Kathryn Castle is an online marketing expert for HolidayCheck, with a particular interest in travel and hotel reviews. She has recently visited Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Konstanz. Her writing has been published in several UK publications, including Aesthetica Magazine, which has UK-wide circulation. http://www.holidaycheck.com
Holidays are for relaxing, not for worrying! Who wants to worry about their safety when they're trying to de-stress? Unfortunately it's often easier to figure out which places tourists should avoid, than which countries will welcome them with open arms. However, Forbes Traveller has recently chosen the top ten holiday destinations, based on various studies. The choices are based on criteria such as the UN Crime Study and the results from this year's Mercer Rankings Study, as well as warnings from the US Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Some choices, such as Switzerland, peaceful New Zealand or glittering Singapore were to be expected, but there are some surprises in store...
ABC-Islands (Caribbean) The ABC of safety are the southern Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The reasons? For hurricanes, they are too far south, they have low crime rates and a multicultural tourist-friendly population.
Dubai Artificial, but safe! Although Dubai is currently suffering from the recession, the country remains safe due to its multitude of CCTV cameras and its stable political and social climate.
Ireland According to a study from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Irish are European folk least inclined to violence! Perhaps they prefer to just talk their problems out...?
Cyprus A little miracle: smack dab in the middle of the Near East is an oasis of peace. This is probably due to the strong economic climate, impression education system, an emphasis on familial values – and two British military bases.
New Zealand This island has one of the lowest rates of crime and violence in the entire world. Due to its location, New Zealand is safe from tropical storms (too far south) and also from antarctic snowstorms (too far north). Not bad!
Mauritius Together with the Seychelles, Mauritius has the lowest rate of crime in Africa. So why is only Mauritius in the top ten? Well...due to its location much further south in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is safe from piracy!
Bhutan Located in the Himalayas, this kingdom is one of the safest Asian countries. Most of the people are poor, but due to their buddhist beliefs and high level of family values they are some of happiest people in Asia.
Switzerland Amazing but true: three of the five safest cities in the world are in Switzerland (that's Bern, Genf and Zürich, if you wanted to know). The only warning: watch out for your valuables when taking the night trains across the border!
Iceland Iceland has been most affected by the economic crisis, but the island's inhabitants have remained peaceful. The level of crime is still remarkably low, possibly due to the excellent education standards.
Singapore Almost a complete lack of natural catastrophes, a law-abiding population and a strong system in case of terrorist threats mean Singapore is as safe as they come...
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Everest Environmentalists
By: Jude Limburn Turner | 10/11/2009It was almost inevitable that a high mountain like Mount Everest (8,848m) would become a high profile platform for environmental issues. On December the 7th 2009, the UN Climate Change Conference will begin in Copenhagen, but green campaigns are already under way to put pressure on world leaders to curb...
Walking in the Canary Islands
By: Tony Maniscalco | 10/11/2009They may be better known as beach holiday destinations, but there are plenty of excellent opportunities for walking in the Canary Islands. With their beautiful volcanic landscapes, scenic mountains, and diverse natural wildlife, you can experience some truly spectacular routes on your Canary Islands walking holiday. Each of the individual islands...
EUROPEAN CAR RENTAL – at an affordable price
By: David Patullo | 10/11/2009When you are making a registration with a car rental company for some trip, then the first most important thing that strikes your mind is the price. In actual the first priority should be given in deciding about the car type you will prefer which is based on various factors. You should have proper knowledge about the strength of the people who are going.
ECONOMY CAR RENTALS AT YOUR DISSPOSAL
By: David Patullo | 10/11/2009Economy car rentals include about 2 or 4 doors of interpretation. It includes automatic transmission cars, offer high mileage, hiring an economic car is great in guidance in big metropolitan cities and are good to be parked in small areas. It is a best buy for all.
DISCOUNT RENTAL CARS – A GREAT WAY TO SAVE ON POCKET
By: David Patullo | 10/11/2009Getting a rented car appears a little confusing as it involves booking online, selecting a car, choosing a car rental firm, should there be a baby seat and so on. At present there are plenty of websites that have brought together good and leading companies at front like Hertz and the consumer.
DISCOUNT CAR RENTALS HELP YOU SAVE SOME EXTRA CASH
By: David Patullo | 10/11/2009The main reason for the increment and growth in the tourism department is due to the car rental companies whether they are doing it for their pleasure or only for their business development. It is like a blessing for the tourists that the car rental companies are providing these tourists with discount car rentals with desired car type, size and model.
What is there so special about Tanzania & the cheapest flights to seek?
By: Nazish | 10/11/2009There are alot of attractions in Tanzania that are unquly African Expoeriance for those who call "adventure" their "life"
GO FOR DISCOUNT CAR RENTAL IF YOU HAVE A SMALL BUDGET
By: David Patullo | 10/11/2009It is not at all true that car rentals didn’t provide good discounts, because you can find ample of them if you research in a good way and you can get them on your polite request of demand. Rental companies are always keen to rent out those cars which are not used by them.
How to Save Money for your Holiday
By: Kathryn Castle | 05/08/2009 | TravelAhh yes, the eternal conundrum. We all want to travel, but travel costs money, now doesn't it? Whether travel must necessarily be a huge drain on the ol' bank account is a theme for another article, but I'm certainly ready with a few ideas for how to save up a few extra quid (or bucks, if you will).
Which hotel or holiday accommodation is right for you?
By: Kathryn Castle | 04/08/2009 | TravelThese days, there is a dizzying array of choices when you jet off on holiday, reflecting a variety of price ranges and target consumers. But figuring out which type of accommodation would be best for you can be tricky and time-consuming, particularly if you're not totally sure what you want yourself. Of course, it's always good to pause for a few minutes and really think about your wants and needs. What kind of traveller are you? What kind of destination are you heading off to? Who are you going
Travel: How to Avoid Swine Flu
By: Kathryn Castle | 29/07/2009 | TravelWith all the horror stories in the press at the moment, it's natural to worry about the swine flu virus (otherwise known as ). While nothing can prevent the virus 100%, there are several courses of actions you can take to at least minimise your chance of getting sick.
Top Tips For Solo Women Travellers
By: Kathryn Castle | 23/07/2009 | TravelDon't let yourself be put off travelling just because you're a solo woman. Although it pays, as always, to be careful, with a bit of preparation it is safe to travel alone. While it is important to take into consideration the country to which you are travelling – its cultures, its habits, its differences and similarities with your own – there are the top tips in general if you're planning a solo trip.
How to Save Money on Holiday
By: Kathryn Castle | 22/07/2009 | TravelGoing on holiday can be expensive, but it doesn't has to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of ways for people to book and plan their holidays cheaply, but what about when you're actually at your destination? Things can easily get very expensive very fast, what with travel, activities, eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. But it doesn't have to be so bad – there are many ways to reduce the impact on your wallet. Here are some various ideas, suitable for all kinds of holidaymaker
Holiday Tips: How to build the ultimate capsule wardrobe
By: Kathryn Castle | 21/07/2009 | TravelFor many people, the capsule wardrobe is the holy grail of dressing. The concept in itself is simple: it is simply a collection of clothes that work well together, and can be worn in different ways to suit different occasions. Achieving a capsule wardrobe for everyday wear can be tricky and certainly expensive at first, but almost everybody will already possess the essentials for a holiday capsule wardrobe.
Holiday Tips: How to Survive the Airport
By: Kathryn Castle | 20/07/2009 | TravelFor many people, the airport is the most stressful part of the holiday. Sometimes the process is a dream, but much more commonly it feels like a nightmare. If it isn't a giant queue at check-in, then it's frantically checking your million bags for your passport or losing your way in the maze of gates and having to run through the airport to catch your plane. Indeed, airport experiences are never going to be perfect, but here are some tips to make sure yours is as painless as possible: