Guest Travel Writer MML, St. Louis MO: We love to travel, but high prices, messy world economy, war, terrorism and other problems are constant concerns. The picture seems to be getting darker.

On foreign journeys, we face increasing hotel and restaurant prices, as well as  angry faces of people whose resentment for the U.S deepens as their economies tank. When tourist business drops, workers get laid off. As jobs in the tourist industry get scarcer, there's a comparable rise in street crime.

Senior tourists should always be aware that you’re high on the list of potential victims by scam artists. They know you’re not as agile and quick-thinking as you once were, and they’re ready to pounce, whether by physical attack or to con you into wasting your money.

1. The first way to avoid being ripped off while traveling is to dress down. On a cruise, you can strut into the dining room all gussied up in your finest clothing. However, when you go ashore to that quaint little seaside village, don’t wear bright, gaudy clothing, big hat, designer sunglasses, shining jewelry, big handbag and flashy smartphone. Dress sensibly, similar to what locals wear. If you look and act like an obvious tourist, you may as well paint a target on your back.

How many times have you heard that warning, or said it to yourself?  Just a couple of many recent accidents emphasize the need for traveling seniors to obey simple physical limit rules. A senior woman broke her ankle while riding the new 45-foot Los Angeles thrill slide down the side of a building. Another smashed her nose and teeth when she fell face first from a motorized stand-up scooter.

Injuries continue to happen to foolishly brave seniors in similar travel dangers at fairs, amusement parks, zoos, waterfronts and other busy tourist destinations. The solution is simply to obey the fact that you truly ain’t as young as you used to be. If it looks too dangerous, especially if you’re no longer agile and quick to react, just say no.

While most major cruise lines do their best to make sailings enjoyable experiences, not all are equal. First, of course, go to the internet to check passenger critiques from previous cruises on the ship you’re considering. Don’t sign on if they report poor maintenance, bad sanitary conditions, lousy food and other negatives. Then, before you board, understand all your options.

When booking online or with a neighborhood travel agency, make sure you’ve considered everything. For instance, if a five-night cruise offers cabins for $299, it may seem like a great bargain.  However, that cheap cabin will probably be on one of the lowest decks, have about as much room as a closet and no view of the outside world.