Lessons from Cairo

More than one million tourists hurriedly and haphazardly left Egypt in the wake of the government-overturning demonstrations. US political officials, as surprised as tourists, are predicting more turmoil may be in store not only in Arab countries but in others as well.
 

So what are the lessons learned by tourists when facing similar situations?
 

“Most travelers would rather spend their time seeing Egypt’s pyramids or cruising the Nile than thinking about the consequences of a major tourist destination turning into a battle zone, literally overnight,” writes Carol Pucci in The Seattle Times.
 

She points out that American travelers should not be overly concerned because hundreds of thousands of Americans each year travel safely to spots all over the globe, even places where the US State Department has issued travel alerts. But there’s risk even in “safe” countries.
 

But if you have the bad luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, there are some things you should know:
 

—When you’re on a future tour, you can reasonably expect your company to offer refunds, though that is not always the case. If you have put down a deposit for a future trip, the outcome is less clear. Instead of full cash refunds, credit or travel vouchers good for future trips may be offered.
 

—Cruises, in common with tours, were often cancelled. If you have paid for a cruise to Egypt and Tunisia (another country racked by dissension), you will almost certainly be headed for other parts of the globe. Expect substitute ports. Unless your cruise company cancels an entire trip, however, don’t expect a refund for a missed port because signed contracts usually allow lines to skip ports or change itineraries for any reason.
 

—It no doubt came as a surprise to many that their travel insurance did not include civil unrest. Most types of trip cancellation/interruption insurance don’t cover civil unrest, insurance providers agree. If you’re worried that a political uprising could affect your travel plans, consider "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage, but keep in mind that this type of insurance is expensive and provides only partial reimbursement.
 

Some insurance companies such as American Express Global Travel Shield do cover such occasions, but it’s not something you can count on. You’ll have to do some research here.
 

Travel and medical assistance company On Call International, which successfully evacuated more than 300 customers in Egypt, says planning ahead is crucial to making sure a trip goes smoothly.
 

“The crisis in Egypt reminds us how important it is to take precautions and prepare for what could go wrong while traveling abroad,” said Michael J. Kelly, president. Among their top tips for coping with any upheavals:
 

—Keep abreast of breaking news any way you can — through television, the Internet or social network sites such as Twitter.
 

—Have copies of your important documents available such as your passport. If you have a smartphone, scan your passport and keep an electronic file on hand.
 

—Be sure to pack enough supply of your current medications in their original containers, properly labeled, and bring along an extra pair of contacts or glasses.
Some other advice from the State Department:
 

—It’s easy and simple to get another type of insurance: sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which is free at www.travelregistration.state.gov. This will help officials contact you or others if there is an emergency. Because of the Privacy Act, your information and whereabouts will only be released with your authorization.
 

—Leave behind copies of your itinerary and passport data with family or friends.
 

—If you have any problems, be aware that consular personnel at US Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the US are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 

That may have been one of the few reassurances available for the thousands of tourists who turned to US officials for help when virtually all flights were cancelled out of Egypt during the recent upheaval.
 

For travelers in foreign countries during a crisis, travel agents and tour operators are obvious sources of help and perhaps invaluable at such times.

Of course, now that the Egyptian turmoil has calmed down, the critical question is when might tourists again feel safe to return?
 

For the immediate future, at least, there’s no clear answer.
 

By David Wilkening