Have copies of everything. If you can, always keep your important documents spread throughout your entire suitcase or pack. Keeping them all in one place increases the risk of losing everything at once. Always keep copies (paper AND digital) of everything, also separate from your other documents. 

​

Let your bank know that you'll be traveling. It's best to let them know where, and when. It might be safe to also impose a limit that can be spent while on this trip (but be careful it doesn't get YOU stuck!). 

 

Don't be afraid to ask for help! Find a police station, an embassy, a hotel, or somewhere they speak your language. Let them know what happened, what you lost, and ask if they can help you recover any of the documents. If not, ask if they can help get you somewhere where they can get you new documents to return home.

​

Don't sweat it. It happens to the best of us. You are NOT alone. Your parents might say they told you so, but trust me, it's going to be OK. If you get lost, retrace your steps, or ask a shopkeeper for help. NEVER wander down a dark street alone. If you lose your money or documents, breathe. Try to find somewhere safe and make sure YOU are not in danger. 

​

Learn from it! If you kept your phone in the stretchy pocket on the side of your backpack, maybe keep it tucked at the bottom of your bag next time. Be smart and read about local pick-pocket habits before you leave for your trip! If you get lost, make sure you have offline maps downloaded. If your laptop or camera breaks, make sure you have backups next time. Memories are hard to recover.