Travel Nightmares brings you true stories of travels gone awry—and how to handle each mishap if it happens to you. In our first installment, we tackle the dreaded lost passport abroad.

The first time I traveled Europe on my own, I felt infinitely prepared. I had my guidebooks, my suitcase, and my savvy—I knew exactly what I was doing (the way all cocksure 20-year-olds do). As I set out for a day of exploring the adorable Austrian ski town of Innsbruck, I came to a horrific realization: my passport wasn’t in my purse. Or my pocket. Or my jacket. I raced back to the hostel and tore through my room.

Nothing.

I was 4,500 miles from home in an age before smartphones, and my passport was nowhere to be seen. After the hyperventilating subsided, I managed to figure out what to do without letting it ruin the trip of a lifetime.

Here’s what to do if it happens to you.

Step One: Panic

I don’t mean that you should run wailing down the streets, tempting though it may be. But it’s OK to take 15 or 20 minutes to feel upset. Just don’t let your anxiety take over completely. You’ve got this.

Step Two: Take Stock

Now that you’ve let your nerves have their say, it’s time to pull yourself together. Retrace your steps or head back to your hotel if you can. It’s not likely you stuffed your passport in the minibar freezer, but it’s worth a look. If a search of your room turns up nothing, figure out what you do have. Another form of ID, a cell phone, or a laptop will come in handy for the next step.

Step Three: Form a Plan of Action

1. Locate the nearest US consulate or embassy
2. Make an emergency appointment (online or by phone)
3. Grab a photocopy of your missing passport to bring to the appointment if you’ve got it, along with proof of your travel itinerary (such as tickets and reservation receipts)
4. Get a new passport photo taken—there will likely be places to do so near the embassy
5. Go to the embassy and inform the staff of your appointment
6. Wait, and wait some more

Step Four: Don’t Let it Ruin Your Trip

Traveling abroad is about rolling with the punches. When there’s nothing you can do—maybe the embassy is closed for the day, or you have to wait for a friend or relative to email you a copy of your passport—enjoy yourself instead. Have an extra glass of wine with dinner, take in the sights, and remind yourself that this will soon be nothing but a funny story from a great trip.

Prevention Tips:

• Make photocopies of your passport to keep in your luggage and with a friend at home.
• Invest in a travel belt that fits discreetly under your clothing, where you know your passport will be safe.
• If you plan on keeping your passport in the hotel room, use the hotel safe or lock it inside your luggage.