Free Travel Tips From Mobal Communications

1. Cancelled or overbooked flight

On an overbooked flight you will be offered compensation for volunteering to give up your seat. Find out what compensation you’ll receive before you volunteer. There’s no standard, so you could get anything from a ham sandwich to a few hundred dollars in travel vouchers — make sure it’s worth it first.
For a cancelled flight, have the airport booking line pre-programmed into your cell phone (www.airlinecontact.info). It’s the airline’s responsibility to book you onto the next available flight, but that means they have to organize everyone on the plane. Jump the queue and book it yourself!

2. Lost or damaged luggage

Always pack valuables safely — if internal goods are damaged, but externally the luggage isn’t, the airline may not cover you. The stronger your luggage, the better the chance that nothing will get damaged (try Luggage Online).
Take out extra luggage insurance if carrying valuables — you may be covered by up to $2,800 if luggage is damaged by the airline, but not for anything above that value (try Insure My Trip).
If your luggage gets lost, make sure you find out what compensation you’re owed. Typically this stretches to toiletries and a change of clothes.
Have a list of items in your luggage pre-written. If it goes missing then you need to file a report, and you don’t want to forget anything!
Give the airline your itinerary — most luggage gets found, and they should cover the cost of shipping it to you.

3. No record of your reservation

This is one of the easiest problems to solve — just confirm your reservations a few days in advance of your booking
If you cannot confirm your reservation, always keep a print out of any confirmation of bookings, make a note of names and email addresses the reservations were booked under, and which bank account you used to pay for it (and then program the bank’s number into your cell phone)
If your reservation still cannot be found using your contact details, contact your bank for proof of your transaction

4. Losing your passport

Make a copy of your passport to carry so you can keep your original safe.
When carrying your passport, carry it in a secure hidden pouch (try Pro Travel Gear)
If you still manage to lose your passport, first you must find you nearest US embassy or consulate (http://usembassy.state.gov/) and go there in person with the photocopy of your passport and any other ID that you have. If you have no form of ID you will need to have your identity proved, which can add days to your new passport application.
To get a new passport the process takes about 2 weeks. If you’re leaving in less than two weeks then you can get one issued immediately.
If you are outside of the US then the cost for your new passport will be $97.

5. Getting injured or ill

As far in advance of your trip as possible, check for any health requirements or warnings for your destination country and arrange for any inoculations you may need (try The World Health Organisation).
Check any existing health insurance you have and see if you’re covered for international travel. Depending on where you’re going, or what activities you’re planning, you may need to take out extra cover
Always keep a copy of any insurance policy, including a claim form, with you
Take into account the cost of medical evacuation to take you home. This can cost $10,000 and often is not covered by many standard policies
If you have a medical condition, also bring a letter describing your condition and how to treat it. If needed, have this translated into the language of the country you’re visiting
If you’re bringing medication into a country, check first that they are considered legal
Make sure you fill out the details of who to contact in case of emergency, in your passport
If you should have to go to hospital, you can contact the US Embassy to organise someone to help you located the correct treatment, and organise the sending of funds to pay for your treatment (but it’s your money).

6. Getting lost from your group

Always take a map with you, make a note of major landmarks that you can use as a reference, and mark where you’re staying
If you have a cell phone (www.mobal.com), pre-program your hotel phone number, the number of a recommended taxi company, the numbers of anyone else you may be traveling with and the number of the local police
Whether you have cell phones or not, always agree a central meeting point, and a deadline to meet there by. After that deadline, move the meeting point to the hotel where you’re staying
If it is you who is lost, and you’re unable to find the meeting point or hotel, phone and leave a message with your hotel and with a pre-arranged person back home. If you’re unable to do this, try to contact the local police
If after the second deadline at the hotel has been reached, and no message has been left, now it is time to contact the local police

7. Getting mugged

Make photocopies of all your important documents so you can leave the originals in your hotel safe, but still have proof of your identity
Ask your hotel which areas to avoid and which taxi service they recommend (and make a note of their number in your cell phone)
If you’re not comfortable, always stay to well lit and populated areas.
If you think you’re being followed, try to make it obvious you’ve spotted the person — most muggers are opportunists, and may avoid you if they think you’re prepared.
If you still need to carry large amounts of money, put most of it in secure hidden pouch or pocket (try Pro Travel Gear). Then keep a small amount handy, so if you are mugged, you can handover the smaller amount and your mugger is more likely to believe that’s all you’re carrying, rather than saying you have no money at all
If you are challenged, then don’t fight back, as the consequences could be far worse. Instead, immediately cancel any bank cards
Next file a police report. Although it’s unlikely your mugger will be caught, you will need the police report to claim back any insurance for items you may’ve lost

8. Getting in trouble with the law

Before you travel do some research on local laws or customs, especially if you’re doing any activities like renting a car, or visiting some religious or sensitive sites
If you do find yourself in trouble, always be polite, whatever the situation
Then ask that your local embassy be contacted, so you can be visited by a Consular officer who will then be able to advise you on how to proceed with your legal situation

9. Natural or terrorist disaster

Firstly, you should checkout the latest travel warnings produced by the government for your destination (www.travel.state.gov) to learn of any possible threats or warnings
Then prepare a detailed itinerary of where and when you will be and leave a copy with friends or family back home
Try to take a cell phone (www.mobal.com) with you and pre-program it with your friends’ numbers, and the number for the US Embassy or Consulate in the country you will be visiting
If a natural or terrorist disaster happens, firstly to contact your friends back home. If you cannot contact them, try to leave a message at the Embassy or Consulate confirming you’re safe, and where to contact you

Got a top travel tip to share with community members? Email it to me now at michael@mobalphone.com

Monday, December 4, 2006