Question: what item, if lost or stolen, would most affect whatever trip you're currently on?
Notwithstanding extreme travel where you are cut-off from civilization - perhaps crossing the Sahara - most daily needs are easily replaced: clothes, shoes, coats, hats, toiletry items, eyeglasses, umbrellas, headphones, water bottles, over-the-counter medicine. All replaceable if necessary, admittedly with an associated cost, but replaceable nevertheless.
While driving through Poland on a recent trip, I identified three items that appeared more problematic if lost: passport, credit card, and smart phone. The hours of driving gave me ample time to consider each.
Passport
The internationally-recognized identification document, required for crossing international borders (except intra-Schengen travel), substitute for a REAL ID state-issued driver's license, acceptable everywhere to identify you as you. In the United States, 56% of the population have a passport.
So what happens if your passport goes missing? File a report with the local police and head to the nearest US embassy or consulate to get a replacement. Yes, it's likely not a drop-in. pick up replacement passport, and continue your travels: you are dealing with government bureaucracy. So yes, your travel will be disrupted; yes, flights might be rescheduled; yes, it's going to cost you. However, at least the process defined and likely occurs more often than we realize.
Credit Card
If you deal with worst-case scenarios, you have spare card in your shoe. Perhaps your travel buddy can help. Other possible solutions: visit your card vendor's local office; have a replacement shipped overnight; generate a one-time use code using your bank's app; add a last-gasp card to your smart watch.
Regardless of whether you are home or abroad, first call your credit card vendor and cancel the card. Most vendors have tools to catch fraudulent activity and won't hold you accountable, but at least do your part to help. More than anything, be prepared.
Mobile Phone
It's a phone ... camera ... calendar .... contact manager ... MFA authenticator ... navigator .... travel organizer ... credit card ... money manager ... email client ... luggage tracker .... fitness coach ... and a whole lot more. Remember the hoops jumped through when you upgraded your phone. And when's the last time you backed everything up?
As evidenced by everyone walking (or driving!) with the heads down, smart phones are a ubiquitous part of everyday life. Depending on the country, you may be able to buy an unlocked phone and reinstalling your apps. Every release more phones are dropping physical SIMs for eSIMs, making it potentially feasible - depending on your mobile provider - to get an eSIM to make is your phone again. But it will be at least one day, perhaps two, to get your digital world functioning again (though likely you've lost many pics of your trip).
The Verdict Is....
Losing my mobile phone would most impact my trip.
My wallet has been picked in Rome and Tokyo; the pizza parlor waiter in Vienna picked it off the table before I did and charged opera tickets within 15 minutes. A nuisance but not insurmountable.
And in Poland, I briefly misplaced my passport - it fell between the passenger seat and door - and my first thoughts were: does Gdansk have a consulate or do I head to Berlin tonight? and Damn, I've lost all those stamps. A bigger concern was not getting home in time for the weekend in Canoe Bay!
Losing my phone - especially if I couldn't replace it - would be very problematic. Navigation. Communications. Pictures. Might as well just go right home....
Image Credits
"My U.S. Passport will let me conquer the world?" by quinn.anya is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
"Credit Cards and Cash" by Sean MacEntee is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Rushing the Apple iPhone display" by niallkennedy is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
