Gadling

When Mother Nature is doing her best to ruin your travel plans, either through thunderstorms, earthquakes, or hurricanes, it's hard to argue with an airline or hotel employee who says that you're screwed because these are "acts of God." After all, it's not the desk clerk's fault that most of your hotel has been reduced to a pile of rubble. So what can you do?

In light of the seemingly high number of natural disasters that have been popping up all around the globe, travel Sherpa Chris Elliott has some advice for finding your way home when disaster strikes, and for replying to any employee who invokes that old "act of God" line.

First, if it's important that your vacation goes as planned, buy a good travel insurance policy. Check with a travel agent to make sure you buy the right one, says Elliott. Also, although book-it-yourself travel is all the rage these days, travel agents come in handy when disaster strikes. Your agent will call around and ask for refunds, but "it's a team effort," writes Elliott. "While you agent is applying pressure for a full refund, it's no time to rest. Phone your airline, cruise line or hotel and find out if you can get your money back, too."

Finally, when your travel company is playing the "act of God" card, writes Elliott, you should respond with the "victim card." "You've just been caught in an earthquake, hurricane, tsunami or volcanic eruption, and you need to get outta there quickly. Even though travel companies don't want to bend their rules for you," says Elliott, "they can and they often will do it when you inform them of your circumstances.... Speak up! The people on the other end of the phone are human, and they are capable of compassion. They just need a little encouragement."

Whole thing here.

Filed under: Budget Travel, Consumer Activism