By Norm Miller, Senior Investment Counselor
As we embrace spring, thoughts go to making vacation plans with loved ones. My wife and I are fortunate in that we’ve traveled to many arts of the world over the last twenty-five plus years, with nary a mishap. Our good fortunes finally ran aground last summer when we embarked on a vacation to Europe.
It started with a one-day delay at the front end of our trip (no flight attendant crew in Phoenix), followed by a 24-hour flu, being pickpocketed on the subway in Vienna (leaving no cash and no credit cards), a Segway accident in Prague (strained lower back that required doctor visit at midnight), and the final coup de grâce: missing a connecting flight in Chicago due to broken luggage conveyor system. This was not what we had planned.
Vacations can be a mix of both stress and elation. Other than the chain of unfortunate events, we had a wonderful experience on our European vacation, and even seasoned travelers such as ourselves learned a few valuable new lessons. For example, the airline industry has little slack capacity these days, so “scheduled” connection times of less than one and a half to two hours most likely may be too short. Minimizing connection times to maximize vacation time may indeed lead to less vacation time, so be sure to plan your layovers accordingly. International travelers may want to consider the Global Entry system, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that expedite customs processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Plus, you’ll always receive the coveted TSA pre-check status.
My wallet was extricated from deep in my front right pocket and I wasn’t even aware that anything was amiss! Clearly, more security precautions are needed.
Illness, injury, and health issues may also arise. Ensure that you have insurance protection such as emergency medical, trip interruption, and trip delay. I had low cost insurance that covered this risk, which softens the financial and non-financial setbacks.
As you plan your summer vacations – which can be half the fun as actually taking them – draw on your past experiences as well as information from other trusted sources to minimize stress and adverse outcomes. With these precautions in place, you’ll build long-lasting memories from your upcoming vacation through prudent planning and dream-driven experiences.
