Whether you are planning a stay at a Bed&Breakfast in Istanbul, travelling through Europe while staying in private apartments or backpacking across Asia, there are a few basic things you can do to cover yourself in the event of your bags being lost, your wallet being stolen or your travel documents going missing. With luck you will not need to use these tips, but it is always preferable to be prepared for the worst possible outcome.
Before you leave on your trip, it is advisable to digitally scan your passport and tickets and store them in a web-based email account. Then, if you should misplace, lose or have them stolen, you still have access to your important information and can send the scans of your passport to the embassy or consulate in the country you are in, if you need to apply for a new one.
It is also recommended that you keep your emergency contact details in a web-based email account. These contact details should always include telephone numbers for your bank or building society’s lost card helpline, so in the event that your purse or wallet is stolen, you can easily contact them and cancel your cards. It is also worth considering keeping each debit or credit card and any cash you are carrying separate from each other, so if you do lose one, you still have the rest on you.
If you are travelling with friends or family, split your clothing between each person’s bag. If you arrive at your destination and one of your bags does not turn up, you will still have at least one change of clothes available to you. Airlines do not tend to compensate travellers for lost luggage for 48 hours after arrival, so this could save you time and money if it happens to you.