Why Discuss Travel Issues Again?
I decided to revisit how to deal with unexpected travel issues. With summertime travel at what seems like an all-time high, more people traveling may mean that you are more likely to experience delays.
Recently I was enjoying one last Magner’s on my trip to London when I received a notification that my flight home the next day had been canceled. Not only was the flight canceled, but British Airways would also no longer operate the flight from London to my home airport.
Luckily, I’ve adapted my outlook on travel delays and cancellations and decided to pivot. I called American Airlines who I had booked the flight through and reviewed my options.
Firstly, since this was a rewards trip, they could simply reinstate my miles. American Airlines also offered to rebook my flight or gave me the option to rebook on my own.
Unfortunately, the Airbnb I was staying at in London was unavailable for the next couple of nights. Rather than scrambling to find another Airbnb in London, I decided it was a sign that I should head to Paris for a few days. How did I come to that realization you might wonder. Simple, it’s Paris! I was so close geographically and figured it would be a great opportunity to turn an unfortunate instance into a bonus trip. I asked American to reinstate my miles and I would work on alternate travel planes.
Let’s Take Advantage of a Delay
You may be aware that there is a high-speed train between London and Paris. It takes just over two hours to arrive in the City of Lights from London. So I did a few quick searches and found affordable train tickets from London to Paris. I also found a killer deal on an Airbnb. Since it was one day out, the price dropped quite drastically, and finally, I booked a return flight from Paris home. Ultimately, I spent very little money to extend my adventure rather than get upset over the flight cancellation.
Be sure to check out my tips for saving money on last-minute travel later in this post.
I would recommend that if you do not have a job with flexibility regarding remote work, you pad your return flight. That way, if you do get delayed you aren’t forced to miss work or take additional time off.
Bastille Day in Paris
So here I am with four extra nights in a city that I honestly can just not get enough of. The best part of this visit to Paris was Friday evening. I was able to celebrate Bastille Day! How lucky I felt to be in Paris for this celebration.
Bastille Day is a French national holiday commemorating the storming of Bastille during the French revolutionary war. Each year, Paris celebrates in style. During the daytime they have a huge parade along the Champs Elyse complete with soldiers, flyovers, and bands. In the evening, fireworks are shot off of the Eiffel Tower and the nearby areas making for an incredible show.
That evening, with a picnic packed, I walked towards the Eiffel Tower to watch the most amazing firework display I’ve ever seen.
The energy was high as I searched for the perfect picnic spot between the Hôtel des Invalides and the Pont Alexandre III. With a DJ spinning, the sound of champagne bottles popping, and smiles as far as the eye could see, this beautiful summer night in Paris was the perfect end to my two weeks across the pond.
I genuinely believe that traveling is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The cultural experience alone is something that is hard to replicate. Additionally, I’ve learned so much about myself through travel, even when things were beyond my control like a cancellation.
I am thankful that I decided to use the experience to my advantage. I try to remember that mindset is everything. If you get pissed off at the inconvenience of a travel delay, you are likely going to be in a terrible mood. You also will probably not be the most pleasant to those who are helping you sort out your new plans.
If you take things in stride, you may walk away with one of the best experiences of your life.
Last Minute Ways to Save Money
With that, I wanted to share some money-saving tips for booking last-minute travel.
- Use the Omio app to book train travel while in Europe. While you can absolutely fly very affordably throughout the country, the train is often very economical and frequently, super fast. Additionally, there has been a recent movement that has begun restricting some airline travel within Europe. The idea is that traveling by train is better for the environment. Therefore, countries are beginning to place restrictions on short-haul flights. France is one of those countries signing into law a ban on short-haul flights. The ban restricts flights where the passenger is able to reach their destination in under 2.5 hours via train.
- Ask for a discount: If booking on Airbnb or VRBO, don’t be afraid to message the host to request a discount on last-minute bookings. Think about it, you guarantee you’ll book their place rather than it sitting vacant for several days. While they could absolutely say no, you may still end up with some savings. In fact, this last-minute booking saved me $600 on the original cost. The fact that it was summertime and Bastille Day also likely drove up the price. Obtaining these last-minute savings was a huge bonus. European travel during the shoulder seasons will also help you obtain more affordable rates.
- Utilize Skyscanner to find the best deals back home. You should also consider using budget airlines, and/or airline rewards when booking last-minute travel. A quick search on Skyscanner showed my best bet was to fly home via Reykjavik, Iceland. The flight was super affordable. We even had a chance to see the volcano that is currently erupting in Iceland from the plane!
- Remember your rights as a customer. When your flight is disrupted and you can’t fly out on the same day, you are often eligible for compensation. Often times this is in the way of a free hotel stay and meals but typically does not include alcohol. Be sure to ask about your passenger rights.
- Consider traveling carry-on only. This makes it easier to travel between cities should you so desire. Check out my entire post dedicated to packing carry-on only. Remember to pack sink suds or look for a booking with a washer/dryer. This is especially helpful in case you end up traveling longer than expected.
How to Deal with Unexpected Travel Issues
I hope this post has given you some hope when dealing with travel disruptions. Take it from me, they don’t always have to be a bad thing! Remember, staying healthy while traveling includes your mental health and managing stress is just as important as being physically active and eating well. Safe and healthy travels!