My new friend Carol Cassara has some great tips on avoiding lost luggage and agreed to let me share her post:
It’s called “Dude, Where’s My Luggage?” – love the title. And her suggestions are good ones.
Having said that, I am going to jinx myself by admitting this but, despite traveling quite a lot over the years, I’ve only lost my luggage once – and that was returning home from Switzerland about 30 years ago. Consequently, I have become very cavalier about my carry-on luggage. Before my Kindle, it would have been filled with about four paperback books, a notebook and pens for writing, snacks and more snacks, cell phone and charger, extra glasses, my meds and maybe a toothbrush.
Extra underwear or items of clothing? Basic toiletries? A hairbrush? Nah. I guess my peabrain thinks if I can read and eat, all is well in the world (well, it kind of is, right?).
So I’m going to be more thoughtful about the contents of my carry-on for future travel. I’d like to think that pretty much anywhere in the world (or anywhere I’m likely to go) you can find a store to buy new toiletries and even some undies, if necessary. But it wouldn’t hurt to have a backup or two.
Oh – and I’m going to suggest you add one more thing to the checked bag when you’re going overseas. I always have a copy of my passport info page tucked somewhere in my suitcase. If I were to lose a purse or day bag, it would make it easier to have that on hand.
Okay, I don’t know where this bus photo was taken, but from the look of the crowding, it could be Rome. It’s the closest you’ll ever be to another human being without having sex. Photo credit thecityfix.com.
Also, you can scan any identification, insurance card, even credit cards you’re taking with you, save them to a file with a ridiculous name and email it to yourself. In a pinch, you can access your email and get a copy of everything that was in the wallet that was stolen on the #64 bus in Rome.
I have a friend who saves all her passwords in a file called “asswords,” but that’s another story.
Check out Carol’s website at Carol Cassara dot com, too. Happy travels!
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