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Traveling by Rental Car? Prepare for the Worst.
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By
Emilou Marie profile picture
Emilou Marie
Renting a car on vacation? šŸš—āœˆļø After a rental-car break-in in Chile left us without our luggage, MacBook, hair tools and more, I have a VERY different approach to road-trip essentials. These are the things I acturecommend having with you when you're...
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Before You Travel
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During Your Travel
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If It Happens
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After Your Travel

Before You Travel

Make sure to have all of the below JIC something happens. You'll be very prepared for the worst.

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Emilou Marie profile picture
Our Airalo eSIMs were incredibly helpful that day. We needed Google Translate, maps, tracking apps, messaging and access to our accounts and there was no free Wi-Fi to rely on. If you're traveling internationally, I highly recommend having mobile dat...
Have international mobile data
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For when your belongings get taken, the police AND insurance will ask what you do/do not have anymore.
Make a list of off your belongings you are bringing
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Passport, Hair tools, makeup and other personal items may not seem irreplaceable until they're suddenly gone in another country. I definitely won't be putting everything I need into luggage that's left unattended again.
Keep your travel essentials with you
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Know how to locate and remotely lock your phone, laptop and other devices before something disappears.
Enable tracking before your trip!
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If you are an Apple lover, you'll love these trackers! These helped find our luggage in Chile.
AirTags for Tracking
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If you're an andriod user, use these trackers. These helped find our luggage in Chile.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Bluetooth Tracker
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Know what your travel insurance and credit cards actually cover before you leave.
Check your insurance
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If your wallet disappears, you should already know how to lock your debit and credit cards and contact your bank.
Know how to freeze your cards and electronics
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Take pictures of your bags, luggage tags, valuables and electronics. Record serial numbers for expensive devices.
Photograph your luggage
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During Your Travel

I know it will be hard to relax but if you prepare by doing the things I have listed in the ā€œbefore you travelā€ you will be prepared during your travel.

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You can think about all the scenarios that could happen and you honestly probably still do that. Either way, have fun. You are traveling!
#1 Rule
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Don't leave anything in your car. Even for 5 minutes. You just don't know what *could* happen.
Don't Leave Valuables In Car
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Keep your essential belongings somewhere safe during your travel.
Keep Essentials With You or Locked Up In Your Secure Stay
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Have fun, but donā€™t completely switch your brain off. Pay attention to where youā€™re parking, whatā€™s around you, and what youā€™re leaving behind especially when youā€™re traveling with a rental car.
#2 Rule
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This will be VERY helpful especially when you buy a bunch of souvenirs and goodies for yourself/family/friends. Youā€™ll have to keep track to give to the police.
Continue to add to your list of belongings when you buy stuff
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If It Happens

You know what to do if for some reason your stuff from a rental car gets stolen.

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You will need to breathe - Trust me. You don't want to pass out.
Breathe In and Out
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The police will want to see the damage done.
Document The Damage
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Get somewhere you *feel* safe
Safety is the Most Important
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Police should be contacted to assist.
Contact The LOCAL Police
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This will prevent the thieves from getting into your devices and property.
Lock Stolen Devices and Freeze Cards
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The police should help you find your belongings.
Track Everything
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If they stole your cards, please contact your bank to inform them your cards were stolen.
Contact Your Bank
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Let them know what has happened. You will need to get a new rental car to continue on your travels.
Contact Your Rental Car Company
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This will HELP you in the long run.
Contact Your Travel Insurance
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The police will want this list.
Make A List Of All Stolen Items
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You won't feel great but just know you got this!!! These steps are what I did.
Know You Got This
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After Your Travel

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You will feel EVERYTHING. You need to go THROUGH it. Feel it ALL.
Go Through The Feelings
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I said it, you did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG.
Know You Did Nothing Wrong
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Do it. It will happen anyway.
You Will Contemplate Everything
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Honestly, don't know how long it will take but you WILL feel better (eventually). It takes time.
You Will Feel Better
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This was terrible for me - You remember everything you had prior and for some reason, replacing your essentials reminds you of everything you had.
Start Replacing Essentials
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It might not be next week, next monthā€¦but you will travel again. Take your time. You go on your own schedule. Your time.
You Will Travel Again
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