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| My tips for travel in unpredictable times |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Hi everyone,
There’s nothing like an active volcano to throw a wrench in your travel plans.
Nearly a decade ago, I was enjoying a round-the-world trip with my parents, stopping in Bali before taking them to East Timor for a Peace Jam conference. We had a relaxing stay at the Ritz-Carlton Bali before heading to the airport, but Mother Nature had something else in mind.
When I arrived at Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), it was closed due to the eruption of Mount Agung. I ended up stranded in Bali, taking refuge at the W Bali Seminyak, before I was able to get off the island with the help of travel evacuation insurance on one of my credit cards (unfortunately, this benefit has since been discontinued).
It was a stressful situation, and with so much happening happening in the world — from severe weather to record-high flight cancellations — travel can feel uncertain.
But what should you do if the destination you’re in or are heading to has a disaster? What options do you have? Here are my tips for assessing risk and handling travel in unpredictable times.
Book refundable travel or use travel agents
Now is not the time to be booking basic economy fares, which are often non-refundable. Instead, make sure you book flights and hotels that you can easily change or cancel if needed, so you won’t be stuck if your plans change.
Booking with a travel agent is also a way to protect yourself against losing out if something goes wrong. It can also be a lot easier — your travel agent will be the one sitting on hold with the airlines, rebooking you and figuring out how to get you home. The peace of mind is worth it.
And don’t forget to read the fine print. For example, certain Iberostar and Dreams properties in Caribbean destinations allow you to rebook or change regions if hurricanes are predicted. On the other hand, hotels might state that they have no obligation to house or feed you if you become stranded.
The more you know, the more you can plan and prepare to best protect yourself and your trip.
Get travel insurance when booking (and book with a credit card that has travel insurance)
Although most credit cards don’t offer emergency evacuation insurance unless it’s for medical purposes, you can purchase a separate policy for this. The most important thing you should do when choosing travel insurance is to understand exactly what’s covered.
Natural disasters and acts of war, for example, may not always be covered by credit card travel insurance, so if this type of coverage is important to you, consider an all-inclusive or comprehensive travel insurance plan. I usually get mine from Allianz, and it’s saved me more than once.
Of course, you may not need this type of coverage on a short domestic trip. In this case, just booking refundable tickets might be enough. But, if you’re heading out on an international trip or investing in an expensive bucket list vacation, having extra travel insurance options isn’t a bad idea.
TPG Tip: Remember, even a $5.60 charge for airline taxes and fees on an award redemption is enough to trigger the travel insurance on your credit card.
Know your rights and understand your options
When booking (and again before you travel), review your options and make sure you understand your hotel’s cancellation policies and your rights as a traveler. You can start by reviewing your rights with the DOT as an airline passenger (which, unfortunately, have been rolled back in past years, so keep your expectations low).
When traveling on EU airlines or within Europe, make sure you understand EU261 and the Montreal Convention, which can provide cash compensation for significantly delayed or canceled flights and for lost or delayed luggage, respectively.
Assessing risk: How to decide if you should travel
I can’t tell you whether or not you should travel after a natural disaster, but here are some things to consider.
Evaluating risk is never easy, but try to cut through the fear-mongering by getting factual information from the U.S. State Department travel advisories and official tourism board websites. For example, after the 2023 fires in Hawaii, tourism and government authorities quickly offered guidance on whether to visit.- Check with local forums to understand what things are like there, especially after a natural disaster. A destination may want visitors back if enough time has passed and clean-up efforts have progressed, but if the situation is still very fresh or significantly bad, it might be best to reschedule.
- Calling the hotel’s general reservation line is also a good idea. You don’t want to call the local hotel you’ve reserved if it’s currently experiencing an issue.
- If you get stranded somewhere for any reason, think outside the box. For example, during the political instability in the Middle East earlier this year, some travelers drove from affected areas to destinations with open airports to fly out of the region. This is also where points and miles can help if cash fares skyrocket.
- Finally, if I know I’ll be traveling through or to a destination that could be affected by a severe weather situation or any kind of disaster, I’ll usually leave the kids at home and travel on my own.
With a strengthening El Niño weather pattern predicted this season and growing political instability, travel may be more uncertain for the foreseeable future, but knowing your rights, protecting yourself, and making informed decisions can help keep you safe during your trips.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: JONNO RATTMAN. |
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