It’s a potential nightmare situation for every traveler: you’re on a long-awaited trip in a foreign country, and unexpectedly find yourself out of cash, with no way to access more.

All of a sudden, you begin to worry and imagine worst case scenarios: How will you survive without money? How will you buy food? Will you have to beg as a last resort? How will you afford to get back home?

Becoming stuck with no money while abroad can happen for a variety of reasons, ranging from crime, theft and financial scams to simple human error. Whatever the circumstances, it can certainly be stressful. No one wants to be in the position of having to rely on the kindness or generosity of strangers in an unfamiliar destination. In addition, desperate travelers are likely to fall victim to further scams and run into more trouble. The situation can quickly turn your trip into a nightmare, no matter where you are in the world.

What to do if you lose access to cash and credit cards

Finding yourself without access to money for even a few hours while traveling abroad can cause a panic, but it’s important to stay calm so you can take steps to rectify the situation and find financial assistance as quickly as possible.

If you’ve been the victim of a crime, first contact local police and authorities to report it. If you were robbed, there is still a small chance your stolen items may be recovered. Plus, if you make a claim on your travel insurance policy later on for any losses incurred, you’ll need a police report to document the incident.

Next, you’ll need to notify your bank and credit card company. Let them know your cards have been lost or stolen and ask them to put a freeze on your bank account. Find out how long it will take to get emergency replacements sent to your current location. This can be anything from 24 hours up to several days.

You should also notify your travel insurance provider as they may be able to assist you. Personal Effects coverage with a travel insurance plan from battleface includes losses due to unauthorized use of your credit cards if they are lost or stolen during your covered trip.

Keep in mind that it’s also possible that your credit card company may be able to authorize payments on your behalf on the telephone in absence of your card — for example, for a hotel bill or a flight. Ask the customer service representative what your options are.

Alternatively, if your mobile phone is set up with Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, it’s possible that your card issuer will be able to provide you with a new card number. You can then update your digital wallet with this number and use your phone for contactless payments.

How to send money overseas

If getting a replacement for your cards is impossible or will take too long, you may need to ask family or friends for financial assistance or a loan. Sending money overseas using commercial international transfer services offered by companies such as Western Union may be expensive, but when you have few other options, it can be a godsend. If you’re able to get a family member or friend back home to transfer funds, you will need your passport in order to obtain the money. These emergency loans can be paid back once you have returned home and sorted things out.

Your travel insurance company may also be able to provide emergency cash transfer assistance. They won’t actually front you any money, but should be able to help you to contact family and friends to assist with the process.

If none of the above options are possible, then you need to contact the consulate or embassy for assistance. If you’re from the US, the American Citizen Services Unit can assist if you encounter an emergency abroad and help you reach family back home. If funds can’t be transferred via your bank or commercial options, then the consulate can help arrange a transfer from someone back home on your behalf. They can also help you to replace lost or stolen passports and/or provide an emergency travel document if necessary. Most travel insurance policies will reimburse you for any fees incurred for replacement of documents.

If, while you don’t have access to money, you are in need of medical care, you should contact your travel insurance company right away — they may be able to help you figure out your options for care.

Tips to avoid being financially stranded

As is always the case, prevention is better than cure. There are a number of things you can do to minimize the risk of having no access to money while you’re traveling. Here are some basic tips:

• Travel with more than one card. Relying on a single bank card and/or cash can be risky when traveling overseas. If you don’t have a credit card to take with you, consider taking an additional prepaid card.
• Separate your various methods of payment. Never carry all your bank cards, credit cards, cash, and checks in one place, at the same time. Leave a credit card and some cash in your hotel room safe when you go out sightseeing. When you’re at the airport or in transit, leave one payment method in a secure location in your backpack or carry-on baggage, while carrying the rest on your person. Thieves are unlikely to target both places at once.
• Don’t let your cash supply dwindle to zero. If your card gets blocked or stolen and you find yourself unable to withdraw money, you’ll certainly be glad to have some cash to cover the basics until you can fix the problem. Aim to always have sufficient cash supply to pay for a couple of days’ basic expenses like food, simple accommodation, and transit, keeping local prices in mind.
• Notify your credit card company before you travel. This can make it easier to sort out any problems that arise, and it keeps your credit card company on alert for fraudulent use of your cards. It’s also wise to travel with the emergency contact numbers for your bank and credit card companies close to hand so you can find them quickly in an emergency.
• Use travelers checks. Often thought of as old fashioned, travelers checks are an ideal way to ensure you don’t lose access to all your funds while abroad. As long as you have the receipt or proof of the checks (such as a photo with a serial number) you can call the emergency number and have the misplaced checks canceled and replacement ones provided.