A backup plan list: three alternatives per trip

A backup plan list is one page with three alternatives, written before anything goes wrong. When your first plan falls through, you do not search from zero. You send the list, and the conversation starts at “which of these is open?”. Here is the page to copy, a worked example and the timing.

If you are still choosing the first island, start with how to choose a Malaysian island. If the first plan has already fallen through, choosing a backup when your island is unavailable explains how to pick.

What goes on the list?

Copy this table into your notes and fill one row per alternative. Plan A is your first choice.

Plan	Island	Jetty and boat time	Season check	Group fit	Questions left
A
B
C

Your implication: if a cell is empty, that is the question to ask next, not a reason to skip the row.

What are the six checks for each alternative?

Each row should answer these in a few words.

1. Is it open on my dates, in writing?
2. Which jetty, and how long is the boat?
3. What does it ask of my group: ages, swimming, mobility?
4. Which meals and transfers are inside the package?
5. What is the cancellation rule if the boat cannot sail?
6. How does the total compare with plan A?

The sixth check is easiest in the cost calculator, where you can put each plan’s lines side by side.

What does a filled list look like?

This is an example, not a recommendation. It uses confirmed boat times and shows how three slots can differ.

• Plan A, Redang: Merang jetty, speedboat about 45 minutes ^[1].
• Plan B, Lang Tengah: also from Merang, about 45 minutes, with resort boats collecting guests ^[2]. Same drive as plan A, a different island.
• Plan C, Perhentian Besar: from Kuala Besut, about 40 minutes ^[3]. A different road leg, so it suits a group already travelling that way.

A short-crossing option exists too. Marang to Kapas is reported at about 15 minutes, with boats from about 07:00 to 17:00, which makes it a candidate for a family worried about the boat ^[4]. Confirm it with the operator, because the source is a travel summary.

When should you act?

Use a simple timeline so the list is used while there is still choice.

1. A month before: check that each alternative is open on your dates.
2. A week before: ask the first choice about weather and boat plans.
3. Two days before: look at sea warnings and message the operator.
4. The morning: if the boat is cancelled, send the list in one message.

Our guide on who decides a boat will not sail explains who makes the call, so you know whom to message.

What should you do with the list afterwards?

Keep it in the same folder as your payment proof. If you rebook, add the new details, and use rebooking an island trip: what to have ready to check the rest of your folder.

If your first choice is closed for the season, deposit transfers versus refunds helps you decide what to do with the money.

A better fit if…

A three-line list is a better fit if you travel with a group who will each have an opinion, because the ranked list answers most of them in advance. A single-line backup is enough if you travel alone with flexible leave. Whichever you choose, write it down before you pay.