Preparing For Emergencies While Traveling

Traveling is a very popular pastime. Whether it's international, domestic, or even right in our home state, there is something truly enjoyable about seeing new places and people.

When we're planning a trip, we always think of the things from home that we won't be able to access while we're on the road. It's easy to pack things like clothing, toiletries, phone chargers, medications, and favorite toys for the kids, but there are a few things we can't take with us in our bags. We have to figure out a way to get those necessities to our destination when we need them.

A good example is our financial contingency plan. If we lose a purse or wallet while at home, we can quickly get to the ATM and get some cash to allow us to function. If it happens while we're in the Philippines, it's a much different story. There may not be an ATM anywhere close by, and if there is, it may charge exorbitant fees for you to extract a little money.

Fortunately, there is a way around this problem, and it's one that every traveler should be familiar with before grabbing the boarding pass. Should you find yourself without money while out of the country, you can contact someone back home and have them send money to Philippines islands.

Bear in mind that's it not simply a matter of a relative getting online and quickly sending you cash. They must have an account set up first, so get that established before you leave the country, and make sure that you designate someone who will be available in a pinch to transfer you cash from your domestic bank account into any of the forms that Ria Money Transfer can do.

What is great about Ria is that it isn't just for travel. It is helpful in the case of an overseas move to the Philippines, especially when someone in the family is deployed or otherwise unavailable to help out. The Ria system will let you quickly and safely transfer money to an account they establish elsewhere or to a secure pickup location.

Because it's an online service, it's available 24 hours a day. That is essential for time zone issues in the conversation! Your mid-afternoon shopping spree in Manila could be interrupted by a lost wallet while every bank back home is closed. As long as you can get someone to wake up and log onto Ria, you'll be able to get money on the way.

Of course, missing cash isn't the only problem that can stem from a lost wallet or purse. Insurance cards, identification, credit cards, and other essentials can be lost as well. Talk to your travel agent about which of those items can simply be left at home, and then make sure you have contact information saved in your phone (and preferably elsewhere on paper as well) so that you can cancel or freeze credit cards. Also, have contact information for your country's Filipino embassy incase you lose your passport.

Travel is exciting but can also involve some serious problems. You may not be able to avoid losing things or becoming the victim of a robbery, but you can definitely have a plan in place so that you won't be completely helpless for the rest of your trip. Make that plan in advance of your trip and be ready if you need it.