Traveling to foreign countries can be a great way to meet new people, learn a new language and generally become a better person. However, it is important that you know how to keep yourself safe while traveling in an unfamiliar land. Let’s go over a few strategies that can help you get home and back without any major drama.

Buy Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will help to pay for a plane, boat or bus ticket home if your original plans are scuttled for any reason. It can also help to cover some or all of your medical expenses while overseas that your health care provider may not pay for. In the event that you have to come home for treatment, an insurance policy could make it easier to do so in a timely and affordable manner.

Bring Proper Identification

Generally speaking, you will need a passport or equivalent form of identification to travel to most foreign nations from the United States. This may be true whether you are flying to Europe or taking a cruise to the Caribbean. Keeping your passport or other papers on you at all times could prevent foreign authorities from detaining you or otherwise making your life difficult. It may also be a good idea to have a custom engraved luggage tag to put on your suitcase or backpack. If your luggage goes missing, whoever finds it will be able to get it back to you quickly.

Stay Close to Your Hotel or Resort

While you may want to mingle with the locals while overseas, it may not always be safe to do so. If you do venture out into a rural or remote area of the country that you are visiting, try to do so with a tour guide or someone else who knows the area well.

Try to Blend In

It isn’t uncommon for locals to try to steal money or otherwise take advantage of those who look like tourists. Learning the local language and customs may help you blend in and deflect attention from those who may otherwise see you as an easy mark.

Traveling to another country can be a fun experience as long as you prepare in advance. Whether you are traveling to a large city or to a resort location, it is important to have an exit plan in case anything goes wrong. While it is unlikely that you would need to use it, you can never predict what may happen during a vacation.