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From seasickness to lost passports to bedbugs, here's how to deal with 5 things that can easily ruin your trip
Here’s what to do if disaster should strike on your trip
From illness to lost luggage, travel hardships can strike at any time along your journey. Here are some solutions to the most common problems.
If you’re going boating or cruising on your next vacation, try popping 1,000 milligrams of dried ginger root before setting sail. You can find this at most health food stores. Another option is a product like Sea Bands. You wear them around your wrists and they use acupressure to ward off seasickness. This is also great for kids on car trips.
This traveller’s diarrhea can definitely put a damper on your vacation if you’re traveling to a Latin American country. To avoid this, of course try not to drink the water or have ice in your drinks, but before you depart, ask your doctor to prescribe something for you to take before you go or during your trip to prevent an infection.
Unfortunately, infestations have increased by 71 per cent since 2001. Before you unpack, inspect the mattress and remove all the bedding including the mattress pad. Check the wall near the headboard as well. If you see tiny blood spots or brown insects that are less than a quarter-inch long, find another room or hotel.
We all know natural disasters are a real possibility, with hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanoes grounding airplanes in the past. If you find yourself in a natural disaster situation while at your hotel, follow the lead of hotel staff. Most have emergency procedures in place.
If this happens to you, report your passport lost or stolen immediately to the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. You’ll need to fill out all sorts of paperwork, so having a photocopy of your passport really helps speed up the process.
Claire’s Travel Best Bets
Honolulu, Hawaii Select November departures Air & 7 nights at the Miramar at Waikiki FREE room upgrade $819 + $202 tax
Vernon, BC Claire’s Luxury List – Sparkling Hill Resort September 3 – October 31 2 nights hotel, daily hot buffet breakfast, valet parking, WiFi and more Rates are per person from $225 + $49 tax
Pacific Coastal Cruise September 23 3 night cruise, air and transfer $238 + $258 tax
For more deals visit www.travelbestbets.com or sign up for for deals by email. Smartphone users can also download the free app here.
Claire Newell is the travel media expert for Global BC, host of the travel series Operation: Vacation, best-selling author, spokesperson, wife and mother of two. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.