Travel q&a

Shape, Sept, 2008

Q What should I do if I lose my passport while traveling?

A Report it at the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate immediately, then notify the local police, says Marybeth Bond, creator of the Web site gutsytraveler.com. You won't be stranded--officials will help you get an emergency passport--but you may have to wait up to three days, Bond says. "To prepare for emergencies like this, tuck a photocopy of your passport in your luggage and leave another copy with a friend at home who can fax it to you if need be," she says. "If you can present a copy, officials will usually issue you a backup passport in less than 48 hours."--M.S.

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