Adventure is a State of Mind
If you will be traveling in a crowded area where there is any possibility of getting separated from your travel companions, make sure to agree on a meeting place in case you get separated. This could be a landmark, a specific entrance/exit to a building, a cafe, or the next place you were planning to visit if it is nearby.
On the metro, it is possible to sometimes become separated during the busiest times because of one or more in your group not being able to push onto a crowded metro car before the doors close. I usually suggest to my companions that, if separated, the plan is to exit at our destination station. Of course, this means that you need to make sure that everyone in your group knows which stop that is. If I’m traveling with children or with someone who might feel panicked at the idea of traveling on their own, even for just a short while on the metro, I will instead suggest that everyone exit at the next stop after being separated in order to regroup.
Many people don’t think they need to plan a meeting place because they have cell phones, but I think it is still a good idea because phones are not 100% reliable. There are still areas where cell coverage is spotty to nonexistent, and this includes being underground in a metro tunnel. Also, many people choose not to pay extra for cell service when traveling abroad…or forget to activate it before they leave home…so cell phones may not be an option when you are traveling outside of your home country.
Even if you have cell coverage, I think it never hurts to have a Plan B…just in case.
