[TEST] 8 WORST Problems M’sians Might Face While Travelling Abroad & How to Solve Them

While travelling abroad can be fun and exciting, there are times when the trip can go haywire. From lost passports to missed flights, these unforeseen circumstances can easily ruin our travel plans! 

Although it’s uncommon to run into these problems, there’s no harm in preparing ourselves for any emergencies. Hence, we’ve compiled some of the most common problems travellers encounter and the plausible solutions. Keep on reading to find out more! 

1. Missing a flight

Act fast as soon as you realise you’re running late, as a missed flight can snowball and delay or shorten your entire trip! Here are some of the solutions that are worth considering:

• Contact the airline ASAP and rebook your flight 
• Get standby tickets for the next flight
• Use points from loyalty programs to redeem last-minute tickets

The good news is that most airlines won’t charge penalty fees for rebookings. However, if the subsequent flights are fully booked, it would be better to rebook flight tickets with a budget airline instead of waiting at the airport!

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2. Losing your passport

Losing your passport means losing proof of your identity and entry to any country in the world. To ensure your safety and a smooth journey home, follow the steps below: 

1. File a police report immediately to avoid abuse or misuse of the lost passport. 
2. Prepare photocopies of the following documents:
   • 1x Passport Application Form (IM.42)
   • 1x Malaysian Identity Card
   • 2x Passport-Sized Photographs
   • 1x Police Report 
   • 1x Airline Tickets
   • 1x Valid Visa (if applicable)
3. Head to the nearest Embassy of Malaysia to issue an Emergency Certificate (EC)

When you’ve returned from your vacay, make an appointment and visit the nearest immigration office to issue a new passport. Don’t forget to compile your receipts for insurance claims!

3. Getting robbed or mugged

Visiting a country with a relatively high crime rate? It’s wise to check for any government warnings and research on other travellers’ experiences through Facebook groups or forums. Just in case you’re targeted for a robbery, here’s what you should do: 

1. Cancel all your bank cards immediately to prevent unauthorised transactions. 
2. If your phone is stolen, contact your service provider to suspend your phone service. 
3. Visit the nearest police station to file a police report. Keep a copy of the official report. 
4. Contact your insurance provider and make a claim using the crime reference number. 

Remember to make time for the emotional impact of the robbery too! If you’re noticing symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, visiting a certified counsellor can be helpful for your mental health. 

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4. Experiencing travel sickness 

Motion sickness occurs when your brain receives conflicting signals from the vestibular system (balancing and movement-sensing organs). It often happens when you’re riding any form of transport, as your eyes and ears register movement but your muscles and joints remain still. 

As a result, you may experience dizziness, headache, and nausea, which can ruin a perfectly planned holiday! Luckily, there are many ways to ease the symptoms: 

• Try motion sickness medications 
• Choose a window seat and fix your sight on the horizon 
• Eat small amounts of food continuously (e.g. flavoured lozenges)
• Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks 
• Distract yourself (e.g. listening to podcasts or music)

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5. Getting lost 

Getting lost in a foreign country can seem petty, until your phone’s battery dies out and you lose access to the online map. If this happens during your solo trip, here’s what you should do:

• Retrace your steps by looking for familiar buildings along the way 
• Seek help from a hotel staff (they’re usually equipped with the knowledge and resources to help tourists)
• Approach a landmark as there will usually be crowds (easier for you to seek help)
• Hop on public transport and use their map to reach familiar places

It is also wise to be discreet especially if you’re in more sketchy areas. Keep your expensive jewellery and electronics so that you don’t draw any unnecessary attention that invites crimes. 

6. Having sunburn and heat exhaustion

As much as we love having sun-kissed skin, sunburn and heat exhaustion are two travel miseries we should never overlook! When your skin is inflamed and painful to touch, or when you feel lightheaded and nauseous under the sun, try these:

1. Move into a cool place with no direct sunlight.
2. Lie down and slightly elevate your feet by placing pillows beneath them.
3. Spray your skin with cold water and stay near a fan to cool your body.
4. Apply aloe vera cream on sunburnt areas.

To prevent sunburn and heat exhaustion in the first place, always remember we wear sunscreens with high SPF values, stay hydrated, and take frequent rests in cool areas.

7. Experiencing jet lag 

Jet lag is no stranger to frequent travellers who fly across different time zones. Having so many exciting travel plans lined up, no one wants to spend the day feeling drowsy and having trouble falling asleep at night! Here’s how you can get rid of jet lag FAST:

• Upon arrival, eat and sleep according to the new time zone
• Try not to take naps during the day 
• Get some sun during daylight hours 
• Go to bed at night even if you’re not sleepy

8. Having blocked bank cards 

Forgot to inform your bank about your holiday? Your card issuer might deem any overseas transaction suspicious and freeze your bank card to protect you from fraud. Don’t panic if you’ve run out of cash, follow the steps below: 

1. Call your card issuer to clear the fraud block.  
2. Inform the bank about your trip and ask to enable overseas transactions. 
3. Authorise urgent transactions through the call. 

However, it is vital to check if your bank cards are authorised for use internationally prior to the trip. Otherwise, you won’t have enough cash for necessities if your cards don’t work on ATMs and merchant terminals overseas!

Alternatively, instead of using regular debit and credit cards while you travel, consider getting yourself a travel credit card. This way, you’ll be rewarded as you spend and unlock access to all kinds of travel benefits! Not sure which bank cards to choose for your next trip?

May we suggest CIMB travel cards that offer tons of rewards + prizes worth up to RM600k, including a holiday trip! 

That’s right! From today – 31 Jan 2023, CIMB’s Win2Travel allows you to win AMAZING prizes when you use their rewards-packed credit cards, both locally and internationally! The prizes include: 

• Grand prize: 1x RM50k travel vouchers
• Monthly prize: 10x RM3k travel vouchers
• Weekly prize: 2x Samsonite luggage bag
• Daily prize:
  • 20x RM150 travel vouchers
  • 5x RM50 Boost Stars

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Here’s how you can earn entries and stand a chance to bring the prizes home: 

• Local retail spend of RM100 minimum = 1 entry 
• Easy Pay Plan with every RM100 spent = 5 entries
• Overseas spend of RM100 minimum = 10 entries 
• Travel spend (RM100 minimum) on related merchants (airlines, hotel, travel agencies, tourists attraction) = 10 entries 
• Every new principal credit card application (approved with first transaction of any amount) = 100 entries

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Not a CIMB card user yet? Here are some of their best travel credit cards and the benefits:

• CIMB Travel World Elite Credit Card

• • Up to RM1 = 1 Airline Mile for faster flight redemptions
  • Up to 10x Bonus Points for every RM1 spent
  • Complimentary 12x airport lounge access
  • End-to-end travel insurance coverage

• CIMB Travel World Credit Card 

• • Up to 8x Bonus Points for every RM1 spent
  • Up to 12x airport lounge access
  • Up to RM1 Million travel insurance coverage

• CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card 

• • Up to 5x Bonus Points for every RM1 spent
  • Up to 4x airport lounge access
  • Up to RM1 Million travel insurance coverage
  • No annual fee

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Wanna earn more rewards and win FREE gifts + travel vouchers while you travel? Make the most out of your coming trips with CIMB travel credit cards! Apply for your new travel cards now at the nearest CIMB branch!

For more information regarding CIMB’s Win2Travel campaign and their travel cards, visit their official website. Don’t forget to follow CIMB on:

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