NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Your bags are packed. You're ready to go -- cross that border, that ocean, that sea. Foreign countries and new adventures await you.

Wait one second. Please tell me you remembered to pack some good karma? Uh-oh. Let's face it: we've all had at least one trip from hell. And it was because, well, something went wrong and we weren't prepared for it. And then, everything went wrong.

Hey, don't fret. We've got you covered. Before you board that jet plane for a foreign land, take today's five tips and learn to handle even some of the worst travel mishaps like a pro.

Europe is infamous for its pickpockets, yet American tourists still fall victim.

"Americans are known as the ones with all the good stuff in their bags and wallets. Last year I met an American woman whose purse was stolen, and in her purse was her money belt. That juicy little anecdote was featured in every street-thief newsletter," says the world-famous, Europe-travel pro and guidebook author, Rick Steves.

You might say we fall victim easily because we're nice -- and naive. Steves says you should assume that any beggar is a pick-pocketer.

"And assume any commotion is a fake commotion -- designed to distract and jostle unknowing victims. If an elderly woman falls down an escalator, stand back and guard your valuables. Then...carefully...move in to help," he says.

Don't be fooled into thinking your personal items are safe anywhere, but on your body. Most theft is non-violent in Europe. It happens as a quick swipe of your purse, a breaking of a window, or a bump in the metro.

Wear a money belt at all times to hold all your credit cards, passport, and cash, advises Steves. Don't lock things in the car or even carry valuables in a purse -- you're an automatic target.

Also, avoid carrying a lot of cash and split up your forms of payment. Have your travel companion carry one of your credit cards and a copy of your passport for you just in case all is lost.

These days, travel pros don't even bother with the traveler's checks -- they carry plastic. Not only do credit cards offer some of the best exchange rates, but you are also dealing with a protected form of payment.

You can use your plastic to get the local currency at an ATM or to pay along the way, and worry less if stolen. Remember, debit and credit are not equal. If someone steals your debit card, that thief has access to what's in your bank account, and you can be liable for more of their purchases than you would be if you lost your credit card.

Take the credit cards that have the best overseas fee policies and services. And make sure you have a working four-digit, numeric PIN for your card. Many foreign countries don't take six-digit PINs and don't have letters (or your alphabet) on their keypads.

Finally, be sure to give your credit card companies the heads up about all the countries you are visiting and when. One CNN producer, who arrived late one night into a scary train station in Prague, had to beg for money because her ATM card was rejected. When she called her credit card company the next day, they said they didn't know she'd be traveling there, and blocked the ATM request.

You dropped your money belt into the Nile. It's every traveler's fear: no cash, no credit cards, foreign country. What do you do?

The U.S. embassy or consulate won't only help you when you lose your passport, but they can also help you in a financial fix too. The Office of American Citizens Services will help you contact family, friends or your employer to get funds. They can help you arrange money wiring, make calls to your credit card company for a cash advance, or help you make a bank-to-bank transfer.

The U.S. Department of State's Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) will also allow your friends and family to send funds directly to the U.S. embassy or consulate for a fee of $30.

If you have a loved one abroad in a financial emergency, you can contact the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management at (202) 647-5225. Also, check out www.travel.state.gov for more helpful information about traveling abroad.

Don't allow yourself to get stranded without a clean pair of underwear -- pack some extra clothes in your carry-on. And when you pack the big bag for checking, tape an extra luggage tag inside just in case the outer one tears off. Remember you want to put the address of where you'll be staying when you arrive, so they can deliver your bags there if lost.

In that case, you also want to know your rights. Traveling internationally, airlines are liable for approximately $1500, but in order to get that full amount, you have to provide receipts for your things. That is only if your luggage is lost forever. If it's delayed longer than overnight, you can insist on money to buy some new clothes.

Another note on airlines: while traveling on foreign airlines between countries, be sure to make note of each airline's luggage limits. Some trans-Europe airlines only allow one bag, and cut you off at a lower weight limit than most U.S. airlines. If you go over the limits, you face high fees, even hundreds of dollars.

Help is only a phone call away -- if you have the right numbers. 800 numbers don't exist in some foreign countries. That's a big deal.

From your calling card to your credit card, to even your hotel and airline reservations, suddenly the numbers you're used to dialing are obsolete. Before you go, research how you can make those calls while in another country. Also, get all the country codes and the contact numbers of where you are staying to give to family and friends back at home.

And carry copies of all your credit card numbers, passports, and drivers' licenses with you, but in a separate place than the originals. If you're left without the originals, you have the proof that you are who you say you are -- an American tourist who was prepared for the worst. Happy travels.

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Gerri Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News and the host for Open House. E-mail comments to 5tips@cnn.com.