Think your holiday travel was stressful? I'm one of the worst: after all these years of traveling, I still haven't cracked the code for getting to the airport on time. I try to keep my luggage to a carry-on only and fail. I forget to pick my seat assignment ahead of time. And I still get far too flustered over long security lines. (Will those people who walk through the scanner three times before deciding to empty their coin-laden pockets ever lose their aptitude for infuriating me? Probably not.) But when I hear about a travel disaster the likes of this past week's Explorer sinking in Antarctica, I remember to stop, take a moment to reflect, and put things into perspective.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member RSchoettger

This past Friday, G.A.P. Adventures' hallmark ship, the Explorer, collided with submerged ice that broke its hull and set the ship sinking into Antarctica's icy waters. The more than 150 passengers, all of whom had paid dearly for this once-in-a-lifetime, 19-day journey, abandoned ship and floated in lifeboats for two hours before their distress calls were answered. The real kicker? The Explorer was the first ship ever to cruise the Antarctic waters, and it was also the first ever to sink there. No one was injured, but everyone on the ship experienced the kind of terrifying travel mishap that puts our security line gripes and lost-baggage headaches to shame.

Another travel-related tragedy also popped back into the news this week: three former suspects in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba were re-arrested after new evidence was uncovered via wiretaps on the men's phone lines. It's another story that makes the message real: travel can be a lot more than a headache. It can be dangerous.

But I don't bring this up to instill fear in the travelers of the world. Rather, I aim to emphasize the importance of being prepared for the worst (but expecting the best, of course!). Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there to ensure that you are. Check out the CDC's tips and USA Today's Safety Guides for some of the best advice out there, and read more from the authors of this very blog on how to be prepared and what to keep in mind should a travel disaster strike.

Have you ever come close to experiencing a travel disaster? What are your favorite tips for remaining aware, staying safe, and reacting appropriately to sticky situations?