Virtually any frequent traveler has a story to tell about a trip cut short unexpectedly, whether by a hurricane, a broken ankle or even a huge snow storm! Here are some travel tips to help you deal with a trip interruption and salvage your vacation.
Expect the unexpected
The best way to avoid a trip interruption is to anticipate things that could go wrong and build in some wiggle
room. If you’re going on a cruise, for instance, consider flying to your port of departure a day early and be sure to
insure that additional day! Pack your cruise documents and other essential items in your carry-on, so that if your
luggage is lost, you can still board the ship.
Make sure you have trip interruption insurance
No matter how carefully you plan, you never know if your trip will be cut short by circumstances beyond your
control. Travel insurance with trip interruption coverage can protect you from taking a big financial hit if your
travel plans go awry. Trip interruption insurance is especially important for cruises and tours, in which you’re
paying a lot of money up front that probably won’t be refunded if you have to go home early.
Do your best to continue your trip
It’s tough to start off a journey on the wrong foot: with a cancelled flight, a missed connection or other mishap.
Don’t get discouraged. If possible, try to resume your planned itinerary. Even if you miss embarkation for your
cruise ship, you may be able to catch up with the ship at its next port of call.
Trip interruption insurance can cover reasonable additional transportation expenses for getting to your final destination or a place where you can continue your trip, or your original destination another way, if your travel is delayed for 24 hours or more at the start of your trip for a covered reason. It can also reimburse you for any lost days on your trip if your travel plans are interrupted for a covered reason.
Don’t expect too much help from the airline
If your trip interruption is caused by a cancelled flight, don’t expect the airline to put you up at a four-star hotel or
any hotel at all. For domestic flights, airlines aren’t required to compensate you for a cancelled flight, although
they must try to get you on the next available flight. Each airline has its own policies regarding flight
cancellations. Some will pay for your hotel, meals and ground transportation if you have to wait overnight for your
flight; others won’t give you a thing. Trip interruption insurance, on the other hand, can reimburse you for certain
out-of-pocket expenses if your trip is interrupted after you’ve left for a covered reason.
Remember that it may take longer to get home than expected
A trip interruption usually means your planned vacation is cut short and you find yourself returning home early.
But this isn’t always the case. If, for instance, your traveling companion is hospitalized while you’re traveling, you
may find yourself staying in an unfamiliar city for days while you wait for him or her to recover.