This week school is out, and millions of us are planning our summer holiday. Despite the credit crunch, 8 million of us* are still planning to head off to our favourite holiday hotspots this summer, sure that nothing will go wrong.The latest survey from online travel experts Opodo.co.uk reveals that holiday mishaps do take place, and when they do, we are woefully unprepared.
Some of the most outrageous holiday disasters revealed in Opodo’s survey, which canvassed the opinions of over 1000 holiday bookers in the lead up to the summer holiday period, were:
- Being robbed in a transvestite massage parlour in Manila
- Being asked out on a date by a policeman after he took a statement following being in a car accident in Paris
- Visiting an eye hospital, with suspected detached retina, in Vietnam where no one could speak English
- A husband phoning home to ask his wife what his PIN number was and how to use an ATM as he had never used one before
- A lone traveller running out of petrol in the middle of nowhere in a freezing Canadian Winter, and didn't know how to call for help
The question is – how do we get in touch with our Mum’s during these tricky moments? Whilst 90% of us take our mobiles on holiday, 51% leave them tucked away in suitcases to remain uncontactable, whilst 38% forget to take a charger so are left with dead phones. A further 6% of us manage to lose our phones whilst partying hard holiday style.
Perhaps this does not seem such a big deal, however when you consider that a third of people did not know the 999 equivalent of their holiday destination, with 3% even thinking the number was the same all over the world, perhaps having mum on tap is a good thing.
Or is it time we took responsibility for ourselves?
Instead of running straight to mum, the Assist Abroad 24/7 Information Helpline offers subscribers a live interpreter to explain emergency requirements to non-English speakers, as well as digital maps to help locate the nearest hospital, dentist, vehicle breakdown or other rescue service. Its helpline staff can also call around to make emergency appointments, to find, for example, a dentist to see you immediately.
*Figures from ABTA Theodore Koumelis - Tuesday, July 22, 2008