Tag: Safest

These Are The 28 Safest European Countries For Americans To Visit
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The U.S. Department of State has continued to update its travel advisories on Europe, based on safety concerns and other factors that may affect travelers. Countries can be classed anywhere between Level 1, the lowest alert level, or Level 4, when travel should be avoided at all costs. Based on this risk assessment, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the safest European destinations for U.S. travelers.

If you’re expecting some of America’s favorites, including the United Kingdom, Italy, or Germany, you might be in for a surprise.

What Makes A Country Safe?

The States’ classification of a safe destination, or otherwise, is based on simple criteria. Those that keep criminality under control, do not face a recurring threat of terrorism, and are not undergoing a moment of civil unrest, or even at war with foreign entities, are normally granted a Level 1 status.

Moving down to Level 2, nations within this category are not necessarily dangerous to visit – some of the least dangerous in Mexico are included here – but they may have moderately higher crime levels or face other local issues. For instance, during the pandemic, several countries earned a Level 2 stamp, or superior, due to their Covid risks – even traditionally ‘safe’ countries like Iceland.

All in all, Levels 1 or 2 are the best an international destination can strive to be. On the other hand, Levels 3 and 4 indicate more serious challenges. The former refers to countries where travel must be reconsidered, be it an unstable political situation, violent protests, high crime rates, or a combination of factors. Lastly, Level 4 countries should not be visited under any circumstances.

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Traveling to Level 4 areas, Americans generally risk being targeted based on their own nationality, or getting caught up in difficult situations where consular assistance may not be easily provided or even be available at all. Luckily for U.S. citizens with their hearts set on Europe for the forthcoming winter holidays, only four European/Eurasian countries are currently deemed unsafe.

The 28 Level 1 Destinations In Europe

In total, 28 destinations have acquired the ‘blue’ Level 1 badge. With this in mind, the safest in Europe are:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Armenia*
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- Georgia*
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
*These countries are either not entirely located in Europe or do not participate in the European continent at all, despite bordering it and/or being historically considered part of it politically due to their European customs, Eurasian ethnicity, and close historical ties.

*Information on the Danish kingdoms of the Faroe Islands and Greenland is not available. Hence, we considered them to be part of Denmark, not listed above, seeing that it is a Level 2 destination.

Fun fact: five of the above countries are not part of the European Union or the closely associated European Economic Area or Switzerland.

More Than Half Of Europe Remains At Level 1

Traveling to any of the countries above, Americans face no particular health or security threat and should exercise ‘normal precautions’ when traveling. In other words, walking alone late at night in poorly-lit areas will not put them at a high risk of being robbed or suffering abuse for flashing jewelry and other valuable personal items.

There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. Even Level 1 Armenia has no-go zones, such as the Nagorno-Karabakh region, recently plagued by conflict. When in doubt, Americans should always refer to the U.S. Department of State’s official advisory covering any foreign country they plan on traveling through.

Effectively, 63.64% of Europe is at Level 1, making it one of the safest continents for American tourists. To an extent, a further 17 destinations are at Level 2, including the popular vacation hotspots of Britain, Italy, France, and Germany; in other words, the places U.S. tourists dream of seeing the most present moderate risks.

You should, of course, take this classification with a grain of salt: there is no denying travel warnings can, at times, be biased, overcautious, or even just partially accurate, and one could argue the same could apply to Europe’s Level 2 group. After all, we all know the U.K., France, and the like rank among some of the most developed and most visited in the world.

Europe’s 17 Level 2 Destinations

In general, their sub-optimal classification stems from the threat of terrorism and civil unrest, led by disruptive demonstrations or temporary political instability, though these are not frequent occurrences and cannot be perceived as a daily concern. The full Level 2 list can be seen below:
- Albania
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Kosovo*
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Serbia
- Spain
- Turkyie (formerly Turkey)
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City*
*Kosovo is a partially recognized territory in Southeastern Europe that unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in 2007. While dozens of UN members do not formally recognize this move, the United States is one of many others that consider Kosovo an independent country.

What Are Europe’s 4 No-Go Zones?

Europe and Eurasia’s four ‘unsafe’ countries are Azerbaijan, at Level 3, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, the Level 4 trio. The Slav countries (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine) have been downgraded to the highest possible alert level due to the ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine, while Azerbaijan, in the Caucasus, is seen as a hotbed of terrorist attacks and ethnic wars.

In spite of its classification, Ukraine has boldly launched a ‘war tourism‘ campaign aimed a those brave enough to venture into the country’s bombarded cities and ghost towns. It is important to note the U.S. continues to discourage all travel to Ukraine and, to an extent, Russia and Belarus while the invasion is underway and the political climate in the far east of Europe continues to deteriorate.

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November 2, 2022
This Is The Safest Country To Travel In Latin America
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Safety remains a primary concern for Americans traveling in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in places where neither local customs, nor the language feel familiar and scamming culture is widespread. However, there is one country where risks aren’t as high, and that has been deemed the safest to travel in Latin America.

The geopolitical group remains a major tourist destination as a whole: whether it’s a beach getaway closer to home in Mexico’s stunning Riviera Maya, or a prolonged city break in the Wonderful City of Rio, in Brazil, Latin America is full of wonders and beautiful off path places ready to be discovered.

On the downside, those visiting these countries are usually advised to be more ‘cautious’ as crime rates are usually high.

What Are Some Of The World’s Safest Destinations?

This year’s edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranked 163 independent countries and territories based on their ‘level of peacefulness’. The study makes use of 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from ‘highly respected sources’ and takes into account three main ‘domains’ in measuring peace:
- The level of ‘Societal Safety and Security’
- The extent of any ‘Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict’
- The degree of Militarization
These factors contribute directly to the perception of tourism safety – when locals themselves feel crime levels in their home cities are low, visitors have no reason to worry themselves. As expected, the safest continent with the highest score of safety markers remains Europe, headed by the insular nation of Iceland, the most peaceful in the world.

Iceland is one of the few counties to have secured the nearly unattainable blue badge from the U.S. Department of State, meaning it is placed at the lowest possible Level 1 Travel Advisory. Touring Iceland, Americans should ‘exercise normal precautions’. Other countries in the top ten include New Zealand, in the runner-up slot, Ireland, Denmark and Austria.

Image by IPE Global Peace Index

Conversely, the countries with the lowest scores this year are Afghanistan, having held the title for five consecutive years now, Yemen, Syria, Russia, largely due to its aggressive campaign against neighboring Ukraine, and South Sudan. In sum, the ‘State of Peace’ across different countries has been classified according to the categorization below:
- Very high (Dark green)
- High (Light green)
- Medium (Yellow)
- Low (Orange)
- Very low (Red)
- Not included (Gray)
And The Most Peaceful Latin American Country This Year Is…

Out of 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries, only four achieved at least a ‘light green’ certification, those being Chile, Uruguay, Panama and the highest-peaking Costa Rica. With an overall safety score of 1.732, up 0.017 points from last year’s index, Costa Rica is officially the safest destination within the collective.

In the global ranking, it is the 38th most peaceful country, beating other American competitors like Mexico and even United States by a large margin. To draw a comparison, these North American giants are ranked 129th and 137th, respectively, being assigned an ‘orange’, or ‘low safety’ badge.

The U.S. and Mexico share this sub-optimal status with nations like Brazil, Turkey, Colombia and Israel.

Back to Costa Rica, it sits behind only Canada (12th globally) in the Americas, charting 26 slots lower. In Central America, it is the country where Americans will feel the most secure – this is part of the reason why it has become so popular among young backpackers in recent months, being crowned a regional tourism leader.

This year’s GPI does note there has been a ‘deterioration’ in peacefulness, attributed to an increase in violent demonstration, importation of weapons, rising crime rates and political instability, but Costa Rica maintains a good score both on the Militarization and Ongoing Conflict fronts, faring a lot better than its counterparts in that respect.

What You Should Know Ahead Of Visiting Costa Rica

Currently, there are no Covid entry requirements for Americans traveling to Costa Rica. They are allowed to enter regardless of being vaccinated and no pre-departure testing rule, or post-arrival testing/quarantine applies. It is one of a handful of Latin American countries where these restrictions have been axed for good.

The U.S. Department of State advises Americans to exercise ‘increased caution‘ in Costa Rica, the exact same advice applying to a number of traditionally safe European and North American destinations. The entity specifically lists pickpocketing and theft as ‘common crimes‘, though the vast majority of visits to Costa Rica are completely trouble-free.

The U.K. Home Office, an equivalent to the U.S. Department of State, notes Costa Rica has a ‘low murder rate‘ than its neighbors’, despite being high compared to the United Kingdom. Even then, tourists should maintain the ‘same level of personal security awareness’ as in Britain, where theft of personal items and mugging is also a problem.

Read More:

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This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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September 12, 2022
These 10 U.S. Cities Are Considered The Safest For Travel
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When planning a vacation, one thing that has undoubtedly crossed travelers’ minds is how safe their intended destination really is. No one wants to fall victim to a crime, especially while on a trip that’s meant to be fun and relaxing. Knowing which countries are the safest in the world is great for international travel, but what about domestic travel? Using current crime statistics, we have determined the top 10 safest cities in the United States.

The crime index is listed for each city below. Lower numbers are better, and any number below 40 is considered ‘low-crime’. For all other statistics, scores are based on a scale of 100. Also, one of the most common crimes that affect travelers is pickpocketing. For this reason, we have included data about pickpocketing in each city.

10) San Diego, California

Crime Index: 38.43

Beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather, and countless activities draw millions of visitors to San Diego annually. Though it is a top tourist destination in the U.S., it still ranks quite well for safety. People feel comfortable in San Diego, with little worry of attack due to discrimination.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 31.41 (Low)
9) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Crime Index: 38.19

Pittsburgh welcomes over 12 million overnight guests every year. It is a popular destination for travelers who love great food, art, and big cities with a small-town feel. People feel particularly comfortable walking alone during the day in Pittsburgh.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 34.70 (Low)
8) Austin, Texas

Crime Index: 38.03

Great food, craft beer, local music, and amazing parks draw more than 30 million domestic travelers to this city every year. With an eclectic mix of residents, visitors will feel right at home in the melting pot of Austin. Though crime has been increasing in the city over the last three years, it remains one of the safest cities to visit in the U.S.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 30.00 (Low)
7) Raleigh, North Carolina

Crime Index: 36.11

Littered with craft breweries, new restaurants, cool coffee shops, and beautiful parks, Raleigh welcomes about 13 million visitors per y e ar. A visitor’s favorite, the Raleigh Beer Trail is designed for craft beer enthusiasts. Prizes are given to those who visit enough breweries, and it is an interesting way to see more of the city.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 29.51 (Low)
6) Boise, Idaho

Crime Index: 35.39

Visitors enjoy Boise for its proximity to nature and easy access to activities like skiing, fishing, and hiking. The city itself is full of activities and is surrounded by beautiful snow-topped mountains.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 28.57 (Low)
5) Madison, Wisconsin

Crime Index: 33.70

Madison is growing in popularity and is even ranked #1 on Livability’s top 100 places to live in 2022. With over 200 miles of recreation trails for hiking and biking, it’s a popular city for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 26.10 (Low)
4) Salt Lake City, Utah

Crime Index: 32.96

Salt Lake City is the perfect base camp for visiting five national parks, including Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, Capital Reef, and Zion. Public transportation is widely available for days in the city, and the light rail system, TREX, is free. For winter tourists, there are many ski resorts nearby.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 25.25 (Low)
3) El Paso, Texas

Crime Index: 32.28

Authentic Mexican food, stretching desert landscapes, and visiting the historic Plaza Theater are popular attractions for travelers heading to El Paso. The city isn’t the most popular tourist destination in the states and sees about 2.3 million visitors per year. However, El Paso may be an excellent option for travelers who like to explore places that aren’t as frequently visited.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 24.57 (Low)
2) Amarillo, Texas

Crime Index: 22.97

Amarillo sits at the midpoint of U.S. Route 66, making it an ideal place to stop on an iconic road trip. Visitors can leave their mark at the Cadillac ranch, where they can spray paint their own graffiti on old Cadillacs that have been half-buried in the ground. Like El Paso, the city doesn’t see an overwhelming number of tourists per year, making it a more off-the-beaten-path destination.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 20.31 (Low)
1) Irvine, California

Crime Index: 20.58

Irvine is an excellent location for checking out different parts of California. About 85 miles from San Diego, 45 from L.A., and just a 15-minute drive from Disneyland Resort, Irvine is an excellent base camp. Irvine scored very low across the board for safety considerations, with the index citing low rates of violent crime, drug use, and general crime levels. Visitors enjoy visiting the Irvine Spectrum Center, home to the Irvine Improv, which regularly welcomes well-known comedians.
- Pickpocketing Worry: 17.05 (Very Low)
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August 9, 2022
These Are The Safest Countries For Travel According To Americans
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A new survey has revealed which countries Americans believe are the safest for travelers. Whilst travel advisories do a great job in keeping travelers informed about which countries are safe to travel in and what risks travelers might face in those countries, nothing really captures the vibe of how safe or dangerous a destination feels quite like hearing it straight from the traveler’s mouth – and that’s exactly where the latest travel safety survey took their information from.

Published by travel insurance provider Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, the survey shows the perceived safety level of destinations around the world from the eyes of American travelers – and it could make for illuminating reading ahead of the much-anticipated, potentially record-breaking summer of travel this year.

Here’s a look at the results of the survey, plus a look at what entry requirements of the top countries on the list.

Survey Reveals Safest Destinations – Information For Travelers

The survey carried out by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, called the 2022 “State of Travel Insurance Report”, was conducted in September 2021. The insurance company asked more than 1,500 Americans about their perceptions of the safety of different countries, taking into account not only traditional safety worries such as crime, terrorism, transportation, and health, but also the safety of travelers who are female, LGBTQ, or people of color.

According to American travelers who were surveyed, these ten countries are deemed to be the safest to travel to in 2022:
1. Canada (Score: 71.94)
2. Iceland (Score: 70.88)
3. Sweden (Score: 70.42)
4. Japan (Score: 68.58)
5. Ireland (Score: 66.75)
6. Switzerland (Score: 66.01)
7. South Korea (Score: 65.84)
8. Thailand (Score: 65.81)
9. New Zealand (Score: 65.27)
10. Australia (Score: 65.18)
According to the President of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Carol Mueller, this year’s survey saw a notable shift in terms of what travelers deem to be their primary safety concerns.

Whereas once terrorism and violent crime were amongst a traveler’s biggest worries, this year’s survey reflected the situation around the world, with travelers supposedly most concerned about their freedom of movement and staying free from disease.

Entry to the top spot, Canada, is relatively simple for vaccinated travelers, with testing now removed, but unvaccinated travelers remain unable to enter for tourism purposes.

Iceland, which took the second spot, is easier to enter, with the country having removed all of its Covid-19 related restrictions back in February. That means both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are able to enter without any barriers. Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland to have removed all of their testing and vaccination requirements.

Here are the entry requirements for the rest of the top 10:
- At present, only fully vaccinated travelers may enter Australia, but they can do so without needing to take a test beforehand. Find out more here
- All travelers to South Korea must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of their flight, whilst there is a mandatory 7-day quarantine upon entry for travelers who are unvaccinated
- Thailand has recently removed both its pre-departure and on-arrival testing requirements. However, travel insurance with a coverage of $10,000 is needed, as is registration for the Thailand Pass
- At present, only vaccinated visitors from visa waiver countries, and visitors from other countries who already hold a valid visitor visa can enter New Zealand and self-test on arrival. Further border restriction easing will take place throughout the year
- It is not currently possible to enter Japan
Read More:

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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May 3, 2022
This Popular Beach Destination Is One Of The Safest In Mexico
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If you are looking for a ‘safe’ – but lively and popular – beach destination to travel to in Mexico, then Los Cabos might be your place – with the resort city having one of the lowest homicide rates in the country.

Where Is Los Cabos?

Los Cabos is situated in the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico – with the municipality hosting two of the nation’s popular tourist hotspots, Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

Both of these towns offer a variety of beach resorts, championship golf courses, fascinating colonial buildings – as well as a sufficient number of bars, restaurants and nightlife options that are sure to satisfy the needs of all visitors heading to Los Cabos.

Why Is Los Cabos Considered To Be One Of The Safest Tourist Destinations In Mexico?

Well, when looking at the statistics – with regards to violent crime in the country of Mexico – Baja California Sur has indeed witnessed the lowest number of intentional homicides in the first couple of months of this year (2022) compared to other parts of the nation.

Not only have there been less cases of murder in the state – situated in Northwest Mexico – 60% of the overall number of intentional homicide cases in BCS have already been resolved by the state’s police department.

And, according to Daniel de la Rosa Anaya – who heads up the State Attorney General’s Office – the number of intentional homicides that have taken place in BCS is at its lowest point for a number of years.

This is somewhat of a contrast compared to Cancun – which has recently been named as one of the most dangerous cities in the world – having made international headlines for its significantly high murder rate, following multiple tourist murders in the city.

However, in the last month, the American Ambassador for Mexico – Kenneth Lee Salazar – has described the highly popular tourist city of Cancun as being extremely ‘safe’ for tourists.

How To Stay Safe When Traveling In Los Cabos

As with anywhere that you travel to in the world, you should always ensure that you are aware of your surroundings and that you maintain high levels of common sense at all times – which, when combined, can go a long way to ensuring your safety and that you are able to enjoy your travels to the fullest.

However, there are a number of ‘steps’ that – as a tourist – you should consider when traveling in and around Los Cabos. This includes:
- traveling with a group – as the majority of crimes usually take place when people are alone
- always being aware of your surroundings – especially at night when crime is more likely to take place
- planning your route to – and from – where you are staying, and looking to take a taxi or Uber when traveling during the evening hours
- not ‘flashing the cash’ – and being aware of who is around you when withdrawing money from an ATM.
And, of course you should always show respect to your surroundings – including being aware of the precautionary measures that you need to take when moving around, as well as the right ways to behave and communicate with locals in the area.

Los Cabos Offers So Much For Tourists

Whether you are looking for a relaxing break or wanting to party the night away, Los Cabos literally caters to the needs of all types of traveler.

Boasting some of the most serene waters and white sand beaches – as well as some of the best hotels in the world – Los Cabos truly is a great choice for those looking to have a memorable vacation.

And, with Covid-19 cases in the state continuing to drop – which has resulted in the U.S. State Department recently lowering the traveling advisory for both Cabo and Mexico – there is no surprise that Los Cabos is preparing itself for an influx of tourists during the upcoming Easter holidays.

Reade more:

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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March 22, 2022