TRAVEL PROBLEMS AND WAYS TO DEAL WITH THEM

TRAVEL PROBLEMS AND WAYS TO DEAL WITH THEM

Skyscanner, an award winning website and the world’s travel engine has created a helpline for travellers and has offered solutions to holiday problems. Here are some of them:

1) Your wallet is stolen.

Contact the local police immediately and make sure you get a copy of the crime report with the statements you have made. Report any missing cards to your bank as soon as possible. They may be able to send you a replacement card or give you an emergency cash advance. Alternatively, someone from home could always use an online money transfer operator to send you money. It’s important that you file a report with your travel insurance company as soon as you can. Most travel insurance companies have strict time regulations regarding when you report the crime to local police, so make sure you don’t delay this or you could miss out on your compensation.

Keep a decoy wallet with a few local currency notes in case you’re mugged. Keep your cash and cards in different locations, rather than carrying everything together.

2) You get sunburnt.

Cool the skin as soon as possible with a cold compress and drink lots of water. Avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., wear a hat, use a high-factor sun protection lotion, cover up your moles and regularly re-apply sun cream, especially after swimming.

3) You get food poisoning.

If you’ve got an upset stomach, stay hydrated and sip lots of water. Try to eat bland foods such as bread, bananas, crackers, scrambled egg and plain rice. Avoid spicy, sweet or fatty fried foods if you’re vomiting, avoid solid foods until it subsides. If it carries on for more than a couple of days, contact a doctor.

Avoid water that isn’t bottled as well as ice. Also be careful about bottles with a broken seal, as they have been refilled. Be careful with fruit and salad. They could be washed in contaminated water. Also, stay away from food that has been standing around for a long time and exposed to flies, as well as reheated food, especially rice.

 

(Adapted from the SkyScanner website)