Travel Notes: Preparation is best insurance when traveling

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Kathy Martin is manager of Great Southern House of Travel, a full-service travel agency in Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

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So you've done your research, read the travel brochures, maps and all the information you can find on the perfect destination for your dream vacation. Or maybe your company just advised you that you are needed in Bangladesh (or some other exotic locale) in three days to close a multimillion-dollar account.|ret||ret||tab|

You have your driver's license, passports, visas, cash, credit cards, travelers' checks, phone cards, tickets and vouchers, prescriptions, insurance card, and probably many other items of value you will need or think you will need on your trip, and you're on your way. |ret||ret||tab|

So, how do you keep all this information safe? What happens if you are in a foreign country and your passport and money is lost or stolen? What do you do? Where do you go? And what if you can't speak the language?|ret||ret||tab|

Hopefully, it will never happen to you, but with a little preplanning you will be prepared. |ret||ret||tab|

Know the location of the U.S. Consulate in the country you are visiting. You can find the information at www.usembassy. state.gov. |ret||ret||tab|

If you are the victim of theft, file a police report immediately. |ret||ret||tab|

Take a photocopy of all your documents with you and keep them separate from the actual documents. Leave a detailed itinerary with a contact person at home along with photocopies of your passport, visas, prescriptions, insurance card and any other vital documents. Also, leave a photocopy of your passport and visa with your travel agent.|ret||ret||tab|

Keep an emergency stash of cash separate from your main supply of cash. You can also have cash wired to you via Western Union. |ret||ret||tab|

Always carry two different types of credit cards and keep them in two different places. |ret||ret||tab|

Never take your debit card consider a debit card as cash, not a credit card it does not afford you the same protections as a credit card. |ret||ret||tab|

Traveler's checks can be replaced if lost or stolen just be sure to leave the numbers in a different place so you have access to them.|ret||ret||tab|

Lost airline tickets can be a little more difficult to replace if you have "paper" tickets instead of electronic tickets. |ret||ret||tab|

A travel agent is the best source to help guide you through all the rules and regulations. |ret||ret||tab|

Quoting from the Department of Transportation's pamphlet, Fly-Rights: "Airline tickets are similar to negotiable documents. Because of this, refunds can be difficult to obtain if tickets are lost or stolen. Many passengers believe that air tickets can be replaced as easily as traveler's checks just because the reservation is in the computer, but that is not the case. |ret||ret||tab|

"You should report a lost ticket immediately to the airline that is shown as the issuing carrier at the top of the ticket. You may be required to repurchase a ticket in order to continue your trip All in all, getting a refund or replacement for a lost ticket is a lot of trouble, and there's no guarantee you'll receive either one. So the best advice is don't lose the ticket in the first place." |ret||ret||tab|

A knowledgeable travel agent can be an invaluable resource in facilitating the replacement of lost documents. With a little forethought and precaution every trip can be an adventure even when things do go wrong. |ret||ret||tab|

Just think of the interesting stories you'll have to tell.|ret||ret||tab|

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