BUMMERRR. Your trip that you have been planning fell through. Whether that be due to a friend bailing, a family emergency or having to work… the outcome is the same: Your vacation is in jeopardy!
The worst thing you could do is despair. Sulking and sitting at home will just make the matters worse, but what other choice do you have?? The world is your oyster, and your reaction will highly depend on the nature of the cancellation. If a family member or close friend is on their death bed I would highly recommend that you spend your precious time with them. Time spent with loved ones is always important.
This post is meant for the other 80% of last minute mishaps: a big project came up at work that you need to stay home for; you are having a hard time finding a baby-sitter; the hotel you booked is overrun with protestors and they kicked you out of your room… No matter what just remember that this world is filled with myriad possibilities for you. The most important thing to remember is that everything will turn out ok in the long run, and you should not let a little hiccup get in the way of making memories. Here are a couple tips and tricks for some potential problems you could be experiencing:
- Overbooked plane ride: Usually airline companies will try to overfill a certain flight because they are expecting a portion of those passengers to not show up for their flight. It is a great way for they to make money and to maximize the capacity of the plane itself. There are times where you will run into the issue of having too many people show up for a flight… uh oh… the gate attendant just offered a $500 voucher for a passenger to change flights… HELLO! This is opportunity knocking. If you have flexible travel arrangements then go for the voucher! You will be put on a later flight for no extra fee and you just made $500. If you have stricter deadlines then just wait until someone else takes the voucher and you will still catch your flight. No harm done.
- Missed flight/Missed Connection: Hmm this one is a little more tough if you have tight travel plans. Your best bet would be to speak with a gate agent to see what other flights are headed to your destination. The airline workers are extremely accommodating if you missed your flight due to causes out of your control. You would be surprised how helpful they are when you ask nicely, so just remember your manners. They are people too! Worst case here is that you are delayed several hours until they can put you on another plane. Now you have more hours to potentially explore a new city! Hipmunk.com, theflightdeal.com, and skiplagged.com are three sites that can help you get where you are going.
- Note: Skiplagged.com is a very cool site that factors in flights with a “hidden city” as a layover. For instance if you were trying to get to San Fran (SFO) from Newark (EWR) but the flights are pricey or tedious, skiplagged will find a flight to Juneau with a layover in SFO. Prices tend to decrease and you now have a direct flight to SFO! Just keep in mind that any bags that are checked will still end up in Juneau… so this type of travel is best for those with little baggage.
- Hotel Cancellation: FIND A NEW ONE. If all of the hotels are booked then airbnb.com is also a great way to rent out someone’s real home. These accommodations are generally cheaper than a hotel, but form my experience with them, are just as hospitable. Camping, hostels, and sleeping in your car are other options… depending on your preferences.
- Friend Bailing Last Minute: Well there is no way to predict who will flake on you last minute. This is a huge bummer especially if you had everything planned out. This situation all depends one who dropped out, and who is still going. If it was a third-wheel kind of trip, and one member of the happy couple can no longer go.. you may want to consider awkwardness into the equation before you decide on the fate of your vacation. You can always move it to another date. Lets say you and your significant other were planning a trip abroad for a week but one person can no longer go. Do not fret! There is no time like the present to learn to travel alone! Sushi will still taste like sushi, the sights will still be glorious, and you will have the rare opportunity to meet extraordinary new people! I am all for travelling alone: I have met a number of awesome humans while travelling alone. *Do your research beforehand, be vigilant of your surroundings, and stay safe*
Wow with so many things that could go wrong it seems impossible to actually take the time to travel. It is up to you to make your trip happen, and it is up to you to have fun on that trip! I would love to hear any stories that you might have about a cancelled trip, salvaged vacation, or a close call! Please let me know your thoughts on the post and I hope that this has helped you out!