Six Travel Mini-Disasters and How to Fix Them

From lost bags to misspelled names, don't like these problems ruin your trip.

ByABC News
March 30, 2010, 8:07 AM

April 7, 2010 — -- Oh, Lady Gaga, what were you thinking?

Gaga, the singer of monster hits like "Poker Face," may be even more celebrated for her sense of style than her music (she favors outfits long on drama, short on substance) -- and that's the problem. Or it was on a flight out of London last month.

Her legs began to swell but then, yours might too if you were wearing a costume made entirely out of tape. And that's just one of the mini-disasters that can trip up travelers, if you're not prepared.

I know this sounds pretty basic, but most travel disasters (the ones you'll face, not Gaga) can be avoided with a little homework. And even if you don't plan ahead, there's usually something you can do to make things right. What follows are six fairly common mini-disasters, and how to cope with them (note: see more on Ms. Gaga's potentially dire experience in #6).

For more air travel news and insights visit Rick's blog at: http://farecompare.com

#1: My ID/Passport is Gone

Losing your money or credit cards is bad enough, but you need your license to get through security and your passport for travel outside the U.S.

Before disaster strikes: Make sure a trusted friend or family member has a copy of all your important documents, and you keep a copy too. If you go out for the evening, leave original documents in the hotel safe. If you must keep them with you, put them in an around-your-waist money belt with a flat pocket that slides down the front of your trousers (I've seen these for under $20). You too, ladies; a purse left unattended for even a few seconds can disappear like magic.

After the disaster: Go to the nearest police station and make a report. I know this is a time-consuming pain, but a paper trail can be useful in proving your loss (and if the police ever find your stolen items, they'll be able to contact you quickly).