We’ve all been there—that awful realisation when you find out something important didn’t get stuffed into your suitcase. Travel brain is no joke, and even the most organised traveller can forget essentials in the chaos to catch flights or switch hotels.
But while forgetting a phone charger is a small inconvenience, losing some things can turn a dream vacation into a logistical nightmare. At Mail Boxes Etc., we’ve seen it all—from misplaced passports to forgotten medication—and we know exactly how to help travellers get reunited with their lost belongings before disaster strikes.
Here are the six most commonly forgotten things in hotels and holiday rentals, and some useful tips on what to do if you find yourself in this stressful predicament:
1. Shipping Prescription Medication – Don’t Panic
It’s easy to assume you’d never forget something as critical as medication, but travel routines are unpredictable. Picture this: You take your morning meds after breakfast, then get caught up in loading last-minute gear. Since you’ve already “used” your meds for the day, your brain checks them off the mental list—only you never actually put them back in your bag.
Before you know it, you may already be at the airport or even abroad. Panic mode—how do you live without them?
What to do:
First, let your accommodation know as soon as possible. If they discover your medication, we can arrange priority international shipping—but you’ll need to have a copy of your prescription. Some couriers are very strict when it comes to shipping pharmaceuticals, so ensure that your medication is legal in the country you’re travelling to.
For temperature-sensitive drugs (like insulin), special packaging is required—let us know in advance so we can make safe arrangements for transportation.
2. Passports & Travel Documents – The Traveller’s Worst Nightmare
“Whoever forgets a passport?” you wonder. You might not believe it, but more travellers than you would think forget theirs, particularly on domestic or intra-EU flights when ID alone is all that’s needed to board. Other travellers drop their passports into a hotel safe for security reasons, then speed off without collecting them.
And worse? Finding out after you’ve already reached your next destination.
The Solution
If your rental host or hotel discovers your passport, relax—it’s lost, not misplaced. We offer secure document couriering services so that your passport reaches its destination promptly and safely back to your hands. Proper handling and tracking can have it reach your next destination before your trip is disrupted.
3. Jewelry & Luxury Watches – Sentimental & Financial Loss
Few situations cause more panic than finding out you’ve lost an expensive watch, wedding band, or heirloom. Not like a lost T-shirt, these items usually have both monetary and emotional worth, so it’s essential that they are returned.
Hotels will hold found jewellery for a brief period, but time is precious. The longer an item stays unattended, the higher its chances of getting stolen or misplaced.
How We Help:
We treat valuable items with the utmost care, using tamper-proof packaging, insurance, and GPS-tracked delivery. Whether it is a Rolex, a diamond necklace or something irreplaceable, we’ll see that it is safely returned to you.
4. Tech Gear – From Cameras to Professional Equipment
A misplaced phone charger is annoying, but no major loss. However, leaving a laptop, camera, or professional work gear behind can be a vastly more costly mistake.
Picturing yourself arriving at a business conference without your presentation computer, or a photo shoot without your $3,000 photography gear. Replacing it overseas isn’t only expensive; usually, you can’t even find the same model in time.
Our Solution:
We pack electronics carefully and send them via anti-static padding, double-boxed packaging, and shock-resistant materials. From MacBooks to drone to professional mic or high-end headphones, we’ll get it up there intact—and earlier than re-buying it all. An important thing to note is that many couriers are currently not accepting electronics whose batteries cannot be removed. If your device has a battery that cannot be taken out, it might be rejected by some couriers.
5. Glasses – More Than a Nuisance
It is frustrating to misplace a pair of designer shades, but to misplace prescription glasses actually leaves one unable to function. For people with astigmatism or strong prescriptions, a quick pharmacy replacement will not suffice.
Not having proper spectacles means driving, working, or simply sightseeing in a new city is a nightmare. And if one is in a foreign country where opticians have many appointment slots, getting a new pair can take days.
The Good News:
Glasses are light, and shipping is fast and affordable. We ship them in custom-fit boxes with bubble wrap so that your lenses arrive unharmed.
6. Credit & Debit Cards – A Silent Travel Killer
Travellers believe, “I’d never forget my wallet!”—but it does. Maybe you left a spare card in the hotel safe, or it dropped out of your bag while unpacking.
Freezing your funds for days when you cancel a card abroad can have you stranded without cash. If your accommodation finds it, they will usually destroy it for legal and security reasons, so every second counts before they dispose of it – advising them to hold it for an hour or two can be all the time we need to help.
Our Emergency Service:
We can pick up and overnight your card in a sealed, safe package, oftentimes quicker than your bank can send you a replacement. Don’t worry about having to use the backup card overseas when we can have your main one back in your hands in about 12 hours.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Wait—Act Fast
The sooner you contact your rental host or hotel, the greater your chances of recovery. If they recover your item, we handle the rest—secure packaging, expedited shipping, and real-time tracking so you’re never in the dark.
Lost something important? Contact us now—because travel mishaps shouldn’t ruin your vacation.
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