Maybe someone was unlucky with the weather, someone was robbed, the hotel turned out to be terrible, the food was awful, authorities didn’t let them in at the border – anything can happen.
In order not to spoil your next trip, you need to anticipate the main difficulties in advance and prepare for them. Here are some of the main problems travellers face, and some tips for how to overcome them.
1. Air Ticket Error
If the last name or first name on the issued ticket differs by one letter, you may not be allowed on the flight. For local border guards, it may be clear that Linda and Lynda are the same person, but for foreigners, especially Asians, these are completely different names. Use the school life hack: as you enter the data, check each letter from the end of the word.
2. Damaged Passport
Whatever happens to the appearance of the passport, the valid visa in it will remain valid unless it is physically destroyed. The visa itself can be checked against the database.
However, a damaged passport or a faded photo in it can raise questions from border guards. So it's better to change it, take a high-quality photo using the tool and follow the algorithm of "having new high quality passport and a valid visa in the old one".
3. Lost Luggage
If all the passengers on your flight have already received their luggage, and an empty carousel has been spinning in front of you for five minutes, you can no longer wait. Luggage was mistakenly left at the point of departure, flew further or got lost along the way (especially if there was a transfer). No worries, you can still return it.
What should you do? Find the Lost & Found counter and file a lost baggage claim. Be sure to describe your suitcase in detail, because it will be searched based on the data from your application. In no case throw away the luggage tag, it will still come in handy.
Traditionally, 21 days are allotted for searches, after which, if found, they will be delivered to the airport closest. Sometimes luggage is found earlier, but be prepared to wait.
In order not to be left without things if you lose your luggage, put everything you need in your hand luggage – something that you definitely can’t do without while waiting for your suitcase, or that is problematic to buy on the spot.
Use special GPS tags or applications. For example, on S7 flights, you can track luggage and know exactly where it is, which will only speed up the search.
4. Loss of Passport Abroad
Someone stole your documents or they flew out of your pocket while you were riding the rides, it doesn’t matter, you need to somehow get home.
As soon as the loss is discovered, go to the nearest police station and file a statement. With this statement, you will then go to the embassy, so don’t lose it. Make 2 copies: for the embassy and for authoritative bodies at home.
Next, go to the embassy of your country. There, present at least some kind of ID, where there is your photo and full name. If there is nothing at all, bring two compatriot witnesses with you. When traveling with friends or family, there is no problem, but if it is a solo trip, you will have to find any two fellow countrymen who will confirm your identity. The main thing is that they don’t say that they see you for the first time.
If this option is not suitable, call friends or relatives from the embassy so that they send a copy of your passport to the embassy email.
When all documents are received and confirmed, you will be issued a temporary certificate of the right to return to your homeland on the same day. It will need to be shown at the airport and at passport control. It is valid for 14 days, so do not hesitate to return.
To avoid such troubles, carry a copy of your passport with you. And if you go out for a walk, take it instead of the original. So the procedure for verifying your identity will take less time, which means you will stay calm.
5. Illness
Food poisoning, the flu, a burn, a serious injury, anything can happen. Therefore, before the trip, take out insurance for a certain number of days. If something happens, call the operator at the insurance company's call center, tell them the policy number and describe the nature of the problem.
If you just have a malaise or a cold, you will be advised to see a doctor, and after that the company will reimburse the costs of treatment. If the problem is serious, the company will send a car from the nearest hospital with which they have a contract and you will be taken to the doctor.
You cannot go to the clinic on your own, otherwise there is a risk of subsequently paying for treatment on your own.
6. Getting Lost
Most individuals get lost at some point on their holidays, while some people have excellent spatial sense. And you can be lost anywhere, whether at a grocery store, airport, city, or outdoors.
This is currently one of the simpler issues for tourists thanks to edgy technologies. In the past, each country's map was required. Nowadays, a smartphone is the most universal thing.
Before leaving, download Google Maps first and then download offline maps for the cities you will be visiting.
However, when the battery on the phone dies, the plan collapses. So write down your destination somewhere, just in case.
The most important thing is not to panic. Sit down and take a few slow breaths. Strangers are usually nice and helpful, so if it's safe to ask for directions. If you don't know the local language, you can show the address on a piece of paper.
Be vigilant always and everywhere, and carefully prepare for your travels, then everything will be fine!
