For traveling enthusiasts or people who are just looking forward to a relaxing vacation, having to cancel your trip for any reason is definitely heartwrenching. Imagine that year-end trip to the sandy beaches in the Maldives being your biggest motivation throughout your mundane work or school days only to find out that it had to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. I don’t know about you but it feels like my heart just sank to the bottom of the ocean.
That’s what is happening due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many saw their travel plans change due to covid. This is because many nations closed their borders and airlines were forced to halt their flight services. All of a sudden, people found themselves stranded at home and unpacking their suitcases and were astounded by the sudden news.
Sometimes, there are just some things that are out of our control, like a worldwide pandemic. But what is in our control are the actions we take after a setback and that’s what this article will be about. Instead of wallowing in sadness and only seeing the negative side of things, here are a few things you can and should do if you’ve had to cancel your vacation.
Get Back Your Refund
If your trip is canceled, you should waste no time trying to get your money back. The last thing you’d want is to waste your precious hard-earned money.
Before you start spamming emails and calls to the various services that you have already booked, go through the company’s policies on refunds. Different services have different rules and regulations for various kinds of situations. Perhaps you’ve had some personal emergencies? Or maybe your travel destination closed its borders for some reason? Regardless, the amount of refund you are entitled to differs accordingly to your reason for the trip cancellation.
Besides checking the policies directly, do take a look at your travel insurance. You bought travel insurance, right? Assuming that you did, look through your purchased travel insurance thoroughly to see what it covers.
And finally, if you are lost and don’t know where to start, we advise that you get in touch with a travel adviser. Travel advisers are more knowledgeable than us common folks in this field. They are able to read between the lines of cancellation policies and can help you to make the most out of your refund situation.
Become A Tourist in Your Own Country
If you’re stuck in your own country and already have that few days or weeks off, why not take this chance to explore your own country? Domestic tourism is all the rage!
People tend to look overseas to spend their vacation but there are lots of places to visit and things to do right in the backyard of your home! While you might be attracted by the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the night markets and sandy beaches in Thailand, remember that your own country is also branding itself as a desirable travel destination to tourists from other countries.
Love history? Visit your local museum to get a glimpse of how foreigners might view your nation when they visit. Plus, museums are usually free-of-charge for local citizens!
Or if you love the outdoors and nature, take a trip to the national park or go for a hike at a place you haven’t explored before — get recommendations from your friends and family. Otherwise, you can simply do a quick online search for travel blogs or join an online interest group. You would be surprised at how much beauty there is right at your doorstep.
The point is to immerse yourself in the mindset of a tourist. What would you do when you visit somewhere new? Is there something on the top of your bucket list that can be fulfilled locally? The possibilities are endless. As long as you have a positive mindset, your canceled vacation will soon be at the back of your mind.
Try Out Virtual Tours
If going out is not an option, try out virtual tours instead.
Virtual and augmented reality have been gaining prominence in recent years. They are the next phase of technological advancement and have been more accessible to the larger masses through virtual tours on the Internet.
Many travel organizations have expanded their productions to include virtual tours since they’ve had to adapt during the pandemic. Channels such as National Geographic offer viewers an intimate introduction to places and experiences such as seeing the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, whale watching in the pacific ocean, and even exploring the surface of Mars. How incredible is that?
While virtual experiences can never replace physical ones, virtual tours enable those who cannot afford to travel to get a glimpse of what it’s like to be there.
Immerse Yourself In Literary Endeavours
A good book allows one to entirely immerse themselves in the story. Books about various travel destinations’ cultures and history are widely available in the market. Make a trip to your local library and borrow books about the places you’re interested in — perhaps your intended vacation spot?
Books offer an in-depth analysis and information about places on a whole other level, Often, the authors of the book are experts of the place they have written about. Most would have conducted extensive research and even lived there for up to decades. If that isn’t dedication and passion, I don’t know what is.
So, grab a book and spend your afternoon immersing yourself in the wonders of written literature. There’s nothing like reading a good book with a cup of coffee on a sunny day.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Canceling a pre-planned vacation that you very much looked forward to is definitely not fun at all. However, setbacks like this are bound to happen in life. And they say that when life gives you lemons, make some lemonade. So instead of feeling down, make the most of your time to perhaps explore your own country or expand your knowledge with a good read and virtual tours.
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