Episode 24 – Traveling nightmare, stolen passport

Alfie Franko shares a cautionary tale of a high-speed European tour through Amsterdam, Prague, and Oslo that nearly derailed when his friend’s bag, containing her passport and phone, was stolen in an Amsterdam bar. Navigating the crisis required immediate coordination with the Australian embassy in The Hague to secure an emergency passport, a process expedited by providing a guarantor and clear documentation. This experience underscores the necessity of traveling with trusted partners and maintaining a "backup plan for a backup plan," such as carrying emergency cash and multiple credit cards. Essential preventative measures include utilizing hotel safes and keeping digital or physical photocopies of all identification to avoid being stranded. Despite the setback, persistence allowed the pair to complete their itinerary, including attending major music festivals in Prague and Norway, proving that quick action and resilience can salvage a travel disaster.