CONTIGENCY PLAN - before you travel

How to Develop a Contingency Plan Before You Travel – apply these tips before you travel

Having a contingency plan helps you deal with unexpected problems when you are traveling. Some problems may include: 

• Unforeseen delays

• Weather

• Natural disasters

• Strikes

• Political/civil unrest

• Bankruptcy of airline, hotel etc.

• Power failure

• Other causes 


Knowing how to deal with these unexpected situations/emergencies helps ensure that your vacation is not ruined.

Preparing a plan:

• You have options.

• Your vacation is less likely to be ruined.

• You will feel safer and more in control of the situation.

• You can minimize additional costs.

• You may be able to minimize unnecessary delays. 

Not Preparing a Plan:

• Your safety may be at risk.

• Unnecessary delays

• Unnecessary expenses

• Some options may not be available to you. 

Tips for Safeguarding for Your Vacation 

• Purchase travel insurance – obtain a refund for all/part of your vacation expenses.

• Be aware of alternate transportation options: airports, train stations, rental cars, buses etc.

• Have access to a safe/secure place to stay. 
• Have access to cash; keep some local currency and American dollars.

• Stay away from crowds, demonstrations, riots etc.

• Ship some of your belonging home if necessary; only keep the bare essentials so that you can travel quickly and comfortably if necessary.

• Register with your country’s embassy when you are traveling internationally.

• Contact your family, workplace etc. as soon as possible to inform them of your travel delay.