Traveling can be a fun way to experience other parts of the world and get a glimpse at other cultures. However, when you’re away from home, you can also look like a very easy target. And if something happens to you while traveling, whether it’s getting robbed or otherwise taken advantage of, it could really ruin your trip. So to help make your travels positive experiences to remember, here are three tips for staying safe while traveling abroad.

Talk To Your Doctor Before You Go

Depending on where in the world you’re traveling, you may need to be extra careful with your physical health. There are many places in the world where different diseases are more common and could be harmful to you if you are exposed to them. For this reason, Lloyd Figgins, a contributor to Telegraph, recommends visiting your doctor before you leave. Tell him or her where you plan to visits and ask about any vaccinations or precautions you should be taking. In addition to this information, your doctor can also give you tips on things like sea sickness, upset stomach, or other common medical issues that arise when traveling. By feeling your best, you’ll be ready for anything you travels throw at you.

Try To Hide Your Tourist Side

As was mentioned previously, tourists are often easy to spot in a crowd. They’re usually the ones who are taking a lot of photos, look a little uneasy, aren’t speaking the language, and appear slightly lost or confused. These things can quickly make you an easy target to a local looking to take advantage of distracted tourists. Because of this, Heather Simmons, a contributor to Reader’s Digest, recommends taking certain measures to minimize the tourist-ness you exude. If you need help or directions, go into a business to ask so you’ll be out of the public eye. Also, try to keep your guidebooks put away by planning ahead for your daily outings. This will help you be more aware if something sketchy is going down around you.

Take Extra Precautions When The Sun Goes Down

Although you may think the place you’re traveling to is relatively safe, once the sun goes down, things can often take a turn for the worse. Knowing this, Norm Schriever, a contributor to the Huffington Post, recommends staying out in the daylight and away in the night. This means getting up earlier to take your outings and turning in once the sun goes down for the night. By doing this, you’ll be able to avoid getting yourself in potentially dangerous situations that become more prevalent in the dark of the night.

If you’re planning to take a trip but are concerned about the best ways to stay safe, use the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.