2. Introduction
When you depart for a trip, you never know exactly how your travel plans will unfold.
Despite your best efforts to account for every minute detail, a car accident on the way to
the airport or an unexpected illness can completely derail your trip.
While there’s never a good time for something to go wrong, problems become even more
difficult to resolve when you’re thousands of miles away from home. Thinking ahead can
help lessen the blow of an unexpected emergency – and help you avoid additional
financial setbacks.
3. Emergency Bank Accounts
Tip No. 1: Open an emergency bank account.
Emergencies can take a toll on your finances. You may have to buy a costly, last-minute
flight home due to a family member falling ill. Or, you may get food poisoning while
traveling and need to seek medical treatment.
Prepare for unexpected expenses by:
• Choosing a bank that has international locations and setting up an emergency
savings account.
• Determining how much you want to set aside and consider setting up a monthly auto-
draft of that amount from your regular bank account into your emergency account.
• Calling your bank prior to a trip and letting them know where you’re heading so they
don’t freeze account due to suspicious activity.
4. Travel Documents
Tip No. 2: Keep duplicate copies of important paperwork.
Trouble can strike in the most unexpected places. You get a flat tire while on a road trip
or you lose your only form of ID while traveling internationally. Having important
documents (and copies of them) on hand can be the difference between resolving a
problem and creating more of them.
For international travel, bring:
• Your passport, along with a copy of the photo page, stored separately.
• Your driver’s license and a copy of your driver’s license, stored separately.
• Your boarding pass and hotel confirmation, along with copies.
• Your health insurance card and a copy of it (make sure your policy includes
international medical insurance).
5. Emergency Contacts
Tip No. 3: Have an emergency contact list.
If you’re traveling and have children back at home, make sure to designate two to three
people you trust to be an emergency contact, in addition to your spouse or babysitter.
Even if your children are old enough to be left home alone, it’s still important to have a
close friend or relative that you can call if something happens while you’re away. Make
sure you give your emergency contacts:
• A copy of your flight information, hotel address and trip itinerary
• A copy of your child’s health insurance card
• A list of any medications, allergies and current health issues your child has, along
with the contact information for your family doctor or pediatrician
6. Emergency Kits
Tip No. 4: Prepare an emergency kit.
Whether you’re traveling alone or with others, it’s always a good idea to carry a travel-
sized emergency first-aid kit with you.
Items within it could include:
• Band-Aids and gauze
• A tourniquet
• Anti-bacterial ointment (travel size)
• Aloe (travel size)
• Prescription medications
• Gloves
The American Red Cross also offers other useful checklists for emergencies.
7. Know Your Surroundings
Tip No. 5: Research the area.
Many travelers often don’t think to look up important places that might end up on their
itinerary, even if it wasn’t part of the original plan. Here are some places you should know
how to get to, in case of an emergency:
• The embassy of your country of origin
• The nearest hospital
• Walk-in clinic (if available)
• Pharmacy (for over-the-counter medications)
• Bank
8. Travel Insurance Coverage
Tip No. 6: Invest in travel insurance coverage.
Two main types of travel insurance include Trip Protection and Medical Coverage.
• Trip Protection: This type of coverage can include trip cancellation, trip interruption
and baggage protection. So if an emergency occurs and you have to cancel your trip
or cut it short unexpectedly, you’ll be covered for pre-paid tickets, such as an
international flight, that would otherwise be non-refundable.
• Medical Coverage: If you review your existing health insurance policy, you may find
that you aren’t covered for medical providers outside of your network. With
RoamRight’s (Outside U.S.) Medical Insurance, you’ll have medical and emergency
medical evacuation coverage for international trips up to 360 days in length.
9. The Adventure Doesn’t Stop Here.
Find the travel insurance coverage you need with RoamRight.
RoamRight’s travel insurance professionals have more than 60 years of experience in
helping travelers around the world get the coverage they need. We are committed to
providing our clients with:
• High quality coverage – Comprehensive coverage to protect travelers and their
financial investments on their trips.
• Competitively-priced products – Customized programs for large groups or single
travelers.
• Excellent customer service – RoamRight’s website makes it easier than ever to
learn about and purchase travel insurance. You can also chat directly with a customer
service representative on the website, or call RoamRight toll-free at 1-877-687-7170.
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RoamRight be your passport to peace of mind.