“Tourists went on holidays while travelers did something else. They traveled.” Alex Garland
The idea of travel is exciting and dreamy. What lies underneath the broad term, “travel,” sometimes includes mishaps. If you travel often, you are bound to have things not go as planned. Hopefully nothing terrible like losing your wallet or getting very sick. Either way, these stories stick with you forever and become something you can learn from or laugh at in the future. It is all part of travel and adventure!
Dad and I arrived in Banff, Canada and rented a car the morning of our planned trip down to Bow Valley Parkway and visit….
At Avis Car Rental, the employee asked us if we would like to get roadside insurance with our car. We turned it down since we would not be doing a ton of driving. The employee then gave us a second chance to buy it and warned us that due to slippery winter weather conditions, that it may not be such a bad idea to have it.
We understood the risks of not getting roadside insurance, but we politely turned her idea down again.
About an hour or so after we rented the car, Bow Valley Parkway was such a scenic and lovely drive. We had spotted a herd of elk, and just enjoyed nature all around us. We decided we had to pull over to take some pictures to capture the moment. There were not too many cars on the road at the time but had to pull over a little bit to let cars go by us. All the cars were going very slowly also to observe the scenery but felt we could not stop on the road.
Guess What Happened Next?
Our car got stuck on the… side of the road! Our passenger-side tires sank in the deeper snow caused by snow plows pushing the snow to the side of the road. No big deal we thought because the driver-side tires were still on the road and in no risk of being in that snowpile. It was 3 PM and we started to wave down cars to help us get out. A couple of cars stopped and helped shovel around the tires but to no avail. We then realized we needed something more like ropes. By 4 PM we were getting nervous. It gets dark early in the winter and we only had another hour of daylight.
A van pulls over and tells us he will call the local towing company but they will probably charge us a pretty substantial amount of money but we didn’t care. He said just hold tight and maybe they will come in an hour. Soon after he left, a couple from Kelowna, Canada stopped and had EVERYTHING in their car that would help. They had ropes, chains, shovels and anything else that would come in handy in an emergency. Within minutes we were out and were so thankful we offered to take them to dinner in Banff. We had such a great time with them we met up with them the next day and went hiking at Johnston Canyon. To this day we talk to them often and plan on visiting them in the future and we are friends for life.
Pro Tips For Avoiding Rental Car Travel Mishaps
When traveling somewhere without a reliable public transportation system, renting a car is a viable option to get around. However, there are dozens of inherent risks when renting a car in an unfamiliar location. While we were fortunate enough to meet local people who turned out to be a great friend, this will not always happen. Instead, you need to take several precautions to prepare yourself for any roadside vehicle travel mishaps. First, you should map out mechanics, gas stations, and rest stops ahead of time to avoid breaking down in desolate areas. At the same time, you should always keep a back up tank of fuel in the vehicle in case you unexpectedly run out. Whether you are visiting with friends, your spouse or on a family vacation, these rental car tips will help protect you on your upcoming trip.
Travel Mishap #2
It was the start of a great day touring beautiful Lisbon. We went to the Fado Music Museum and then headed by taxi to the spectacular San Jeronimos Monastery. Once inside, my Dad was reaching for his camera (iPhone) to take some pictures there. Could not find the phone and then realized it must have been left in the taxi since he remembered looking at it in the taxi. Panic set in knowing we were leaving the city for good at 4 PM. At that point, we realized the rest of the day was only to pursue finding the phone. We found a group of Portuguese guys who called the taxi company, got in touch with our driver, and the driver agreed to meet us at a designated spot somewhere else in the city.
We came to the conclusion we will be back someday in Lisbon and have a stress-free experience next time. The result was so much better to have the phone to take pictures the rest of the trip.
Expert Solution To Avoid Lost Or Stolen Items Travel Mishaps
Next, missing phones are one of the top travel mishaps. When you are traveling with essential tech like your smartphone, you will need to plan on how to keep them secure and safe. Ideally, you want to keep your phone close to you at all times. Some travelers even wear custom belts that provide convenient access to your smart phone and other important travel documents. To most reliably protect your phone, you need to take several precautions before you travel. Consider purchasing a tracker that allows you to trace your phone’s known last location. In addition, you may even want to consider purchasing a back up phone to bring on vacation with you. If you do lose your phone while traveling, you want to be able to locate or restore a backup to another device quickly.
Travel Mishap #3
Upon arriving in Glendale, Arizona, I checked into my AirBnb. The instructions were to open up the lockbox to get the key for the front door. When I entered I saw two people walking toward me extremely puzzled and alarmed. He asked, “are you Greg?” I said, “yes! Hi!”
He said, your arrival date is tomorrow! We both laughed. I could not believe I mixed up my dates. This would have been a major problem if the room was rented out for that evening. Fortunately it was vacant and he allowed me cash to pay for the extra night. I did not want to search for a place to stay. I wanted to get out and enjoy Glendale!
Pro Tip On Avoiding Miscommunications And Travel Arrangement Mishaps
There are several expert recommendations on how to avoid travel arrangement miscommunications and mishaps. Booking a vacation by yourself can be incredibly stressful. You have to remember tons of critical information like flight times, lodging details, daily itineraries, and required travel documents. You should always print out all of your confirmation documents. Highlight important dates, times, and locations that you will need to reference later. At the same time, you can try to book your accommodations with a travel itinerary app that organizes all your details in a centralized location. Ensure that all your arrangements are clearly in order so that you can relax and enjoy the most out of your slow travel vacation.
Travel Mishap #4
We took the Route 675 bus an hour west from Minneapolis to Wayzata. The temperature was below zero. It was a blizzard, and no words can illustrate how cold it was.
I had no feeling in my body, but being out on the lake in these temperatures was exhilarating. I was facing the true Minnesotan winter.
We learned once we arrived at Lake Minnetonka ice fishermen go deep onto the frozen lake far from land. I’m not exaggerating when I say far!
Dad and I met two ice fishermen in the parking lot who greeted us to “join” them. We then needed to walk with them on the lake to find an appropriate spot for us to set up the tent and the equipment. We were just thrilled we could have this first-time experience with people who knew exactly what they were doing.
Walking against the wind in blizzard conditions with poor visibility was ambitious but stimulating. We hoped we were sharing the tent with the two gentlemen once the odyssey was over.
When we arrived they suggested we can hang out right outside of the tent, but we didn’t fully get it until that moment we couldn’t fit inside with them.
We decided to head back to land and warm up and have a nice lunch somewhere. We chuckled. I presume you can now label us “ice fisherman” just because we stood on a frozen lake with fish beneath it!
It turned out to be a great travel story and experience on a freezing cold day in a Minnesota winter blizzard. Dad and I were prepared for just about any level of severity of cold weather after our standing outside of a closed tent watching an “ice fishing” adventure. We ended up getting a lot of exercise and walking through Wayzata.
Expert Recommendation On Avoiding Unpreparedness Travel Mishaps
Of course, this is one of the toughest unprepared travel mishaps. If you are traveling in severe weather conditions, you must have the proper equipment to survive. While we were lucky to have been “ice fisherman” for a day, it could have been a dangerous adventure without the proper clothing, gear and tent. There will always been unforeseen circumstances in your trip. Ask questions before embarking on a trip, tour or fishing adventure. Take the proper gear and equipment so that you will be safe throughout your journey. While you purchase gear, try to purchase from our list of the best sustainable travel products to reduce your carbon footprint while vacationing. By preparing for the worst, you can avoid injuries and other dangerous mishaps while traveling.
Travel Mishap #5
Expert Travel Solution On Avoiding Packing Or Luggage Mishaps
Of course, there are plenty of common travel mishaps that can occur when trying to pack your suitcase and prepare your luggage. When traveling by air, one of the most common mistakes is packing too many liquids, valuables, or other prohibited items in your carry-on bag. Keep in mind that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has strict regulations on fluids, cosmetics, and weapons. If you are traveling with anything that may be classified as restricted, be sure to contact the airport you will be flying out of immediately. This way, you can travel safe and incident-free on your next journey.
How To Avoid Other Common Travel Mishaps
As a frequent traveler, some form of mishaps are inevitable. Well some are unavoidable, there are several ways to avoid falling victim to these common tourism mishaps. Being prepared for travel mishaps is essential to enjoy your trip and stick to your value travel itinerary. When traveling to different foreign and domestic destinations, many travelers are worried about pickpockets and robberies. To avoid these incidents on your upcoming vacation, avoid appearing overly-friendly or helpful in potentially vulnerable situations. At the same time, you could consider investing in theft-proof clothes or storage devices.
At the same time, you need to prepare yourself for risks associated with intoxication, illness, and dehydration. Check out our guide on how to prevent altitude sickness in Colorado to learn more about this. To effectively protect yourself, never except alcohol from strangers, always monitor your consumption, and constantly keep an eye on your drink. In addition, you may want to consider purchasing medical travel insurance in case you have to visit a hospital or doctor on your vacation. This will protect you in the event of a travel safety mishap.
Other common travel mishaps include getting lost in big cities, losing your luggage, or important forms of ID. As mentioned before, there are plenty of potential mistakes associated with rental cars. However, there are plenty of additional mishaps that can occur if you are planning on renting a large van, camper, or recreational vehicle (RV). If you are planning this type of getaway, be sure to check out our RV travel guide. Of course, with the proper levels of planning and research before hand, you can effectively avoid all of these potential mishaps as well.
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