Lost my wallet while on the road

[Magoo541]

So the last two weeks have me working in the Los Angeles area coordinating a move of a project from a vendor back to our shop for completion.  The hotel I'm staying at has a Managers Reception with free adult beverages of which myself and my coworker have attended.  Well Wednesday evening we retired from the reception to a coworkers room and then I went down to my room.  Thursday morning I realize my wallet is AWOL and tear apart my room, then have my coworkers assist me in tearing it apart before leaving.   I asked at the front desk, the people working the Managers reception etc to no avail.  Called the wife and had her cancel all the cards and asked her to overnight me my passport so I could fly home.  So far all I am out is the $250 cash I had in it and a little bit of leg work to get everything replaced.

My question is for you seasoned travelers, how do you travel with your ID, cash and credit cards?  Is there a system you use?

I will say this, never carry more than you are willing to lose.  Just prior to this trip I removed everything that would be of little or no use on this trip-my passport card, Sears, Kohls and other crap I have because of owning a home and teenage girls.  Please learn from my mistake and let the flaming begin  

EDIT:  Having a passport is going to save me some headaches and I suggest keeping it with you in a separate location other than your person.

[kmitch200]

No flames from me...it's a PITA to lose your wallet.
I don't have a system other than keeping cash over a certain amount not in my wallet but stashed elsewhere and I don't get buzzed anywhere but in my room when traveling.

One thing some guys did when working for the fire dept was to copy important stuff like drivers license and carry the copy along with a small amount of cash if you wanted to stop at a store. If we got exposed to some hazmat shit product in a fire, all your clothes and stuff in your pockets, and all your cash, goes to the hazmat dump in a blue barrel. (meth labs are everywhere) On the way to fires, my cell phone, keys, etc, got hidden on the truck.
If you copy the back of your credit cards and leave that copy in your luggage you then have the "report a lost card" number with you.

[tombogan03884]

One possibility is the "neck wallet", hangs on a strap around your neck.

[crusader rabbit]

It's wise to copy front and back of credit cards with the copy staying at home with wife, or left in your luggage.  That way you will have both card numbers and the phone number to report the card lost all in one handy place. 

The neck wallet is a good idea, too.  Bunny and I used one traveling throughout Central and South America and had no incidents.  It's a small hassle to get at cards and money when you actually want to buy something, but eliminating most of the pickpocket risk is worth it.

Many years ago I was at a convention in Vegas. I had carefully put all my cash in my front pocket to make it more difficult for pickpockets.  On my way from room to casino, I was distracted by a very attractive blond wearing a man's style sport coat and nothing underneath.  I am a "chestnut" and as I slowed to watch and drool, I was bumped by some dude.  I apologized and noted to him that I had been distracted.  He agreed that it was in fact a very attractive distraction, and we went our separate ways. 

You know the rest of the story...  When I got to the casino and reached into my pocket for some cash there was nothing but lint.

I'm more careful these days--and less likely to go to Vegas.

And another good idea is to travel only with two active cards.  Leave all the department store stuff at home.  Leave the gas cards at home.  Take only your AMEX and a Visa or MC.  And wrapping a rubber band around your wallet makes it more difficult to get it out of your pocket. 

I am sorry you have to face this problem.  It is truly a PITA.  Good luck in getting everything stopped or cancelled.

Crusader

[Timothy]

I don't travel too far any more but I once was on the road six or eight months a year a few weeks a month.  I'll second everything said here though I'd never thought of a neck wallet.  Never cared for anything around my neck besides dog tags.

I once had an emergency call to a power plant to fix some equipment that had fritzed out on the customer.  Short story, my company advanced me 3 or 4K in cash to make the trip and I was too late to get any travelers checks.  Anyway, I find my self in Newark, NJ in my rental car wondering where I'm going to hide this wad of twenty's and fifty's!  

When I boarded the aircraft I was about 1/2" taller.....

[Sponsor]

[Pathfinder]

I had to travel recently, had a somewhat similar experience. I left my drivers license at TSA. Ever try to rent a car without a drivers license? Ain't happening, had to take a cab to the airport, and talk the desk clerk into renting me my room at the hotel. The airline called me and told me they had the license. My son picked it up and over-nighted it to me at the hotel.

I have never left anything at TSA. Near as I can figure it, TSA was hustling people through having their stuff X-rayed. Why, I don't know. The airport had a brand new spiffy microwave scanner and they were putting everyone through it. Just one scanner mind you, so the line was the longest I have ever seen it at out little (5 gates) airport. So I had to empty my pockets of everything into the gray plastic bin, even my boarding pass and loose license which I normally never let out of my sight - or possession. They're normally in my shirt pocket.

In this case, I think TSA was distracted - the guy grabbing the plastic bins was talking with another one and grabbed two of my bins - one of which had stuff still in it, my shirt pocket stuff. I said something and grabbed the papers and pens - and apparently missed the license. That ain't happening again!

[deepwater]

I started using a neck wallet while riding my motorcycle to prevent losing it while sitting on the bike for a butt load of hours.. I always worry about losing it and am constantly checking my pockets, (that comes from being outside the states for most of my life.) must say I have been lucky so far but I am sure that one day somewhere, somehow I will lose my wallet. I never used to like having anything hanging from my neck, but it's good to know that it takes a little extra effort for a pickpocket to get to my stuff. also makes you carry only what is necessary and nothing more. for those who ride... it also makes it easier to get to your cards when stopping for gas, don't need to get off the bike to reach into your pockets and such and worries about cash or keys etc.. pulling out of your pocket while reaching.
one thing I disagaree with as far as Coast Guard licensing is that my license, mariners credential, STCW certification and all endorsements are now in one book. we are required to carry this book with us when we go ashore overseas and I am always worried about losing it. not easy to replace. (you can imagine a bunch of drunk sailors trying to keep track of their documents... )

deepwater

[Dakotaranger]

I've gone to using a pac-safe wallet.  When I'm in crowded areas and don't trust that just the velcro in my 5.11s I wrap the chain around a belt loop.

Copies of everything make sense too.

[Magoo541]

I did have a neck wallet when I was stationed overseas and never had a problem but that was 20 years ago and I'm much "wiser" now.   

Had every card canceled by 9 am the following morning, no activity reported.  I had emptied out all of the unnecessary cards prior to leaving just because it was too fat.  Like I said before that saved my passport card from being lost as well and that gave me the tool I needed to get my DL back today which I used to get my Debit Card back today as well. The cash was the first worry but now it is the hassle of getting new cards and the fear of where my information is-most likely in the land fill.

Lessons learned, not much of a drinker-need to be a non-drinker on the road (feel better after some cardio anyway).  Condition needs to be elevated on the road and extra securities need to be in place in unfamiliar environments.

[devzal]

I lost mine last year with a dumb amount of cash and all my cards, having my passport saved me some of the hassle. I cancelled everything as soon as I realized it was gone, yet some girl found it and looked me up on facebook to let me know she had it, but I rarely checked it or my email so after a couple of weeks I picked it up at her job. I'm only posting this because it happened in downtown Detroit and my little hellhole town has it's moments.