Emergency Travel Plans

Preparing for Unexpected Travel Emergencies

IntroductionWhen you depart for a trip, you never know exactly how your travel plans will unfold. Despite your best efforts to account for every minute detail, a car accident on the way to the airport or an unexpected illness can completely derail your trip.

While there’s never a good time for something to go wrong, problems become even more difficult to resolve when you’re thousands of miles away from home. Thinking ahead can help lessen the blow of an unexpected emergency – and help you avoid additionalfinancial setbacks.

Emergency Bank AccountsTip No. 1: Open an emergency bank account.

Emergencies can take a toll on your finances. You may have to buy a costly, last-minute flight home due to a family member falling ill. Or, you may get food poisoning while traveling and need to seek medical treatment.

Prepare for unexpected expenses by: • Choosing a bank that has international locations and setting up an emergency

savings account. • Determining how much you want to set aside and consider setting up a monthly auto-

draft of that amount from your regular bank account into your emergency account.• Calling your bank prior to a trip and letting them know where you’re heading so they

don’t freeze account due to suspicious activity.

Travel DocumentsTip No. 2: Keep duplicate copies of important paperwork.

Trouble can strike in the most unexpected places. You get a flat tire while on a road tripor you lose your only form of ID while traveling internationally. Having important documents (and copies of them) on hand can be the difference between resolving a problem and creating more of them.

For international travel, bring:

• Your passport, along with a copy of the photo page, stored separately.• Your driver’s license and a copy of your driver’s license, stored separately. • Your boarding pass and hotel confirmation, along with copies.• Your health insurance card and a copy of it (make sure your policy includes

international medical insurance).

Tip No. 3: Have an emergency contact list.

If you’re traveling and have children back at home, make sure to designate two to threepeople you trust to be an emergency contact, in addition to your spouse or babysitter. Even if your children are old enough to be left home alone, it’s still important to have aclose friend or relative that you can call if something happens while you’re away. Make sure you give your emergency contacts:

• A copy of your flight information, hotel address and trip itinerary• A copy of your child’s health insurance card• A list of any medications, allergies and current health issues your child has, along

with the contact information for your family doctor or pediatrician

Emergency Contacts

Tip No. 4: Prepare an emergency kit.

Whether you’re traveling alone or with others, it’s always a good idea to carry a travel-sized emergency first-aid kit with you.

Items within it could include:

• Band-Aids and gauze• A tourniquet• Anti-bacterial ointment (travel size)• Aloe (travel size)• Prescription medications• Gloves

The American Red Cross also offers other useful checklists for emergencies.

Emergency Kits

Tip No. 5: Research the area.

Many travelers often don’t think to look up important places that might end up on their itinerary, even if it wasn’t part of the original plan. Here are some places you should know how to get to, in case of an emergency:

• The embassy of your country of origin• The nearest hospital• Walk-in clinic (if available)• Pharmacy (for over-the-counter medications)• Bank

Know Your Surroundings

Tip No. 6: Invest in travel insurance coverage.

Two main types of travel insurance include Trip Protection and Medical Coverage.

• Trip Protection: This type of coverage can include trip cancellation, trip interruption and baggage protection. So if an emergency occurs and you have to cancel your trip or cut it short unexpectedly, you’ll be covered for pre-paid tickets, such as an international flight, that would otherwise be non-refundable.

• Medical Coverage: If you review your existing health insurance policy, you may find that you aren’t covered for medical providers outside of your network. With RoamRight’s (Outside U.S.) Medical Insurance, you’ll have medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage for international trips up to 360 days in length.

Travel Insurance Coverage

Find the travel insurance coverage you need with RoamRight.

RoamRight’s travel insurance professionals have more than 60 years of experience inhelping travelers around the world get the coverage they need. We are committed to providing our clients with:

• High quality coverage – Comprehensive coverage to protect travelers and their financial investments on their trips.

• Competitively-priced products – Customized programs for large groups or single travelers.

• Excellent customer service – RoamRight’s website makes it easier than ever to learn about and purchase travel insurance. You can also chat directly with a customer service representative on the website, or call RoamRight toll-free at 1-877-687-7170.

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