The recent sudden shut-down of the Thomas Cook company left many thousands of travelers stranded in airports, hotels, cruise ships and other destinations throughout the world.

It has happened before and will happen again, sometimes involving airline employee strikes, city street riots, stalled cruise ships, hotel fire or other reason. Of course, your immediate task is to get to your destination or home by the most effective way possible.

As soon as convenient, report the problem to your travel agent and the most active authorities. For example, your state consumer protection office, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and/or the local Better Business Bureau. www.usa.gov/travel-complaint