If you have travelled, you may find that you have unfortunately experienced some of the issues that we are going to talk about. The positive thing is that everything has a solution. Bad things happen, but if you have a positive mindset you will be able to deal with anything. Even though these are worst-case scenarios, it is best to have damage control and prepare for the worst. At the end of the day, fail to prepare, you could be going home with nothing.
Even if you can’t remember these tips, the most important thing is to have the number and contact details of your embassy as they can help you in many ways. In this article, we will go through some of the worst-case scenarios when you go travelling and how to overcome them if they unfortunately happen.
Getting Lost
If you are travelling to a new country, it is very easy to get lost. Everyone has gotten lost at some point in their life, and it’s one of the worst feelings. You start thinking irrationally, your heart beats faster, your hands clam up and panic kicks in pretty quickly. Some people are good with their surroundings, and others are not. Whether it’s in the wilderness, an airport or even a shop, it’s not nice when you feel lost.
With the number of gadgets and technology out there in 2023, this is a pretty easy situation to solve. It was once just the case of having a map, but now everyone has a smartphone, which makes things much easier. Obviously, not everywhere s going to have a signal, so by downloading an offline map from Google maps, you will be able to navigate your way back to a safe spot. This way you won’t need the internet if you get lost. This of course is not going to work if your phone dies, so having your basecamp written down somewhere will help.
Don’t panic, I know this is harder than it sounds. But take a perch, take some breaths and you will then be able to think more clearly.
Getting Mugged
It’s no secret that some countries are more dangerous than others, so it’s important to view the Direct Gov website for more information and warnings about specific countries. It’s also a good idea to look at Facebook groups and other forums to see what travellers have experienced, but to be honest, you shouldn’t believe everything you hear, but it should be considered. If you do get mugged, the best thing to do is not panic, yes, that is harder than it sounds, but that is the best way to get through this situation.
The first thing you need to do is contact the police as you will need a Crime Reference Number to claim on your insurance. If you are with a tour guide, then they will be able to point you in the direction of the closest police station and help you with any language barrier there may be.
Once you have done this, its now time to deal with the emotional scarring you have. It is okay to feel anger, even be scared, but the truth is it may not happen again, and it’s best to try and get over it so you can try to enjoy the rest of your travels.
Losing your phone or watch
There are many things that you can lose when travelling, but the chances are that you do everything on your phone and that you have a watch so that you can keep time for where you are from so you can contact people. For the watch, a great way to stop this from getting lost is by purchasing a NATO watch strap. There are many watch bands out there, but a NATO strap will ensure that your watch is secure at all times and it won’t get damaged in different terrains or weathers.
Having your mobile lost is a worst-case scenario as you use it for a range of things. Taking pictures, transferring money, finding different locations, contacting emergency services, contacting family, accessing tickets and much more. If you do lose your phone, have all of your passwords and usernames so that you can access them on public computers.
This will set alarms and alerts, so having your passwords will help. The best way to keep it safe is to not wave it about and let people see it, and keep it secure. Just remember, your phone may be someone’s year’s wage, so keep it close and hidden.
You get arrested or face legal problems
This could be for anything, but it is very common for people to get into legal trouble for bringing something that may be legal in your country, that isn’t in another. One example of this is a prescription medication. Whether this is pain medication or cannabis in some US states, some countries hold this at a death penalty, so make sure what you can and can’t bring.
Foreign prison is the last place you want to be in, especially when you don’t speak the language. To remedy this, ensure you know what you can and can’t bring into the country, and ensure that everything is documented so that if you do get into trouble, you have a document saying you need it. Also, make sure that you don’t take pictures of military buildings.
Running out of money
This can happen if you are not money savvy. Being able to keep track of your money is essential when travelling, and it is essential that you don’t run out. Sometimes you can’t help it. Some things may break, plans can change, and emergencies happen, so its important to try and account for these.
To prevent this from happening, it’s a good idea to save as much as you can before you go, and keep it in an emergency fund. If you have any skills, you can offer your services as a bartender for a while or go freelance. This is a great way to make money, whilst you travel.
Every situation has a remedy, but it can be hard to think rationally if you have experienced this situation. The best thing to do is take a seat, take some breaths and once you have calmed your mind, you will be able to come up with a solution.