STRANDED & ABANDONED: How to Find Your Bearings on the Road When Everything Goes South 

By Ryan Greenwood, Pleasant Holidays 

Imagine you’re stranded. Now, consider you’re just lost.  

The difference between being lost or stranded is the duration for which you’re unaccounted for by the group and your continuing prospects for catching another ride.  

If you were on a path, traveling in a group with a known destination and estimated time of arrival (ETA), then you should use that information as your North Star. Absent any part of this equation, finding your sense of direction may take a balancing act of improvisation and compromises.  

Most people stray too far from the path when initially separated from a group. That’s just inviting complications. So don’t wander. Stay where you first lost track of your travel party and wait there.  

Groups using the buddy system take a regular headcount. That means people will be looking for you, too. So, make their job easier. Don’t start your own ill-advised ‘search’ when you’re likely the target of a search effort. In other words, don’t make yourself a moving target for a group looking for you. 

Remember to stay hydrated. Keep that potable water bottle close. It’s the intrepid traveler’s version of a soldier’s canteen, and you’ll need that.  

Do you have a smartphone? This is hardly the first time this has been pointed out, but that little gadget has more computing power than the United States used to put astronauts on the moon. Let your emergency contacts know where you are and try to get hold of someone in your group. Set your outgoing phone message noting your location and your situation. Use primarily text messages to preserve battery power. 

In the world before ubiquitous cell phone presence, people had to agree on a time to meet up and rely on each other to keep plans. That usually worked because contingency plans were made in advance. Without the convenience of an existing contingency plan, you should rely on the next best thing: your resiliency. 

Just for a moment, consider that, right now, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. This point is not a philosophical one. It is about making a functional shift in your mindset to get through this ordeal. The same positive framework that keeps you looking for the next opportunity will likely get you all the way home. 

You’ll need to find a way to communicate with your group. Authority figures are usually best equipped and reliable to help. When you encounter other people, find your voice. Tell them your story. Spread news of your dilemma. Because word travels, some of these initial feelers may pay off. International travelers may find all they’re looking for at the U.S. Embassy.  

From the point you realize you’re stranded, it’s important to set your intention. You’ll need to build upon the associations you make with other people. Make fast friends and utilize any connection that you can to bridge the gap. Your goal should be to extend the timeline.   

The specifics of where you get lost or stranded will likely determine the best course of action. The uniqueness of your location should be your guide. Look to nearby landmarks and natural gathering places. In general, the more people around, the better your odds of meeting up with someone looking for you. Try to think of places nearby with a steady flow of pedestrian traffic. If you can set up shop in a nearby café and watch pedestrians go by, even better. 

If you are truly stranded, the biggest mistake you can make is not asking for help. The kindness of strangers can be legendary. 

• Make associations. 

• Find your voice. Be vocal about your situation. Ask for help. 

• Set your intention. Use your skill set. Make allies. Cast a wide net. 

• Extend your timeline. Seek out opportunities. Take action selectively. 

• Stay aware. Keep an eye out for people who may be able to help. Be flexible as alternate lodging and travel opportunities present themselves. 

About Pleasant Holidays and its Brands: 

Founded in 1959, Pleasant Holidays is one of the largest tour operators in the United States offering vacation packages, flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, travel protection and related travel services to the world’s most popular destinations, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Middle East, New Zealand, South Pacific (Cook Islands, Fiji and Tahiti), United States and cruise vacations worldwide. The Company’s portfolio of travel brands includes Pleasant Holidays, luxury brand Journese^®, activities, tours and excursions brand Pleasant Activities℠ and worldwide air consolidator Air By Pleasant. Pleasant Holidays is headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif. near Los Angeles with regional offices in San Diego and Honolulu and a dedicated team of more than 400 employees. For additional information and reservations, visit www.PleasantAgent.com, www.Journese.com, www.PleasantActivities.com, and www.AirByPleasant.com.  

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