Comments on: Should you worry about these 14 travel issues?

By: Karen Sandness

Karen Sandness — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:45:40 +0000

I second the advice about notifying your credit card issuer about your travels.

Last time I went to Japan, I had a panicky moment when the hotel told me that my credit card was blocked, even though I had called the bank before leaving. Oddly enough, the bank had not blocked my debit card, so I was able to pay for the first couple of nights with that while I hurriedly e-mailed my bank and asked them what was going on. Fortunately, they immediately unblocked my credit card and reimbursed my debit card (that account needed to pay some checks I had written before leaving). The moral of this story: Always double check with your bank, and always carry at least two credit/debit cards and/or traveler’s checks.

By: Katherine St. John

Katherine St. John — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:52:45 +0000

With regard to the health question. I have had American Express Travel Medial Protection for years and have had to access it on two occasions. They were so easy to deal with, very simple process of reporting the incident and the costs (out of pocket and outstanding bills). They pay the bills that qualify in a short time, so there is no hassling with the hospitals and such. It’s very affordable, I’m thinking something like $400 a year, and covers medical and dental emergencies that take place 50 miles from your home. You have to prove that you did not leave your home especially for treatment, and that the “incident” occured while on a vacation or business trip (flight info etc.). When I broke my wrist out of town, AMEX also covered the Drs. and physical therapy I received in my home city.
Check it out.

By: Susan Eich

Susan Eich — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:50:39 +0000

I just got back from Peru and Ecuador also and my Mobal worked—even in the Galapagos–just not on the boat. We were with OAT and they always do a good job. Our guides were great. But I agree that the nature walks were very rough.

By: Charles Jeter

Charles Jeter — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:21:17 +0000

Regarding suggestion to use ATM on trips, care should be excercised on international trips. I know one individual whose card was damaged by the machine, and another whose card was “kept” by the machine. While both of these incidents were revolved, it took a portion of the following day to do so, thus having to forfeit a portion of the touring schedule. While I have one, I rarely use it internationally.

By: Ron Marabate

Ron Marabate — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:31:10 +0000

The key to any trip is planning. The more you do, the less each of these issues becomes. I do most of my own planning using a variety of online resources. I check every destination with two sources…every hotel with two or more sources. There are so many online “communities,” that you can find out about any destination.
When at the destination, use common sense. Know where you are going and the best way to get there.
Sure this type and amt. of planning takes time, but it will save a lot of problems/disappointments during the trip. You probably can also save $$ by doing a lot of your own trip planning/online booking.

By: Ruth Rabin

Ruth Rabin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:06:46 +0000

I just got back from a two week tour ( with a woman friend) of Peru and Ecuador, the main sites being Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. We went with a well known tour company but parts of the tour were not well explained and parts were very disorganized. The accomodations were excellent but the tour guides changed several times during the trip and at least one was rather unpleasant. We also didn’t see all the attractions that were listed, and in the Galapagos islands we were not given enough information about how difficult some of the nature walks were. We are in our 70’s and so were other people on the tour. My advice would be that if you are booking a sightseeing tour, try to speak with other people who have taken the same tour and are in your age group.I would like to add that no cell phones (including Mobal) worked from Ecuador!

By: Don Newcomb

Don Newcomb — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:18:33 +0000

I don’t think you should *worry* about any of the 13 (count them) items on the list. You should be concerned, aware and prepared for most of them. This is why you have plans, contingency plans and escape routes in case something goes wrong. This is why you have international cell phones, credit cards, a money belt, a first aid kit, ear plugs, etc. I wouldn’t be concerned about #13 or #14.

By: Keith Connes

Keith Connes — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:56:06 +0000

To the person worried about unlocked checked baggage, you can get TSA-approved locks that the TSA inspectors can open and then re-lock. To the person worried about running out of money, take an ATM card with you. Be sure to advise your bank which countries you are visiting, so their security dept. doesn’t get alarmed by foreign transactions. Just in case, take some traveler’s checks as a backup.

By: Betty Sheldon

Betty Sheldon — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:49:16 +0000

Some of these “worries” are legitimate (e.g., terrorism, security), but I think others are exaggerated, helped along by the media (e.g., crime). Some of the other worries are just plain silly. They’re totally within one’s own control. Take overspending one’s budget; what was the point of budgeting in the first place if it’s going to be a worry. And disappointment? Come on, get realistic, and grow up. If you’re disappointed, don’t complain. You are the one who wanted to go there. The food? Good gracious me, unless you are in some forgotten corner of the world, you’ll find something. Get a grip. ) There’s always something one COULD worry about. But why ruin a good time? Have fun and enjoy.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:43:30 +0000

I heard someone say that they don’t worry about what they can control and they do not worry about what they cannot control which still makes a lot of sense. Consider what is most likely to not go according to plan and prepare for it as best you can and then forget about it.

For me the emost important thing is to never have all my eggs in one basket. Passport scanned and then is backed up to the Internet along with credit card info and my travel arrangements, reservations numbers etc., so even if I lose everything I can get to an Internet cafe and retrieve key information and documents.

What I can’t take on board goes into checked luggage and if two bags are going than half of my clothes go into each bag. Worst case I can survive with what I have in my carry on bag and in my travel coat which has many large pockets and serves as an extra bag that is not counted by airline personnel.

My money and credit cards are in 3 different places so if I were to be robbed I would lose 1/3 of my cash and still have other credit cards to use while I reported the one that was stolen. What is really foolish (and I know people who do it and have had problems as a result) and completely unnecessary, is to have passport(s), credit cards, and all your cash on your person, bag, or purse.

Same goes for any medications that one might need during the trip – and I pack my own first aid supplies, even when traveling in the USA having learned from personal experience that hotels have token first aid kits that can take a long time to locate and are often poorly stocked. And almost all commercial first aid kits are poorly suited for even dealing with a serious cut, lacking a coagulant and compression bandages, and elastic tape.