Navigating Travel Challenges and Force Majeure: Insights from a Travel Professional

Why So Many Countries Start with “S”
Sweden, Switzerland and Swaziland—well, it used to be called Swaziland until 2018 when it officially changed to Eswatini—so I guess there are only two countries starting with the “Sw” combination of letters, not three. But there are, in total, officially 26 countries in the world starting with S.

Given that there are officially 195 countries—193 UN member states and two non-voting entities, the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine—that is 13.3% of the world’s countries starting with the letter S, more than any other letter. Why do you think this is?

I guess having “South” or “Saint” in your country’s name helps a great deal. The next highest letter to start a country’s name is M, with 9.23%, much lower than S. Letters like O, Q, and Y each represent only one country, and “X” does not mark the spot—there are no countries starting with that letter.

Why write a blog about this? Glad you asked. As I was finalizing my time in Sweden before returning to Rome, I thought about the “Sw” connection and how this led me down an interesting path.

Simply some trivia—perhaps intriguing to some, less so to others.

Have you ever started thinking about one thing and then it led to another, opening doors to new ideas or ways to arrange, write, or approach something? That’s how I look at travel planning and the world’s possibilities—whether it’s geopolitical situations, weather considerations, or simply flipping the script to solve a challenge creatively.

When I present travel programs or itineraries to clients, I don’t offer just one option. I keep an open mind and look beyond traditional solutions.

Right now, I’m managing trips affected by travel disruptions—clients headed to South Africa, where severe flooding has damaged infrastructure, camps are full, and alternatives need to be found quickly. Likewise, a client traveling with family to a business meeting in a small French town not connected by train requires a balanced, unique solution.

What is Force Majeure and Why It Matters
Force Majeure is a legal term meaning “superior force.” It covers unexpected events outside anyone’s control—natural disasters, war, government restrictions—that prevent contractual obligations from being met.

In travel, Force Majeure means plans can change suddenly, despite careful planning. No matter how much attention goes into a trip, sometimes external events beyond our control force adjustments.

Real Travel Challenges: From Sweden to South Africa
Keeping an open mind can lead down rabbit holes—sometimes I go too far and have to dig myself out. Even with the best efforts, perfect solutions aren’t always possible.

Travel is fluid. We try to keep the status quo, but acts of God, war, and unforeseeable events intervene.

As travel professionals, we strive to deliver satisfying outcomes, weighing factors like safety, location, quality, and availability.

We’re not perfect; mistakes happen, but they’re never for lack of trying.

Reflecting on my recent 12-day working holiday in Sweden, only two hotel stays lasted two nights, the rest were one night each. That meant a lot of packing and unpacking, leaving me quite tired. Getting good rest at home helped, but the challenges keep surfacing.

I have an uneasy feeling that some clients might not be satisfied, no matter what alternatives I propose.

Still, I’m fully engaged in finding solutions and keeping clients informed and happy—even if it costs me financially or otherwise.

It’s my responsibility to find a viable path and maintain client satisfaction. I’m too invested to simply walk away.

That uneasy feeling stems partly from a client’s resistance—expressed in email—to any changes that might raise costs, caused by the fluid situation beyond my control and that of my trusted partners in South Africa.

This is a Force Majeure situation. Despite pushback, quitting is not an option.

Sometimes I’m willing to take a loss to uphold my integrity, especially in this litigious society.

Only once before, during the pandemic, did a client openly threaten legal action, and that was eventually resolved.

In both cases, contracts were signed and acknowledged upfront, so clients understood the rules.

Even then, some still threatened legal action, but I stood my ground.

Over time, situations were resolved, and while refunds were delayed through no fault of mine, all monies were returned.

Why Travel Professionals Make a Difference
Some things—good or bad—are simply not in our control, but we do our best.

Imagine if clients had booked trips independently, unaware of travel rules and risks.

Without a travel professional’s advocacy to manage unpredictability, they’d be dealing with disruptions alone—subject only to their own mistakes and potential blame.

If I’m at fault, I take responsibility. If clients make errors, they sometimes look to scapegoat.

But when it comes to Force Majeure, no one controls these events.

We must respond with empathy, especially having experienced challenges ourselves, and remain level-headed while clients may be more emotional.

We all crave stability, but that’s naïve given today’s unpredictable world.

Handling the Unexpected with Grace
I planned to share about the final days of my Sweden trip—its beauty above the Arctic Circle, meeting potential partners, and having been on the road for 12 days, the longest since before the pandemic.

But as I wrote, one thought led to another.

I want readers to understand: we’re human.

We may think we control our environment, but that’s not always true.

Issues appear unexpectedly.

It’s how we handle them—with professionalism and grace—that counts.

Sometimes, outcomes aren’t what we or clients want, but they are the best possible under the circumstances.

As Jack Reacher says, “If there is only one solution, it is the best solution.” Not necessarily the perfect one.

Ultimately, my colleagues, partners, and I want the best for our clients.

We try hard, but sometimes compromise is what keeps the journey moving smoothly.

Thank you, as always, for supporting the crazy world of the Wandering Puffin.

It is truly appreciated.

We’d Love to Hear From You!
Have you ever encountered unexpected travel disruptions? How did you handle the change?
What are your biggest concerns when planning a trip in today’s unpredictable climate?
How important is having a travel professional to advocate on your behalf during challenges?
Have you heard or experienced issues related to Force Majeure in travel?
What qualities do you look for in a travel advisor when facing uncertain situations?
Feel free to share your experiences or questions in the comments or get in touch—we’re here to help navigate the adventure together.

If you’d like to travel confidently, knowing Wandering Puffin has your back, even when plans shift, please reach out anytime at [email protected].

Together, we’ll turn travel challenges into opportunities.