For most of us our day to day life takes place in our homes, apartments and offices. Each of these house pretty much everything we own, need to survive and identify who we are. Somehow though, when we travel we are able to condense all these “essentials” into one or two small bags, carry them on our shoulders and hoist them onto trains. What this should tell us is that 1. We really don’t “need” all that stuff at home and 2. The condensed version is important and needs to be protected. For those unfortunate situations that can not be avoided, preparation can be made and for those that can, precautions can be taken. Here are a few simple tips to help ensure damage and loss of your true essentials is kept to a minimum.
1. Passport preparation:
Having a passport is necessary these days. With new laws being put into effect every year it is virtually impossible to travel without one. Safeguarding yourself in the event of a loss overseas is important; knowing what to do in such a situation is necessary.
Anyone who has temporarily misplaced their passport while on the road knows that feeling of panic. How will I continue my trip? Will I be stuck in this country for weeks? Who should I call? The truth of the matter is that for many countries the process for replacement is the same. Call the passport agency and report the document missing and then find the nearest embassy and start filling out forms. Americans can call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778. Australians should notify the authorities on line and Canadians can ring 819-997-8338.
What you will find unfortunately is that in both the initial call and the forms to follow you will be asked to provide the issue date, issuing agency, passport number and expiration date and possibly proof of citizenship (which you just lost). Having all this info will expedite a process that can significantly cut into your travel time. 
According to the NPIC, “the more you know the better off you will be”. A great way to ensure you have access to this info is to take the time before your trip to scan the front page of your Passport. This page will have your photo as well as all the necessary info. Once you have the scanned image, attach it to an e-mail and send it to yourself. Now you have access to all the important info, visual proof that you, at least before your trip, had the document and best of all can get to it any time with simple internet access.
If you do not have a scanner at home your local library or university will. Make sure you delete the scan from the public computer however before you leave. All in all, try not to panic. Your embassy will walk you through the process and as the NPIC told me “if you need to get home they will get you home” even if it is with a temporary passport.
2. Who you gonna call?
If you’re like me, every time you have to call your bank or credit card company you look on the back of the card and call the toll free number printed at the bottom. Then, when the computer at the other end of the line picks up it asks you to “say or key in your account number”. So what are you going to do when you step off an overcrowded bus in a foreign city and realized someone just lifted your wallet out of your pocket?
Having these numbers listed somewhere can be invaluable if such a situation arises. You will be able to cancel your cards and remotely access your account in a hurry. The toll free numbers of course can be kept pretty much anywhere you feel comfortable such as your travel journal but please don’t keep them in your wallet…see above. Your account numbers on the other hand should of course be kept in a secure location. Like my passport scan, I e-mail myself all these numbers so that in the event I need them I will be able to access them from pretty much anywhere. If you’re one of those people who really don’t trust the security of your own e-mail account; leave out a reoccurring number that you can commit to memory. How about the first digit of your address or your phone number?
3. Give ‘em a piece of access:
This next little tip has provided a couple helpful benefits while on the road. Consider allowing a parent or loved one staying behind access to the bank account you will be using.
Figure out which credit/ debit card you will be using and take a trusted family member on down to the bank and have their name put onto your account. Doing this is not very hard and reversing the decision when you get back is usually pretty simple. Some banks will let you limit the access the second person has but generally expect for your “financial trustee” to have complete access.
The first benefit of doing this is that in case of an emergency your contact back home can move funds around in your account or add a few extra bucks to get you out of the hole you fell into. Trust me; it is much cheaper, easier and quicker to have someone put a couple hundred dollars directly into a bank account you have access to via ATM card than to have them try to wire it to you overseas.
The other benefit to doing this is tied directly to the last but takes a bit of foresight. Pick a person who is really enthusiastic about your trip and wants you to have a great time. Mom for example probably wants her son or daughter to take full advantage of seeing the world and being taken care of while they do it. What all this usually translates into are a few special surprise deposits made during your trip. Who knows, thanks to Mom you might just be able to afford to splurge on a decent hotel one night, regardless of the fact you blew all your extra money on nightclub cover charges.
4. Bad guys don’t like to be tied up:
It doesn’t take much to deter a thief while traveling. One of the best ways to protect your bag on trains, sitting in a park or even in your hostel dorm room is to make it inconvenient for someone to snatch it up.
There are plenty of bags around that are left unattended or thrown hastily on the overhead rack while its owner sleeps soundly below for a thief to pick up and run with. Purchasing and using a small travel cable and lock such as the Lewis N. Clark retractable cable lock makes your bag more of a hassle to take. There are plenty varieties out there so shop around and see what works best for you. One type of travel security is a wire netting that fits around your bag to prevent criminals from easily accessing the pockets and zippers of your bag. For me, this is a pain to get on and off in a hurry as well as extra weight to carry. Do yourself a favor and find a lock and cable that is easy to use and light to carry then make it a habit to attach your bag to frame of your hostel bed or luggage rack above your head as you sleep.
5. Pop a pill:
The last bit of advice is probably the easiest to enact. More important than your replaceable stuff is your health. When you’re traveling, eating well and getting enough sleep can be a challenge. Let’s face it the last thing on your mind when exploring the world is, “have I had my recommended daily portion of fruit”. Carry along a bottle of chewable multi vitamins like Flintstone’s chewables. They are easy to take and can help you stay on top of trip ruining illness.
For a quick burst of vitamin C and other feel better goodies toss a vial of Airborne in your backpack. These handy effervescent tablets not only can keep your immune system up to par but also help flavor that occasional bottle of tap water you’re stuck drinking.
A lot of time, energy and money go into traveling. Taking these few extra precautions and protecting the essentials you brought along with you can help ensure your trip doesn’t hit any unwanted bumps that you can’t deal with. Then, when you get home take a look around your apartment and throw out all that non-essential junk lying around. It will make packing easier next time.
