Insurance firm gives essential safety travel tips this Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - There is usually an exodus of city dwellers to provincial destinations during the Holy Week. This is because most Filipinos living or working in the cities such as Metro Manila time their vacation during this season to be with their loved ones, and for some, to spend a day or two in a popular tourist spot.

Since there will be a massive number of people traveling during this time, it is best to carefully plan your itinerary to avoid hassles during your trip. Note that hotels and transient houses are usually fully booked during this period and rates are higher, too, so make sure to arrange your accommodations in advance and to confirm it before the trip.

During the Holy Week, expect your travel time to double due to the huge volume of road users, so leave early or as planned. Advise the hotel in case your arrival will be delayed so that they can confirm your reservation and not offer your booking to others.

On Good Friday, public transportation will be scarce and many major thoroughfares will be closed or blocked due to religious processions. It is best, therefore, to take note and familiarize yourself of all possible alternate routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

If traveling by car, bring a repair kit for minor fixes. Keep foldable reflector triangles and vest in your trunk if in case you need to do some roadside emergencies. 

When traveling via public transportation, it is critical to exercise extra caution. Despite strict implementation of precaution by the authorities, there is sometimes an oversight on the part of less scrupulous transport operators that may lead to road or marine mishaps.

For fast access to emergency response teams, you may also consider keeping emergency numbers in your mobile phones. Take note of the hospitals; police outposts; and other local government offices near the area; and keep their contact details before the trip.

While preparation remains the best way to ensure a hassle-free Holy Week traveling, it is a must to obtain a personal accident (PA) insurance that would help you cover for your medical expenses in case an unfortunate event happens.

Malayan Insurance’s Insurance for You (i4U) cards may be bought online at Malayan’s Facebook store or at www.malayanonline.com. Since these are online stores, you may purchase anytime during your trip, or better yet, before your trip.

There are many unknown situations when traveling, but you can definitely minimize the risks. To better enjoy your much-awaited Holy Week trip, keep these simple reminders in mind.