Sometimes it doesn’t matter how prepared you are, there are times when travel plans go wrong and prevent your intended holiday from going ahead. However, all is not necessarily lost and there might be a way to have your longed for trip after all.
Here, we share some top tips for what to do when some common holiday problems arise and stop you from heading off on the holiday you’ve been looking forward to.
What to do when your flight has been cancelled
No one wants to hear that their flight has been cancelled, but unfortunately this can happen due to airline issues, problems at the airport, or bad weather conditions. If this happens to you and the next available flight is really not convenient, why not opt for a ferry crossing to Europe instead? With routes to Calais in France, Zeebrugge in Belgium, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, you can be enjoying a holiday on the continent in no time.
The opportunities are endless if you can take your car, or are able to hire one for when you arrive. Here are just some of the amazing places that you can reach from each port, including the sunny south of France and the fascinating city of Bruges:
Driving times from Calais:
- Calais to Bruges, Belgium – 1 hour 30 minutes
- Calais to Lille, France – 1 hour 35 minutes
- Calais to Paris, France – 3 hours 15 minutes
- Calais to Cologne, Germany – 4 hours 30 minutes
- Calais to Nice, south of France – 10 hours 50 minutes
Driving times from Zeebrugge:
- Zeebrugge to Bruges, Belgium – 30 minutes
- Zeebrugge to Ghent, Belgium – 55 minutes
- Zeebrugge to Eindhoven, the Netherlands – 2 hours 20 minutes
- Zeebrugge to Düsseldorf, Germany – 3 hours 25 minutes
- Zeebrugge to Luxembourg City – 3 hours 40 minutes
Driving times from Rotterdam:
- Rotterdam to The Hague, the Netherlands – 30 minutes
- Rotterdam to Amsterdam, the Netherlands – 1 hour
- Rotterdam to Dortmund, Germany – 2 hours 54 minutes
- Rotterdam to Berlin, Germany – 6 hours 50 minutes
If you can’t drive abroad, you’ll be able to catch a train from the stations in Calais, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge which can help you to reach a whole range of great destinations.
Dealing with a lost or out of date passport
There are so many things to remember when planning for a holiday. Does your hotel still have great reviews? Have you bought enough sun cream? Are there any vaccinations you need? Should you book your excursions in advance? It is for this reason that you might forget to check that all important document – your passport.
If you’re just about to leave and realise that you’ve lost your passport or it’s out of date, this will mean that you can’t travel to any country where a passport is required. Many countries require you to have at least 3 months on your passport to enter the country too, so you should check this with your destination before you travel.
Should this happen to you, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have a holiday at all. UK nationals don’t require a passport to travel to Northern Ireland with P&O Ferries, so you could take a speedy two hour trip across the Irish Sea from Cairnryan to Larne and explore the stunning Emerald Isle. Ireland is full of fantastic attractions, such as the Giants Causeway, lots of fascinating Game of Thrones filming locations, and the amazing nightlife that can be found in Dublin, so although it may not be what you originally planned, you’re guaranteed to have a holiday to remember.
Claim through your travel insurance
If something happens that means you can’t travel, you’ll be able to claim back any money that you have lost through your travel insurance. When you purchase travel insurance, there are lots of different policies and types of cover available, so you can decide how much you’d like to be able to claim back in the event that your holiday is cancelled and go from there. Plus, knowing that your cancelled holiday will be reimbursed by your insurance company can give you the confidence to book an alternative trip.
Travel insurance doesn’t only cover cancellations, policies can also pay out for things like medical cover, lost or stolen luggage, and gadgets, which makes it a vital part of any holiday booking. Taking part in some winter sports during your break? Your insurance can cover you for this too! If you’re a frequent traveller, you might like to upgrade to a multi-trip policy which usually covers any trips that you take within a year.
With these options available to you when your travel plans go wrong, there’s no reason why you can’t still have a fantastic holiday! Looking to book a trip soon? Find out more about our great routes to Europe on our website.
