See Pt 1 of this series for what to do if you’ve been robbed.
Gotta check that last box…
Questions you will have. Answers you will find.
Classic questions include:
- How do I pay for food?
- How do I pay for my hotel?
- How do I book my next ticket (train, flight etc)?
- How do I get another passport so I can go home? * This question may vary in importance depending on how you feel about your host country now that you’ve been robbed.
Travel Insurance
Again – travel insurance (I use AIG TravelGuard) may be the best thing going for you in this situation. Someone from their 24/7 assistance center will start sorting out the process of getting a new passport as well as getting cash wired over to you from a friend, rebooking flights in case the debacle is causing you to miss your flight, etc.
Pre-trip prep can save your ass
Do your homework first via flickr/mnedermeijer
Even if you did get travel insurance, a large part of how this will play out depends on how much prep you did prior to your trip:
- Do you have a copy of your passport photo and signature page?
- Do you have a Crib Sheet with the overseas collect phone numbers for all the credit cards and debit cards you’re carrying?
- If not, or if it was stolen as well, do you have a flash drive back at the hotel with the cc numbers and a scanned copy of your passport? (I use Veracrypt to encrypt these docs – just in case)
- If not, does someone back home have the numbers and a copy of your passport?
- Did you let the bank know you’d be traveling overseas?
So let’s look at your options for getting cash / paying for things
Debit card:
- There is little to no chance of getting a replacement before the end of your trip. If you’ll be traveling long-term, some issuers will forward the card to your hostel/hotel/hut, etc.
- Unless you can find another member of your bank in your location, you’ll have to find another method to get cash (more below).
Credit card:
So many cards via flickr/FrankieLeon
- Still have to pay for the hotel? According to Chase, the issuer will allow the charge to go through from the hotel if you ask them to.
- If you booked your hotel using a card, the hotel should have it on file and hopefully will allow you to pay using the same card.
- Most hotels require you to produce the card you registered with upon check-in, they may wave it, though this is hotel dependent.
- Airbnb : If you have a non-cancelled cc on file with Airbnb, you can continue to make reservations.
- Backup card:
- Leave a backup card with a friend back home, they can pass the details to you to complete your bookings.
- Encrypt a copy of your credit cards (to include a spare) on your travel flash drive.
- Call in a favor: Have a friend pay for the hotel with their own card and use your remaining cash to get around town.
- If you booked your hotel using a card, the hotel should have it on file and hopefully will allow you to pay using the same card.
Cash:
- If you kept part of your cash stash locked up back at the hotel, you should have food money to get by for a few days until you can get more.
- Have a lifeline send cash via Western Union (see below).
- Traveler’s Checks (see below).
- Read my article on cash overseas for more options.
PayPal:
Some hostels/hotels, etc will allow you to pay via PayPal. If you have an account, go for it. Most hotels want a cc on file in case of damages, not sure how this would play out overseas.
Google Wallet:
Plenty of travel sites accept Google Wallet payments. However; the Google Wallet site indicates this feature is currently only available through US hotel partners.
Traveler’s Cheques:
As we talked about in Cash Overseas I don’t know anyone who travels with these anymore; however, according to AMEX, if these are stolen, you can take the stubs into a bank to have replacements issued or, ideally the bank would be able to cash these as well.
Western Union:
A friend or family member back home can wire you money almost anywhere in the world (500,000 W-U agents worldwide). For an instant transaction via a credit card, the service fee is ~6.8%. You can receive the funds in cash, to a mobile wallet, bank account, or pre-paid card.
Everything in the wallet can be replaced and if you’ve planned your cash options ahead of time, you’ll be back on track in a flash. Make sure your backup options are ready, don’t carry all your cash in one pocket, leave the valuables in the hotel and being robbed should be but a speed bump in an otherwise awesome trip. You may have lost a day or two, but if you plan appropriately, it won’t ruin the entire trip.
