When it comes to travel, most people know that there are a slew of things that can go wrong. From getting lost in a new city to failing to get tickets to a show you desperately wanted to see, there are plenty of opportunities for your trip to sour before you even check in to your hotel. But when it comes to travel catastrophes that have the potential to ruin your entire trip, there are a few that certainly stand out above the rest. So if you’re planning a trip for the near future, take a look at our list of the worst travel catastrophes and how to avoid them.
Failing to Find Transportation
This one is big for several reasons. Efficient travel can be compromised when you’re visiting a city for the first time, because trying to understand the patterns of public transportation, when and if you can find a cab, can be a challenge. So can trying to predict traffic patterns—after all, the last thing you want is to get stuck in a traffic jam in a rental car that you’re still learning how to operate. So opting for public transit or rental cars can pose serious threats to relaxation and enjoyment on a vacation or business trip.
An easy way to ensure that you have dependable and punctual transportation every time is to book a chauffeured car service in plenty of advance. A chauffeured vehicle offer levels of luxury and comfort that public transit, cabs, and rental cars simply cannot. And not only that, it also offers the services of a local expert Chauffeur, who can point you towards the best hot spots, restaurants, and hotels. Another benefit of having a Chauffeur? Someone who knows how to get around, of course. The time and anxiety you’ll save yourself by giving the responsibility of driving to someone who drives for a living will be well worth the extra money and effort it takes to reserve the car in plenty of time.
Booking a Bad Hotel Room
We’ve all been there: that moment when you open the door to the hotel room you just paid for and an unwelcoming smell greets you. You examine the pillows on your bed before you crawl in, exhausted from a long flight, and you noticed a dingy stain right where you planned on laying your head. A roach in the bathroom, a mini-fridge that’s room temperature on the inside, the incessant ding of the elevator, which is conveniently (and annoyingly) located right outside your hotel room door and leads to a long night of clapping a pillow over your ears. All of these events signal one, very terrifying travel disaster: booking a bad hotel room.
Few things can ruin a trip faster than a hotel room that simply doesn’t cut it. When you’ve saved your money for the better part of a year just so you can have an incredible vacation, you’re understandably miffed when you’re less than thrilled with the room you booked. And when you’re traveling for business and productivity is key, we get that you’re annoyed when you’re woken up at all hours of the night with the sounds of the noisiest ice machine in the western hemisphere.
The answer to this travel catastrophe? Well, it’s the old magical “r” word: RESEARCH. Extensive research when it comes to the hotel you book is the only way to know for sure that you aren’t going to have a terrible experience when you really, really can’t afford to have a terrible experience. Take the time to begin looking up hotel rooms weeks in advance, even if you don’t book until the last minute. Read reviews, ask for references from your co-workers or friends, and don’t ever book on a whim. Knowing the hotel where you’re headed adheres to a strict set of standards will help give you peace of mind in the weeks and days leading up to your trip.
Travel catastrophes can happen anywhere, and to anyone. But when it comes to the hard-earned dollars that you’ve saved so you can have the vacation of your dreams, a travel catastrophe simply has no place ruining your good time. Making the effort to research and make the proper reservations in plenty of time can take you miles down the road to a great vacation or business trip and help you avoid these truly trip-ruining catastrophes.