Preparing for the Unexpected: Jack's Travel Contingency Checklist

This article was originally published in The Detour in September 2023 following the earthquake in Morocco and has since been updated for 2026.

No matter where you’re traveling to, it’s never over-the-top to have a disaster contingency plan in your back pocket. Be it earthquakes, fires, civil unrest, war, or a tsunami, things happen, and we might one day find ourselves having to deal with them when we're far from home.

Here are some of the ways you can prepare yourself for the unexpected:

1. Research
Find out what risks there are in the specific area you are visiting. Googling [location] + [month] + [weather] is a good place to start when checking the chances of wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, etc.

For example, it’s surprising that with a destination as popular as the Caribbean, many people still don’t know when hurricane season is and grab cheaper flights without thinking. Earthquakes are a little harder to predict (impossible, in fact), but you can certainly find out if there’s a history of earthquakes in the region you’re visiting and how serious they tend to be.

Always read up on the current headlines about the country or region you're visiting, too. If there has been conflict in border areas, for example, you don't need to skip the trip altogether—just plan your routes carefully and hire a local guide if you're in any doubt. Or if there are frequent demonstrations, political or otherwise, find out where they tend to gather so that you know what to expect.

These things don't need to stop you from travelling, but you want to be aware of the risks and make sure you have appropriate cover, which leads us to…

2. Insurance
It should go without saying that you want to get travel insurance before you head off. But don’t just go with the cheapest option! Following the COVID-19 outbreak, many of us discovered the hard way that we didn’t have comprehensive coverage. Always read the small print, understand what the policy will take care of, and ensure you can pay any excess if you need to make a claim.

It's worth noting that most travel insurance policies will exclude claims resulting from war or terrorism. Certain companies specialize in insurance for 'high-risk' destinations, so definitely go in that direction if you know you're going somewhere risky. 

3. Flexible travel
If we always stayed home because of a risk, we’d never travel anywhere—that’s why airline Flex fares are a good option. Choose fares that let you rebook and accommodation with free cancellation, giving you the option to rebook if the situation changes before you travel. Sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra to have that peace of mind!

You’d also be wise to take a look at how individual airlines tend to deal with “act of God” situations. The standard approach is to shrug their shoulders and tell you to claim it on insurance; however, American Airlines and British Airways, for example, are known to drop their change fees or offer free cancellation when a crisis hits.

4. Book through a travel agency
This one might sound pretty old school, but hear us out! While online travel agencies get a bad rep for their hidden fees and poor service, traditional travel agencies and tour operators can offer support and protection.

They’re able to contact airlines on your behalf and usually have a clear overview of all available flights should you need to leave somewhere in a rush. In addition, even when airlines are putting up a fight and citing an “act of God” as a reason not to refund you, your travel agency might cough up.

5. Stay in the loop
So you’re away on your trip, enjoying that feeling of being cut off from the real world, only getting notifications when you return to your accommodation and connect to the Wi-Fi.

But say something does go wrong while you’re out and about and Wi-Fi isn’t an option. Having a local SIM or eSIM not only stops you from running up roaming charges, it also means you’ll get local alerts and can stay as in-the-loop as locals. You don’t need to be connected at all times, but making sure someone in your party has that option will keep you safe and informed.

On that note, it’s always worth bringing along a fully charged power bank in case the electricity goes. Just try not to run it down by bingeing a series on Netflix!

6. Emergency cash
You shouldn't really carry around a load of extra cash on holiday, but these days it’s easy to forget to carry any at all! It’s good practice to keep some local currency and/or a widely accepted international currency handy, just in case you find yourself in a sticky situation. Money talks, as they say.

7. Carry a First Aid Kit
This is a no-brainer for anyone who likes to camp or hike anyway—or if you have kids who run around at 100 miles per hour! Bring along a small pouch containing painkillers, band-aids, antihistamines, and antiseptic wipes in addition to any usual prescription medication. It might not be a big thing, but it can certainly ease pain until you get medical attention.

8. Don’t panic
We know we’ve spent the last 600 words telling you how to prepare for the worst-case scenario, which might seem kinda scary. But really, making sure you have all the facts and provisions in place should let you feel more relaxed during any trip to an at-risk area. And in case you do find yourself dealing with the unexpected, at least the basics are covered.