In short, you’ll need to work with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your current country if you lose your passport. Unfortunately, this may take some time as these locations may not be open on weekends or holidays and may require an appointment.
Keeping your passport safe is just one of many international travel tips I can give. When preparing to travel, think about how you will handle phone calls and internet access. For example, you can use some apps to make phone calls for free while abroad, but you’ll still need internet access to do so. You could rely on Wi-Fi, but I prefer to use Google Fi and eSIMs to stay connected while abroad (including in Cairo, pictured above).
For purchases, you’ll want to use a credit card without foreign transaction fees, but you’ll also usually want to get some local currency for merchants that don’t accept credit cards. Also, make sure you are choosing the local currency on the credit card terminal to avoid extra fees.
You can order money ahead of time from some banks or exchange your currency after you land, but I prefer simply withdrawing money from an ATM at my destination. Luckily, I have a debit card that reimburses me for fees the ATM operator charges.
Here are a few related stories to read ahead of your next international trip:
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