You could face a number of problems when on vacation: civil unrest, weather issues, flight delays, tourist scams, among others. Don't set yourself up for failure when traveling simply because you'd rather just hope nothing bad happens. These extra steps when planning your trip will provide you with the help you need in case of an emergency:

Getting an Agent will save you a lot of trouble

A good agent will be able to rebook, reroute and reschedule things to get you out of harm’s way. A travel agent will let you in on the local customs. He or she will warn you about the scams practiced on unaware tourists.

Learn how to build a travel bug out bag

If you plan a business trip or a family vacation, make sure you build a travel bug out bag containing all the critical survival items you might need. I recommend reading the article as I explained how I’ve built my travel bug out bag.

Consider travel insurance

If you spend the extra money on insurance, you will be prepared when a situation gets out of control. Besides insuring your flight or cruise, you should look into medical evacuation coverage so that you and your loved ones can make it home safe. Spending a little extra on insurances that cover serious illnesses or deadly medical emergency is something you should really consider.

Read about the bad things first

I try to find out as much as I can about the local scams. and rough neighborhoods. About other dangers that aren’t so obvious at first (if the water is drinkable, how are the medical services, local customs that should be respected, etc.).

Some will say this practice may be discouraging for the travelers. I rather cover everything and enjoy my day at the beach than dealing with the unexpected emergencies because I didn’t bother reading about it.

Cover your rental for any unexpected emergencies

Make sure you are covered for liability and collision if you rent a car.

Pay attention to combo bookings

We often book our airfare with our cruise line. The company is responsible to get us to the ship in the event of an airline delay. A good practice would be to check if you can fly a day early to avoid any possible delays. It’s better to have the luxury of not being on the constant run.

Weather risks, the number one cause for canceling a trip

Before you decide to cancel your trip, you should review your travel insurance policy to see exactly what your options are. Pay attention to weather updates and have your luggage ready to take your trip until the last second. More than once I was able to enjoy upgrades because others got scared and cancelled prematurely.

A smartphone and a few backup apps will make your trip safer

There are multiple weather apps, many of them free, which will provide you with real-time updates on weather conditions. There are also news applications that will send you alerts when something bad is happening in your area. The airlines and other mode of travel have SMS options you can sign for free.

Make sure you are able to locate your embassy

You should be able to locate your embassy and have emergency numbers on hand before disaster strikes. You should also have additional copies of your passport and documents (including digital copies) in case they get lost.

What other tips do you have for handling and prepping for emergencies on vacation?

Article Source: Prepper's Will