If you live in the US — or any developed nation — you’re most likely accustomed to electricity being readily available around the clock. Unfortunately, this infastructure may not be as reliable when traveling abroad.
My family and I found this out on a trip to the Dominican Republic where we stayed at a 4-star resort that lost power from the middle of dinner until very late in the night. There were virtually no emergency lights during the outage; it was extremely dark and unsafe. Luckily, I had packed a small flashlight that easily fit into the small purse I carry with me at all times.
[Photo credit: J. Ronald Lee]