Lost Passports – How to Keep Track of Your Identification10/22/2009
We’ve all heard of the stereotypical unorganized traveler who ends up with a ”lost passport” mid- trip. While the image of a disgruntled traveler tangled up in backpack and camera straps comes to mind, losing a passport can happen to the savvy traveler. Consider these following simple tips to make sure you can come back home:
Keep your passport inside of a suitcase you leave in the hotel room.
Unless you are planning to visit multiple countries in one day, there is no reason to carry your passport with you to the museum, restaurants, monuments, theaters, etc. The more places you take your passport, the more likely you are to leave your passport in an unknown location.
Invest in a well- made passport carrier.
If you do plan on visiting multiple countries in the same day, make sure you take your passport in a sturdy carrying case featured at REI. Higher quality carrying cases will insure that your passport is protected from slipping out through gaping holes and will be protected from variable weather.
Do a daily mental check.
It may sound elementary, but simply stopping to make sure you have your passport with you every few hours or so will help to eliminate the chances of you leaving your passport in a random bathroom stall a 5 hour train ride away. If you do in fact lose your passport, having checked for it every few hours will help to eliminate a large window of time so that you know exactly where to begin your search.
We all know that all of the planning and prevention is not accident proof. So in the event that you lose your passport, simply contact the US Department of State. An agent should be able to connect you with the appropriate office to regain your identification overseas, so that you may enjoy the rest of your trip and come home safely.