Mexico is a beautiful country with plenty of amazing cities that are certainly worthy of a vacation. And, for the most part, it’s actually a much safer country than some people may think. But unfortunately, it still has it’s dangerous elements. And there are certainly things you need to know about before you head there. So if you’re planning on checking out Mexico anytime soon, make sure you read through this article first and are properly prepared.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Of course! You already know this. That’s why you’re reading this article!

But more specifically, you should make sure to research the specific area in Mexico you’re going to visit. And there are certain places that need to be outright avoided altogether. Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas are all states that have a been hit with a Level 4 do-not-travel warning. This is because they have higher than average rates of carjacking, armed robbery, kidnapping, and even murder.

But there are plenty of other areas that have lower level do-not-travel warnings or none at all. So make sure you’re going to the safer spots!

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK

This one has been around for a while, but it’s still just as important today. Food and water safety is still a major concern in many parts of Mexico. So be sure to take bottled water with you everywhere you go, avoid tap water altogether, and when eating street food (which, honestly, you have to do. It’s Mexico!) stick to the places with big lines of both locals and tourists. If everyone’s eating there, there’s a much better chance the food is safe!

SPEAKING OF DRINKING… DO IT IN MODERATION!

Look… this is Mexico we’re talking about. It’s almost not worth it if you’re not going to drink at least a little! But just be careful. It’s best to never drink too much, and it’s especially best to not take alcohol from anyone you don’t know.

It’s also important to be very careful where and when (if at all) you’re at at night. The crooks come out at night so you’re much more vulnerable to any number of crimes when you find yourself on the streets of Mexico at night. And if you’re drunk… well, you get the idea.

KEEP LISTS AND MAKE COPIES

No matter where you go on our next vacation, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. And that, of course, goes for Mexico. So be sure to bring a list of important contacts should something happen. And you’re definitely going to want to make copies of any and all important documents just in case any of them get lost or stolen. Just be cautious and cover all your bases!

ONLY USE REGISTERED TAXIS

There are plenty of people just waiting to scam tourists in Mexico. And cabs are a perfect opportunity to do just that. So if you need to take a cab while you’re there, only use registers cabs or, hopefully, use transportation offered by your hotel. Sure, you could save some money by using unregister cabs. But the chances the driver might try to rip you off are just too high. So only travel with drivers you know you can trust!

ONLY STAY AT POPULAR HOTELS AND RESORTS

What better way to decrease your odds of ending up around untrustworthy people than staying at the most popular hotels and resorts?! They’re popular for a reason, after all. So you can be sure they offer the best service, including security. If a given hotel or resort had a bunch of instances of robbery or worse, you can be sure they would not be popular options. So when it comes to accommodations, just go where everyone else is!

INVEST IN A MONEY BELT

This one is huge. There are all kinds of pickpockets in Mexico just waiting to steal some foolish tourist’s wallet. So carrying around a wallet is the last thing you want to do! Especially considering it’s best to carry plenty of cash anywhere you go. A money belt will protect your cash and cards from getting stolen as they’re much more difficult to get (or get inside of).

And while we’re at it, leave the expensive watches and jewelry at home! You’re on vacation to relax, not look your absolute best. You’ll thank me when you make it back home and nothing you care about was stolen.

It’s safe to say that more often than not, the worst part about traveling is dealing with the airport. And by “the airport” I mean literally any airport. All airports are the worst and every time I’m in one I can’t wait until I’m no longer in it. But while most airports are nearly unbearable because of all the people and all the waiting, some of them are just plain scary! Here are some of the scariest airports in the world that are definitely worth avoiding at all cost.

PARO AIRPORT, BHUTAN

Paro Airport’s main problem is its location. It lies between two 18,000-foot mountains which make for especially difficult landings. In fact, only a small handful of pilots are even legally certified to land a plane here. Visibility is also a major problem. Pilots literally have to maneuver between the curving mountains as they descent, they will only see the runway at the last moment, and landing is only allowed in the daylight. Oh, also, the airport has no radar system. No thanks!

LUKLA AIRPORT, NEPAL

This is a tough one if you were planning to climb Mt. Everest someday as this is the nearest airport. But there’s one major problem with this particular airport: the runway leads right to a 2,000-foot drop! No thank you. Not to mention the weather conditions in the area are so bad that heavy fog has led to climbers being started for weeks at a time. Better play it safe and just take the 11-hour bus ride from Kathmandu if you’re still determined to climb Everest.

PRINCESS JULIANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ST. MAARTEN

Every time a plane lands at Princess Juliana Airport it looks like something out of a Michael Bay action film. That’s because the plane has to fly so close to the public beach below that it looks like an accident and the plane is about to crash. On average, arriving planes are traveling about 100 feet above the sunbathers below. I’ll be taking my beach vacation anywhere else, thank you very much!

COURCHEVEL ALTIPORT, COURCHEVEL, FRANCE

This small, mountainside airport is mostly used to service the ski resort nearby. But the runway can be so icy and the drop at the end of the runway so deadly that any pilot hoping to land there has to be specially certified to do so. Get this; this particular airport is so fascinatingly dangerous that it was featured in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

CONGONHAS AIRPORT, SAO PAULO

Congonhas Airport was first built in the 30’s when the city of Sao Paulo was a fairly small city. But since then it has grown dramatically and now the airport is delicately tucked within the city’s skyscrapers. Even worse, there are often drainage problems in the area that make the runways slick and has led to some planes sliding right off the tarmac. In fact, in 2007, a plane lost control and crashed into a nearby warehouse. 187 passengers along with 12 people on the ground died. I don’t think I ever really wanted to go to Sao Paulo anyway.

Disneyland always has been and always will be the most magical place on Earth. But there is a lot to do while you’re there! And it’s easy to cram too much into your day and become exhausted. So it’s smart to take a break whenever you can, for you and your kids. Here are the best spots within the park to do just that.

THE DISNEYLAND RAILROAD

There are multiple stops throughout the park for this fun little train. There is a wait to board at times, but the ride in its entirety can take 18 minutes. Which can be a dream come true when your feet are killing you and you just need a dang break. Not to mention it’s a great way to take in all the park in a hurry and see all the sights.

DISNEYLAND BABY CARE CENTER

If you’re doing Disneyland with a baby or toddler this place is a must. It has everything you might need from diaper changing stations, small toilets for potty training, and private rooms for breastfeeding. Plus plenty of seating to rest your weary legs.

MAIN STREET CINEMA

This place is actually really cool and is a great way to trick your kids into taking a break. It’s a movie theater that is constantly playing six classic Disney cartoons. Including the one that started it all, Steamboat Willie!. It’s a great way to give your legs a rest, keep the kids occupied, and, sometimes most importantly, enjoy some well-deserved air conditioning.

THE OPERA HOUSE

Another great option if you just want to sit down in an air-conditioned room, the Opera House is currently showing The Disneyland Story: Presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It also can be cool for the kids as it has large models showing what the park looked like in 1955, the Capital Building, and even a beautiful model of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

THE MARK TWAIN RIVERBOAT

You can never go wrong with a boat ride! Kids love boats. And this little riverboat rides takes about 14 minutes. Which may seem short, but can save your life when you’ve been running around all day. You’ll also get fun views of waterfalls, some fake but realistic looking animals, and even the Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

THE HUNGRY BEAR RESTAURANT

This restaurant has been in Disneyland forever and is a great place to take a break and grab a bite. It’s two stories so there’s almost always plenty of room. And it also has a great view of the Rivers of America.

THE BRIDGE ON THE THUNDER TRAIL

This isn’t the best spot to get a real break in the park, but it includes two very important elements. A big tree that can provide much-needed shade on a hot day, and a peaceful waterfall that can calm down the rowdiest of children. It’s not necessarily ideal, but it can still save your life if you’re really hurting.