Summer travel trouble shooting

However, the challenges of summer travel don't have to put a damper on your plans. Here is how to avoid some of the issues you might face this season:

Transportation strikes

The issue: Labour unrest in the travel and transportation industries often comes to a head during the summer months simply because it's tourist season. It's a good time to draw attention to issues, and to turn up the pressure on company execs. In past years, widespread strikes have paralyzed parts of India and Nepal, and thousands of flights have been cancelled in Germany, Italy and other European countries thanks to airline strikes. Even Canadian carriers like Greyhound and VIA Rail have held strikes (or threatened to) in recent years. In Italy, transportation strikes are so common that they're practically a way of life.

There's no telling if (or to what extent) the economy and decrease in tourism will affect labour unrest this summer. Chances are a labour action isn't going to break your trip, but it could cause some serious disruptions to your itinerary. Some strikes only last an hour or two, but others could go on much longer and leave you stranded if you can't make other arrangements.

How to avoid it: The trick to minimizing problems is keeping an eye and ear on local news -- and keeping in touch with your travel provider. Most strikes are limited in duration and advanced warning is usually available. Some strikes may affect a certain carrier only (such as a pilots' strike) or they could affect all providers at a certain airport or station (like a baggage handlers' strike).

If you know about a potential strike, make alternative plans for the day to avoid it or contact your travel service provider to make alternative arrangements. (For more tips, see Tips for avoiding transportation disruptions.