When You Lose Your Passport:

Pull out the passport photocopy you tucked in your carry-on and call the American embassy.
Yes, you can get a replacement passport even if you forgot to make a copy of your photo page (which includes your passport number, issue date, and so on), but it’s much easier if you’re prepared. Ask your hotel clerk or tour guide to help you find the closest embassy (refer to the U.S. Department of State’s list at www.travel.state.gov) and call immediately to report your loss. Losing a passport can put you at risk for identity theft. It’s a hassle, but you’ll need to go to the embassy in person — even if it’s in another town — to fill out paperwork and provide photos and proof of identity.

When You Haggle for Bargains:

Research local bargaining customs, and decide on the top price you’ll pay for items.
Every country and city has its own cultural codes when it comes to haggling, says Marybeth Bond, author of Best Girlfriends Getaways Worldwide (National Geographic, $16, www.amazon.com). Check your guidebook or ask your hotel desk clerk before you head out. For instance, is it polite to haggle in an established store or just in the open-air markets? Do you have to use cash (instead of paying with a credit card) if you ask for a special price? Next, be firm on how much you’re willing to pay for an item — especially if it’s expensive. If you’re interested in getting black pearls in Tahiti, for example, find out how much they are at home first. If you’re going back and forth over an inexpensive handicraft, though, why not let the merchant “win” and pay a little more? A dollar or two makes little difference to you but could pay for an entire meal for that hardworking craftsperson, Bond says.

When You Repack Your Suitcase to Return Home:

Locate your house and car keys and put them in an easy-to-remember spot.
They’ve been buried, unused, in your suitcase throughout your trip, but your keys are the first thing you’ll need when you get to your home airport or front door. There’s nothing worse than standing at the door, jet-lagged and longing to sleep, yet having to rummage through souvenirs and dirty laundry to extricate keys. After several rounds of unpacking bags on his doorstep, Dave Fox, a guide for Rick Steves’s tour company, Europe Through the Back Door, now tucks his keys in an easy-access luggage compartment.

When You Damage Your Rental Car:

Take a photo of the mishap with your camera phone or digital camera — with the time-date function turned on, if possible.
“It helps to have evidence of the damage in case the rental company tries coming back to you later, claiming additional damages that weren’t your fault,” says Robert Sinclair Jr., a spokesperson for AAA New York. Call the police if another motorist is involved — even if it’s a minor fender bender. The other driver might not have a license or registration, and he could deny being involved. “You’ll also get a full police report prepared by a professional,” says Sinclair. Call the rental-car company while you wait for the police to arrive. If your vehicle isn’t drivable, most agencies will find a replacement car for you right away, even if the accident was your fault, says Christy Conrad, a spokesperson for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.