Travel by air is a huge remover-of-options.

Quite a few years ago on a business trip I woke up early in Taipei and watched the early morning traffic volume building up from my window on the 25th story of a high-rise hotel.

I thought about how screwed I'd be if there was an earthquake about then. (Can't speak the language, can't read the signs, equipped only with a business suit and electric razor, and it's way, way too far to walk home. Hosed is me.) Fortunately there was no earthquake.

Having a list of emergency phone numbers and a map is a good starting point. I actually carried a compass on my foreign travel trips because, again, couldn't read the signs. But with map and compass I could be reasonably certain I got on the train going the right direction.....