an airplane mechanical problem, inclement weather, traffic or a host many airport delay problems which will “ground” you. Here are a few tips that can help you with an unexpected trip interruption:

• Plan for the worst – leave plenty of time to arrive at the airport as well as layovers for connecting flights
• Print out all your important travel documents – don’t depend on internet connections to view your itinerary, download boarding passes, look up your airline reservation telephone number or a map to your hotel.
• Charge all your electronics the night before in case you can’t find a convenient power outlet at the airport
• Travel with stamps and use the time before or between a flight as an opportunity to write a postcard or letter
• Include a change of clothes, toothbrush and toothpaste in your carry-on.
• If your flight is going to be delayed for more than three hours, call the 24 hour telephone number on your Roundtrip ID card for live assistance to help you rebook flights, reserve a hotel room for the evening and manage the rest of your itinerary

When I travel, I plan for the worst and expect the best. These tips have helped me when the unexpected happen. Please feel free to share your own tips.

Happy Travels.

The Best and Worst Airport Terminals

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Top Ten Tasks to Do at Home Before You Travel Abroad

1. Put your jewelry and other small valuables in a safe at home or at the bank.
2. Set timers for both indoor and outdoor lights at your home.
3. Take out all the garbage and run the disposal.
4. Unplug major appliances.
5. Find a way to have your plants taken care of or use a self-watering device in your absence.
6. Ask a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers (or temporarily stop delivery) and any door-hangers that are left in your absence.
7. Leave a house key with a neighbor or family member.
8. Leave your itinerary and contact info with a family member or neighbor.
9. Lock all windows and doors.
10. Leave a car in your driveway to make it appear as though someone is home.

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I enjoy culture shock from time to time. Traveling abroad is a welcomed interruption in my otherwise ordinary life. New foods, exotic traditions, foreign languages—these are some of the things I love the most about visiting a new country. Whether I travel off the beaten bath or into a thriving metropolis, the adventure of a new place prods me to book my next overseas flight.

A few of my fondest memories include getting lost in the Tahitian rainforest only to stumble upon a picturesque waterfall; sharing a single bus seat with two adults, children, and chickens in Mozambique; and touring underground cities thousands of years old in Istanbul.

Along with fond memories, I’ve also experienced some pretty nerve-wracking situations. Read More »

“Bat”ter Safe Than Sorry

Do you travel with an extra $30,000 on hand? Probably not. I didn’t five years ago on a trip to Vietnam, but the insurance I took with me was just as valuable, if not more.

A week into my vacation with my wife, I experienced some pretty severe symptoms. I became extremely sensitive—the softest whisper, the dimmest light, the slightest odor sent me reeling with headaches. Fevers, chills and fainting spells rounded out the most painful and frustrating time of my life.

Without a way to communicate with the local Vietnamese doctors, it took several days for everyone to realize what was wrong with me. I had contracted a life-threatening case of spinal meningitis. Read More »