1. Cancel credit cards and bar mobile phones. You can locate reverse-charge (collect) call numbers in many guidebooks or on the back page of the International Herald Tribune, or even by ringing a local phone operator.If you have already given your travel insurance company all these details, call the company, and let its people do the calling for you.

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2. Report the incident. Tell the police what happened, and get a numbered copy of the report of the incident.

3. Get some money wired to you. If your insurance or credit-card providers aren't sending you emergency cash (or aren't sending much), get some wired to you using Western Union (www.westernunion.com) or MoneyGram (www.moneygram.com).

The transfer typically takes a few minutes, and in many countries, you can collect up to $999 with a test question that you answer in lieu of identification. If you need identification to collect the money, you could get it transferred to a traveling companion who has an ID.

4. Call your nearest embassy or consulate. Tell them what has happened. They'll want to know your departure date and may request that, if possible, you wait a few days to see if your passport turns up.

Don't expect food and lodging from them, but hope that they'll be sympathetic and do their best to speed the process along. Phone numbers can be found at travel.state.gov.

5. Gather what you need for your passport replacement:

• A police report.

• Copies of your documents. The most important of these is a copy of your passport's photo page. A copy of your driver's license or any other formal ID is helpful. You should have copies at home so friends or family can send or e-mail you these.

• Photos. Check with the embassy for photo requirements before getting your photos taken.

• Replacement forms. If you have access to the Web, you can print out and complete the lost/stolen passport forms in advance at travel.state.gov/pdf/DS-0064.pdf.

• Fee. This may be waived if you have no funds available, but expect to pay $50 to $100.

6. If you have no copies of your documents or access to any cash, throw yourself on the mercy of your embassy. If you're traveling with another person with a valid passport (preferably a U.S. citizen), have that person come along and vouch for you. Have your friends or parents fax any documents (old photo ID, pictures, birth certificate, etc.) directly to the embassy or call Overseas Citizens Services, 202-647-5225.

— Doug Lansky