The ultimate travel fail

Let’s start this off strong. Repeat after me…

Do. Not. Forget. Your. Passport.?

Trust me, I learned the hard way.?

This past December, I traveled to Cabo with my family. It was the afternoon before my flight, and my dad called me to make sure I was ready for the trip. He asked me all the basics… “Are you all packed?” “Did you remember bathing suits?” “Do you have your passport?” I froze. I was already in Lake Norman, and my passport was not with me… It was in Chapel Hill.?

*Cue the breakdown*?

I scrambled to find a way to get my passport, with a hint of tears of course. How could I be so irresponsible? I called the leasing office at 4 pm and they said, with written consent, that they could let someone into my apartment until 5 pm when they close. I got a hold of one of my friends, and she turned my apartment upside down looking for it. No luck.?

Not only did I forget it in Chapel Hill, but I lost it entirely? Seriously, Rachel?!

It was now past 5 pm and I didn’t know what to do. Should I push my flight back a day? That would be insanely expensive. But I couldn’t drive back that very second because I have trouble seeing at night! So, naturally, I woke up at 5 am the next morning to drive to Chapel Hill.?

Even though my parents had a photocopy of my passport, I couldn’t travel with that. So, I made my way to Chapel Hill and the search began. Every place I could think of it wasn’t there. I was losing hope. Out of pure desperation, I decided to check my brand-new purse. And when I mean brand new, I mean this bad boy was still in its box…. Sure enough, there it was.?

What kind of idiot puts their passport in a purse inside a box? Me. I’m the idiot.

At the end of the day, I found it. I drove back to Charlotte, and I made my flight. But boy did I hear jokes… I’m still trying to live it down!?

While it’s funny to look back on now, it was really irresponsible and unlike me. And with that being said, please, please, PLEASE remember your ID when traveling!