From all of us at Swift Passport and Visa Services, Happy Halloween! Halloween is one of the best times of the year, as everyone gets to dress up, have some fun, and tell some spooky stories. And though the first thing you might think of when talking about scary stories is ghosts, ghouls, vampires, and zombies, our version of spooky Halloween tales is travel nightmares.
We know that we’ve heard our fair share of spooky travel stories over the years, and we are sure that you have encountered a nightmarish travel experience once or twice. So, in honor of Halloween, we wanted to share some unfortunate travel situations that people often encounter and give you tips to help make sure that you don’t get yourself into a similar situation.
Missed Flight, Canceled Trip
There are two types of people in this world – those who arrive at the airport hours ahead of time and those who wait until the very last minute to arrive at the airport. Unfortunately, more times than not, we hear about people missing their flights because they get to the airport too late, and this can cause major issues. Though a majority of people may be able to book another flight or find another form of transportation, there are times when people actually have to cancel their trips altogether due to missing their flight.
To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, ensure that you arrive early at the airport. If you have an international flight, get to the airport at least 3-4 hours before your flight, and if you are flying domestically, try to get to the airport at least 2-3 hours before your flight. This way, you can reduce your stress, knowing that you won’t miss your flight and relax before your trip.
Dirty Rugs and Bed Bugs
You’ve been waiting months for this trip, and it’s finally time to check in to your hotel or vacation rental. As soon as you open the door, the entire place stinks, the floors are dirty, and on top of that, you find that your bed is full of bed bugs. How could a place that looked so clean and polished on the internet look so different in person, you may ask?
Unfortunately, people often book a hotel or vacation rental because of the pictures that they see online. But the mistake that they make is not reading the reviews of the property. Travelers are constantly leaving reviews on their experiences online, including the cleanliness and quality of their accommodations. So, before booking something just because it looks nice in the photos, be sure to read reviews, too.
The Case of the Missing Luggage
More and more, we hear about people losing their luggage. This can cause you to have major stress, especially if the luggage is lost on the way to your destination. If this has ever happened to you, you know that it can be a huge bummer, and on top of that, you won’t have all of your clothing and essentials to use while vacationing.
Although having your luggage go missing isn’t something that you can always control, you can keep track of your luggage and make it easier to find by using a tracking tag. Simply put the tracking tag inside your luggage before checking it in at the airport, and see where it is at all times by looking at the tracking map on your phone. This way, if your luggage does go missing, you may be able to retrieve it more easily.
The One Where Everyone’s Passport Was Expired
Possibly the spookiest travel situation of all is having an international trip planned and finding out that your passports are expired. Unfortunately, we see this all too often, and people typically have to miss their trips because they don’t check the expiration date of their passports. This should never happen, as it is completely avoidable as long as you are aware of your passport’s expiration date.
But if, for some reason, you do run into this situation and need to get a passport before your international trip, Swift Passport and Visa Services can help! Simply visit our website, begin the expedited passport application process, and checkout. Our knowledgeable team will then keep track of your application throughout the entire process, and before you know it, you’ll have your passport in hand.
Though travel can be a wonderful experience and allows you to see the world, there are times when unexpected circumstances can happen. And if you find yourself in a spooky travel situation, do your best to stay calm and try to come up with solutions.
Fortunately, there’s one spooky travel situation that we can help you avoid – not receiving your passport or visa in time for your trip! Start your passport or visa application today on our website, and our team will work with you to ensure that it arrives safely and before your travels. Furthermore, if you have any questions along the way, please feel free to contact our team – we’d be happy to help! No matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there!
