Can This Trip Be Saved? / Travel Selling 101
by John Hawks

Can This Trip Be Saved?

Q. As I understand it, my clients will be required to carry a U.S. passport in a few years if they want to travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and other nearby vacation spots. What concerns me is what happens if they lose those passports while they're traveling outside the United States. Can you tell me what I should do if my clients misplace their passports on a trip?

A. First and foremost, they must call the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to report the missing passports. The hotel front desk manager or their local tour guide should help your clients find the phone number. (Or, you can instruct your clients to call you right away if this happens, and you can locate the number for them. See the complete list of U.S. embassies and consulates at travel.state.gov, or call 202.647.5225 at the U.S. State Department to report your clients' missing passports.)

Here's another tip: If your clients travel abroad frequently, they should always carry an extra set of two passport photos with them. If they don't have photos handy, the embassy or consulate can help them find a local source for obtaining passport-style photos.

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