These days, the prospect of traveling abroad can be nerve-wracking. It might even be enough to keep prospective travelers home. If this sounds like you, and you’re worried about an upcoming trip, remember that there are steps you can take to increase the odds of a safe journey.

Whether you’re a seasoned business traveler or this is your first time traveling outside the country, there are travel precautions you can take:

Research in advance. Find out what the State Department has to say about your intended destination before you go. If travelers have been advised to stay away, follow that advice.

Contact your Embassy. Register for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This way, if a threat should arise, the Embassy will alert you. Whether it’s an attack or a natural disaster, your Embassy will you you’re in the country and it will be easier for them to provide aid or, if necessary, get you out of the country.

Pay attention to current events. While overseas, monitor the local news—even if only through social media. Keep yourself abreast of current events.

Avoid political gatherings/large crowds. This seems like a no-brainer, but tourists can find themselves in danger by simply being too curious when they see a large crowd forming out of nowhere. Stay away from situations such as these.

Get your wallet ready. Be sure to have a low-balance credit card on hand, in case you suddenly need to purchase a ticket home. Make sure you always have your identification and local currency on hand.

In the face of what looks like ever-growing threats, it’s important to keep a cool head. While we hear news of emergencies and threats, we don’t hear about things going well. Millions of people travel, incident-free, every day! So prepare in advance, but keep in mind that there’s no reason to be afraid to see the world.

Don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to headache-free travel. Contact us if you have any questions about your passport and visa needs!