What do I do if something goes wrong overseas?
From losing your passport at a crowded bar to having your flights cancelled due to a natural disaster accidentally head-butting the wrong policeman as a result of your overly-exuberant (some would say aggressive) dance moves, there is a wide range of bad things that can happen overseas.
What’s less important than what has actually happened is how you respond. We’ve taken a look at your best port of calls when something goes wrong overseas. Follow this advice and you’ll remember this moment as a minor misadventure rather than a major international incident.
Contact your travel insurer
Odds are you’re paying for your travel insurance so if something goes wrong you may as well get your money’s worth. Most travel insurance companies have a 24-hour assistance centre than can provide valuable advice no matter where you are. If you become ill, are involved in a medical emergency or have valuables lost or stolen your travel insurer should be your first port of call.
Contact your family and friends
If the incident you’re involved in is a little less serious (such as requiring extra funds for paying a fine or misplacing your wallet) it might be simpler to get into contact with family and friends. This method would undoubtedly be a bit quicker to process than going through the official channels and is particularly useful if you’ve got a travel insurance policy that doesn’t provide full coverage.
Discuss with your tour operator or transport provider
If you’re taking a tour and you’ve found yourself in a situation where you have to make major alterations to your trip due to weather delays or cancellations your first port of call should be your tour operator or transport provider. So many people stress out in this sort of a situation, but if you discuss the manner calmly and see if you can come to a solution you may just find one.
Local emergency services
Sometimes your best bet is to contact local authorities, particularly if you require emergency assistance from police, fire or ambulance services. Most travel advisories where you will be visiting will provide contact numbers of emergency services on their where to get help sections.
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