Who to call for assistance if you run into problems on vacation

Who you call for assistance in case of problems on vacation will depend on the nature of the problem, as well as how you booked your vacation before embarking on the trip. here are a few thing you should know.

All emergencies should be handled by trained professionals. If you're travelling overseas, it's important to learn what the universal emergency phone number is in the location where you will be staying. This may be listed next to your hotel's phone, but it's a good idea to have it memorized in case you have an auto accident, or some other emergency that takes place outside your hotel.

The first line of defence would be to see if your hotel can work the issue out. If the problem is with your room or flight, speak with the manager or another person in charge. If the issue is with the reservations, first speak with the clerk, followed by the manager. If the issue isn't resolved through those means, you'll need to move on and seek other accommodations, then negotiate a refund.

If you booked through a travel site, it may have some sort of guarantee to help you resolve disputes regarding hotel rooms, airlines and other potential issues. Call them directly and ask if they will act as a mediator between you and the hotel to resolve the problem. If you used a travel agent to help plan your trip, he or she should be available to help mediate any issues you encounter while away.

Check with your car insurance. Some insurance carriers offer roadside assistance and towing coverage, even for car rentals. If you have a roadside assistance package, you may call the listed number to seek help once you've discussed the issue with the rental car company. While booking, inquire whether your rental car insurance or rental package includes roadside assistance should the car break down. In some instances, you may have to pay extra for this service.

Be sure to get a detailed breakdown of all costs before taking a rental car off the lot. Also, be sure to gather contact information for the rental car company and insurance company so you know who to call for assistance in case of problems while on vacation.

Keep phone numbers of your online travel site, travel agent, airline and car rental merchants somewhere that can be quickly accessed in case you run into any issues.