Clara Buenconsejo
Even if you plan your trip down to the last detail, there’s a risk that you’d get stranded in the area you’re staying at. After all, you can’t always predict when natural calamities or other emergencies happen. So just in case you had the misfortune of getting stuck, here are 8 tips to make getting stranded more bearable:
Waiting in Caticlan Airport
Stay tuned to the local news.
As they say, knowledge is power. It’s usually through local news channels or websites that the authorities alert the public whether it’s safe to travel or to stay put.
Charge when you can.
When power goes out during a calamity, you’ll never know when you’ll be able to charge your devices again. So make sure to plug them in when you get the chance. And make sure to charge your power banks, too, if you have them.
Stranded in Batanes
Update loved ones about your situation.
Spare your friends and family from worry. Whether through social media or via SMS, you should notify them about your whereabouts.
If you’re not a local, make sure you contact your embassy.
Just like in #3, this will help the relevant authorities create an appropriate plan of action and assist you in going back home.
Call the airline or bus company before you check out.
Camping out at the airport or a bus terminal is not fun. So even before checking out of your hotel, make sure to contact your airline or bus company to check if your trip is going to push through. That way, if your trip is canceled, you can just extend your stay instead and not leave your hotel anymore.
Don’t risk traveling when it’s not safe to do so.
If you attempt to travel in the middle of a storm, for instance, you’re not only risking your life. You’re also risking the lives of the driver/boat operator who wants to take you to your destination.
Changi Airport Singapore
Stay alert and think creatively.
In any emergency or calamity, you have to be alert for possible changes to your itinerary. You should be prepared to pack up and leave at a moment’s notice to catch a rare flight out, for example. Or you should be prepared to take a longer route out with more stopovers instead of going on a direct flight back home.
Assist other people, especially other travelers.
Of course, you’re not the only person who’s going to get stranded or going to need help. That’s why you should be ready to lend a helping hand to other travelers. Who knows, the person you helped today may be the one to help you in the future.
