How to be ready for a travel emergency
Some places in the world may be experiencing civil unrest, environmental disasters, or under the threat of a pandemic, it is therefore important to be prepared for travel emergencies.
- Watch for travel advisories. The Government of Canada maintains an up-to-date list. Make sure you check it before planning your trip, and again before setting off.
- Get contact information for the consulate and the Canadian Embassy at your destination before you need it. Make sure to have both an online and an offline copy in case you don’t have access to your electronics.
- Make sure you have travel insurance before your trip and consider supplemental coverage based on where you’re travelling to and what you plan on doing there. For example, a trek through the Andes may carry more risks than a week at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. Read the fine print and ask your insurance broker for more information.
- Make copies of your travel documents. Email and print yourself a copy and share it with a few trusted friends and family members as well.
- Know who you need to contact to recover lost or stolen travel documents, identification and credit cards. Inform your credit card company about your trip before you travel.
- Look up reliable sources of information in case of large-scale emergencies like evacuation or a quarantine. It may be the local news channel or the website and social media accounts of the country’s government. If you don’t speak the local language, make sure you have access to a reliable translator. For example, you can try downloading language packs on Google Translate that could work even offline.
- Share a detailed trip plan with your trip companions as well as friends and family back home.
- Last but not least, take some portable chargers (power banks) with you and charge them often to ensure that you have a source of power for your electronics. Make sure you bring cables for your chargers too.
Sources:
Government of Canada - Bon voyage
National Geographic - An emergency checklist for travelers
The content in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as professional or expert advice. Aviva and the Aviva logo are trademarks of Aviva plc. and are used under licence by Aviva Canada Inc. and its subsidiary companies.