4 Frustrating Situations You Can Encounter with International Travel and How to Deal with it

We have all heard stories from someone we know about awful situations one can run into while traveling internationally, or maybe we have experienced them ourselves. Losing one’s passport, long layovers, and misunderstandings due to a language barrier can all make our experiences abroad more difficult and much less fun. If you are planning to host or attend a business event or meeting out of the country you may want to enlist professional help. Here are four frustrating aspects of international travel and how to deal with it:

At times there may be long or unexpected layovers, especially when we are traveling to a different country and there are multiple stops. Rather than spending time stressing out or being bored at the airport after a delayed flight, if you have a few hours on your hands, take a taxi to do some window shopping or grab a bite to eat. This will allow you to check out the local culture. You will be glad you did when you return in time for your flight relaxed and ready to go while everyone else is desperately rushing to the gate. Make use of your down time.

Generally it is a good idea to leave your actual passport locked up in your hotel room after arrival and carry a color copy of it in your purse or wallet instead of the real thing. This makes losing your passport much less likely. In the event that it does get lost or stolen, go to the U.S. Embassy as soon as possible. They will then help you get a replacement so you can be on your merry way, after a few days wait.

If you no longer remember any of that high school French or Spanish, not to worry. Using a professional event planning company, such as elm Planning, that has international experience, is hands down your best option. In addition however, there are high-tech devices that can translate on the spot, and will help avoid unnecessary stress like stating that you’re pregnant when you wanted to say that you are embarrassed.

When traveling internationally we are ever-aware that our environment is different, in little ways and in some pretty big ways. Although most people have been warned about some of the local laws they will encounter before departure, be prepared to do a bit more research on your own. For example, in Singapore it is illegal to litter (as like many countries), but did you know that a littering sentence there can include jail time? Singapore has a reputation for being one of the cleanest cities in the world, and chewing gum in public is actually against the law too.

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In her book Living with No Balance…And Loving It! A Simple Guide to Thriving in a Real World of Life and Work Even as a “Road Warrior,” author and CEO of an international consulting and training company, Cindy Novotny, urges readers to throw out traditional ideas about living life with “balance” and incorporate enjoyment into a hectic business schedule. Having been on countless international trips, Novotny has great advice on how to ‘just deal with it’ and make life work for you instead. Many travel-related issues can be avoided just by hiring a professional. These elm Planning team are experts and can make sure your international travel goes without a hitch.