I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer here, though I’m curious how others approach this topic…
In this post:
My general philosophy on travel & safety
For many people, safety is a major concern when traveling. When planning travel, they may have concerns about the safety of the airline they’re flying with, as well as concerns over the destination they’re traveling to. Having flown millions of miles and having visited 100+ countries, here’s my general philosophy:
- I don’t put any thought into airline safety, and am happy to fly any airline; that simply comes down to relative risk, and that even the least “safe” airline is safer than other forms of transportation
- I’ve visited over 100 countries (those are countries where I left the airport), and when traveling solo I tend to think that a vast majority of destinations are safe, especially if you just apply common sense and take some basic precautions (don’t have anything flashy, be careful where you walk, research scams in advance, keep an eye on your surroundings, etc.)
Admittedly everyone has different standards as to what’s “safe” and what isn’t. In terms of destination safety, there’s a big difference between Dubai, Paris, Sao Paulo, and Mogadishu, for example (roughly in that order).
For that matter, there are different kinds of safety concerns. Some destinations may have a lot of non-violent crimes (like pickpocketing), some may have violent crimes that are often targeted at tourists, and others may largely have violent crimes between gangs, which don’t necessarily impact tourists. Then there’s the question of free speech, rights for marginalized groups, etc.
Speaking of people having different standards, I have family friends who will always get in touch prior to booking a flight to ask if a particular airline is safe. “Is British Airways safe?” “Is Norse Atlantic safe?” “Is JetBlue safe?” I always answer “yes,” of course, yet they keep asking. It just shows how we all have different standards when it comes to this stuff.
The challenge with researching destination safety
Let me pose my question in the form of an example. I’m considering an Africa review trip that would potentially include travel through Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), and Lagos (Nigeria). I could just connect right through, or I could spend a bit of time at each destination. Personally I always enjoy checking out a place I haven’t been to before for at least a day or two, if I have the time.
But of course I also don’t want to be totally reckless, or at a minimum, want to know what I’m getting myself into in terms of the precautions I should take. Can I just (carefully) roam the streets in the daytime? Should I hire a guide? Should I arrange airport transfers in advance? Is that sufficient?
While the internet is an amazing resource in general, I sometimes find it’s not terribly useful when it comes to establishing the relative risk of a destination:
- Travel warnings are often overly cautious for destinations that I find to be quite safe, and that sometimes makes it tricky to determine if a destination is actually higher risk, or just has the typical disclaimers
- While there are some online message boards talking about safety of various destinations, it can sometimes be hard to figure out if the people have a similar risk tolerance to you; some people seem overly cautious, while others will go anywhere
- It seems that when you Google “is [insert destination] safe?” the answer is almost always the same, and mentions that there is at times violent crime, to remain vigilant, etc.
That brings me to my overall question for OMAAT readers — how do you decide if a destination is safe to visit, whether you’re planning it as a destination, or just as an extended stopover where you leave the airport? I’m asking this more in the sense that I’m curious about the thought process that people use, rather than feedback on any specific cities (though I welcome that as well!).
Bottom line
Most people consider safety when traveling to an off the beaten path destination. This is one of the things that it’s surprisingly tough to research, though, given that that everyone has different standards when it comes to safety, and government travel warnings often aren’t very useful.
So I’d love to hear from OMAAT readers on this — how do you go about deciding what precautions you’ll take when traveling, based on the destination?
My worst scare happened decades ago in the lower level of FRA! I had arrived on the earliest JFK-FRA flight which often arrived at 4 AM. I was waiting for the supermarket (then located in A) to open at 6AM. Soddenly I realized I was surrounded by a gang of middle easterner youth that had some plans. Miraculously, the crew baking breakfast rolls in the supermarket noticed this and flung the doors open and announced...
My worst scare happened decades ago in the lower level of FRA! I had arrived on the earliest JFK-FRA flight which often arrived at 4 AM. I was waiting for the supermarket (then located in A) to open at 6AM. Soddenly I realized I was surrounded by a gang of middle easterner youth that had some plans. Miraculously, the crew baking breakfast rolls in the supermarket noticed this and flung the doors open and announced they were open. I am very familiar with Germany and I can tell you shops open on schedule but never early!
Some destinations might present higher risk profiles but things can happen anyplace.
One has tried to resist commenting on this subject as I confess to not being your average tourist. However, I will attempt to pass on some of my experiences travelling to some of the less salubrious destinations in the world.
1. For U.S. citizens I am surprised that nobody appears to have mentioned the CIA World Fact Book.
2. For UK citizens and anyone else for that matter, the UK Foreign Office provides...
One has tried to resist commenting on this subject as I confess to not being your average tourist. However, I will attempt to pass on some of my experiences travelling to some of the less salubrious destinations in the world.
1. For U.S. citizens I am surprised that nobody appears to have mentioned the CIA World Fact Book.
2. For UK citizens and anyone else for that matter, the UK Foreign Office provides updated information on travel to most countries.
3. Ascertain if major world airlines travel to the country. If so it is always a positive sign but not definitive.
4. Check in with Mr Google and research your destination.
5. Check in with your local library or bookshop for appropriate travel guides.
6. I hesitate to say check social media as it is as easy to obtain poor advice as it is good.
In country security measures are learned over time and through experience. Personal security and travel confidence is difficult to learn from any publication.
Finally, when going off the beaten tourist track, do not take anything which you are not prepared to loose …. especially that Rolex or real Gucci handbag.
Looking forward to your review of Abidjan as it's my hometown :D.
Some tips however, immigration at Abidjan's FHB Airport is hectic and can take a long time, especially in the evening as that's when most European flights arrive and depart. Even if you are in front of the queue in business, given that you'd most probably need a visa (the evisa system is overcomplicated IMHO, you first register online, received an approval that...
Looking forward to your review of Abidjan as it's my hometown :D.
Some tips however, immigration at Abidjan's FHB Airport is hectic and can take a long time, especially in the evening as that's when most European flights arrive and depart. Even if you are in front of the queue in business, given that you'd most probably need a visa (the evisa system is overcomplicated IMHO, you first register online, received an approval that you need to print and have with you, and finally "validate it" at the airport and have the visa printed and added to your passport), you'll be far in the queue by the time you finish. So what I would suggest is to use the Pearl Assist meet and greet costing 90USD, which is somewhat expensive (at least for me), You'll be met at the gate and escorted through the visa process and have a dedicated immigration line (I'm not sure if business class passengers are outright eligible without the service) I flew in business with Corsair and SN and wasn't allowed to go through there, thankfully I didn't need a visa and was in front of the queue... Or at least I thought, but since there were other flights landing (usually Air France or Air Côte d'Ivoire) before mine I usually found myself at the back of the queue...
If you need to change cash, you can do so within the airport, it's one of the rare cases I saw where the exchange rate is really competitive at the airport because foreign currencies (especially Euros and Dollars) are really sought after, the local currency CFA Franc is pegged to the Euro and is about 1 euro to 656 CFA Francs. however, the opposite is not true as if you try exchanging XOF into Euros at the airport you'll get absolutely ripped off. More and more shops and restaurants accept card payments, but it's still mostly cash and contactless is not yet widely adopted. Bank fees are usually pretty high IMO so I generally bring cash and change it there or in the City.
For the rest, it's the usual advice, that you're more even more familiar with than me, beware of scams and pay attention as with any other destination. Hope you have some fun and Akwaba :D
Sorry if this upsets you Mamad, no offence intended, however, the UK government advice is: “FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Côte d'Ivoire”.
One has to remember that if you ignore the travel advice from one’s own government, then your holiday insurance could be come invalid.
None taken, I went on the website and agree with the map.
From what I see, more than 90% of the territory don't have an "advise against travel" and the parts highlighted are due to terrorism in the North, on the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso and also in the Comoe National Park. Also due to violent gangs, poachers and militias in the West (on the border with Liberia) that commit crimes, extortion...
None taken, I went on the website and agree with the map.
From what I see, more than 90% of the territory don't have an "advise against travel" and the parts highlighted are due to terrorism in the North, on the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso and also in the Comoe National Park. Also due to violent gangs, poachers and militias in the West (on the border with Liberia) that commit crimes, extortion and ransom attacks mostly in Cocoa harvesting season.
Thankfully those areas are not very touristic, but it's a shame as the North is so rich culturally and I would have loved to visit the Comoe National Park. Unfortunately the borders are too porous and it's impossible to cover the vastness of the National Parks .
Many many countries have the UK saying ALL travel to PARTS. These are generally countries which have issues in border regions. Egypt, Israe, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Djibouti all fit that criteria at the moment. Even Mexico is 'against all but essential travel to parts...'
Your travel insurance (certainly in the UK) only becomes invalid for cancellation issues. It's not a blanket invalidation. At least not for mine.
Hello JT, I would be interested to know which insurance company you use please?
Simple. If it hasn't been blogged a million times, and flying there is difficult, it's safe. Safe from the hordes of Instagram girls and UNESCO believers who open source a place towards its destruction. Not many of them left. And I won't tell you where.
I agree about Dakar and Abidjan - I've been to both, and felt relatively safe all around - I particularly felt comfortable walking around Plateau and Zone 4 in Abidjan. One thing I'd add is that not speaking French might make it a bit less practical, but not unsafe!
Concerning travel recommendations, I am not particularly familiar with the US travel advisory, but find that (sometimes) the French travel advisory can give some decent hints...
I agree about Dakar and Abidjan - I've been to both, and felt relatively safe all around - I particularly felt comfortable walking around Plateau and Zone 4 in Abidjan. One thing I'd add is that not speaking French might make it a bit less practical, but not unsafe!
Concerning travel recommendations, I am not particularly familiar with the US travel advisory, but find that (sometimes) the French travel advisory can give some decent hints on how safe a place is (e.g I remember something for Abidjan along the lines of "careful not to feel too safe", which I read as sign that it's much safer than some other cities, where they will specifically say not to walk around too much, etc). That said, they too can be overly cautious at times.
You can go to Abidjan and stay in the Plateau district and venture outside by yourself, no problem.
Dakar is trickier. It's a lot safer than it used to be, but many locals do pester white visitors. I had no problems there last year, but would not necessarily redommend it to you. The new airport is 50 minutes away from the city, preorder a reliable transfer.
Lagos, I have no personal experience.
As an Ivorian, I am happy to read that you had a good experience and felt safe in Abidjan. I love seeing that more and more people are interested in visiting Abidjan and Ivory Coast in general. I don't know Dakar very well, I have some family there and went once for 4 days and was always under the impression that it was safer than Abidjan (not to say that Abidjan isn't safe of course).
Wow! Kudos to @Alonzo for travelling to Istanbul and living to tell us. Serious respect to you my man. People don't understand the mortal danger posed by....cats. Hundreds of cats! Siamese cats. Bengal cats. Exotic shorthairs. Birmans etc etc. All kinds of Istanbul...cats. Only the perilous streets of Venice beats Istanbul for mortal danger due to....pigeons. You sure live dangerously, my man. Stay safe!
“Safe”? The first country that is left off my list of “safe” countries is the USA. Compared to it, everywhere is safe unless you are identified as an American.
What a bunch of nonsense.
Hi Ben, long time reader. Love the content. My wife is from Lagos. There are many parts that are not safe especially for oyibo people (white in Yoruba) mainly due to kidnapping. I've not been and my wife and family do not recommend for me to go though I might go someday. If you do go, stick to the wealthier areas of Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikoyi. And get a driver who knows what areas are safe to pass through.
With respect of the travel warnings issued by the US... I just wonder how many areas domestically would meet the criteria for such a warning.
Remember, other countries have issued travel travel warnings for the US because of gun violence.
Safe is relative and also based upon one's conduct. Walk around Rio too drunk to see straight and it might not end well. Back in my Rio days I thought nothing of walking from the place in the middle of Ipanema that everyone went to back to my hotel in Arpoador. But I was fully aware of my surroundings. There are areas of major US cities that seem really dreadful. Even Manhattan of today is not the Manhattan I lived in from 1995 to 2013.
Americans, more than any others, are completely messed on the head when it comes to safety.
On reddit, people frequently post "in going to a concert in x arena in (city) is it safe".
It's such an idiotic question. 18,000 people are paying $250 a pop every other day at this venue. But in their tiny tiny heads, where they're the only character on earth, they think they will be a victim of something
18,000 people are paying $250 a pop every other day at this venue.
That's unsafe. It's like a very big money scam.
Nigerian princes should learn from Taylor.
Many places are terrible to have a head injury. Some countries have zero neurosurgeons.
There’s a good place to have a head injury?
I have a US green card but spend a lot of time outside of the country. I have to say, lately I found myself worried about the things I read online about the USA, to the point of reconsidering coming back for fear of being stuck in a detention center because someone might get suspicious of me. Mind you, I am not doing anything unlawful yet it seems that alone is not enough to keep...
I have a US green card but spend a lot of time outside of the country. I have to say, lately I found myself worried about the things I read online about the USA, to the point of reconsidering coming back for fear of being stuck in a detention center because someone might get suspicious of me. Mind you, I am not doing anything unlawful yet it seems that alone is not enough to keep people safe. On my arrival, they didn’t even ask me anything.
It always seems scarier from the outside looking in. In reality the chances of getting detained, violated or whatever are a lot lower than they may appear, whether you’re coming to Houston, Medellin or Guadalajara. Heck, even Odesa, with its bombed out buildings and flaky water supply is not the most unwelcoming place I have visited in the past 5 years.
That said, I’m not sure I would bother applying for a Nigerian visa just to spend one day in the capital. Maybe make it a week?
If it's one thing you can be certain, you already broke some law along the way, realize or not.
As a straight, white-passing Latino male, I only really care about government stability. I tend to agree with you that most places are mostly fine, with the same regular precautions I'd use within a couple miles of where I live (Los Angeles), for me. I imagine other demographics have other concerns that change their calculus.
But if there's a legitimate concern re: civil unrest such that a government might collapse, or no real government control...
As a straight, white-passing Latino male, I only really care about government stability. I tend to agree with you that most places are mostly fine, with the same regular precautions I'd use within a couple miles of where I live (Los Angeles), for me. I imagine other demographics have other concerns that change their calculus.
But if there's a legitimate concern re: civil unrest such that a government might collapse, or no real government control in the first place, or some government that would punish me for my particular passport, those will register as concerning enough that I'd think about it.
I appreciate your comment and agree. I am an older, white Gay man. I have the same concerns as you do and a couple more. Stability of government is a concern. As is being very aware of ones surroundings.
I have oh so many frens who refuse to travel any place in Mexico unless it's Cabo as the rest of country is apparently the inspiration behind Mad Max films (including CDMX). It breaks my heart, but I definitely support people going with whatever makes them feel safe. Definitely don't want to be responsible for any muggings and like you say, I may not take on a double tequila flight then walk home from a...
I have oh so many frens who refuse to travel any place in Mexico unless it's Cabo as the rest of country is apparently the inspiration behind Mad Max films (including CDMX). It breaks my heart, but I definitely support people going with whatever makes them feel safe. Definitely don't want to be responsible for any muggings and like you say, I may not take on a double tequila flight then walk home from a bar, but doesn't mean a friend wouldn't on vacation.
I do look up state warnings (sometimes still ignore), Google, and of course opinions of my travel friends.
I've visited 60+ countries (and all continents) and only very rarely have I found myself in an area that worried me. None of those areas seemed nearly as dangerous as some of the rural areas near where I grew up in the US. I feel far safer from violent crime when I am outside the US than when I am in the US.
I would not travel to any of the countries on the US Department of State Travel Advisory list of Level 4 - Do Not Travel: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, as well as some areas within other countries also at Level 4.
Iran being level 4 is a little dramatic. Tons of people visit every year without issue. I’d put it at level 3
It's political.
For Americans, "Do Not Travel" seems apt. Ben has a German passport though, he'd probably be fine.
I just had to make such a decision. UA has a fairly decent sale for Chase card members for Mexico, Central/South America, including Georgetown, Guyana. Other than Venezuela, the only countries in that group I have not visited are the three "Guyanas".
In researching the feasibility of travel, including the safety aspect, it seems as if Georgetown (and much of Guyana) is simply not safe for foreigners (crime-related). And most aspects of getting to the...
I just had to make such a decision. UA has a fairly decent sale for Chase card members for Mexico, Central/South America, including Georgetown, Guyana. Other than Venezuela, the only countries in that group I have not visited are the three "Guyanas".
In researching the feasibility of travel, including the safety aspect, it seems as if Georgetown (and much of Guyana) is simply not safe for foreigners (crime-related). And most aspects of getting to the other two "Guyanas" from Georgetown involve bus or ferry rides on sketchy roads in sketchy vehicles.
How did I determine this? Checked a few travel blogs with recent reports (within 1 year is recent for me), the US and Australian travel advisories, as well as two Facebook groups I'm in, whose members are extensively travelled - 50+ counties.
I'll get to that part of the world eventually, especially as the other two "Guyanas" have no travel advisories. Just not during this sale period...
I was in Guyana last year for bird watching. Once you get out of the capital, the rest of the country is safe but probably best if you are used to traveling like locals in the buses. I was in Atta Lodge, then via bus to Lethem and Karasabai where I stayed in a village guest house, then back to Surama for a night. When I was in Georgetown I didn't wander around though I...
I was in Guyana last year for bird watching. Once you get out of the capital, the rest of the country is safe but probably best if you are used to traveling like locals in the buses. I was in Atta Lodge, then via bus to Lethem and Karasabai where I stayed in a village guest house, then back to Surama for a night. When I was in Georgetown I didn't wander around though I hired a guide to take me birding in the botanical gardens and then hired a hotel taxi to drive around the town a bit so I could do some shopping and change money.
Simon Wilson has apparently been to plenty of undesirable destinations for a Westerner. DPRK, Syria, Afghanistan just to name a few.
https://www.youtube.com/@SimonWilson12/videos
Blogger Matthew would bring his 2 young children to warzone Ukraine and Syria.
Not sure what he's thinking but safe to him is probably different than many people.
Ben have you ever read any of Matt Lakeman’s travel blogs for that part of Africa. If not I high recommend them! I learned so much
I google whether a destination is safe and regardless of the answer I just book a trip to Japan instead.
Apparently you haven't seen "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift."
Sure if you're going to base it on movies, try Armageddon, War of the worlds, Day after tomorrow.
Might as well go nowhere.
@MildMidwesterner
You could have brought Yakuza or Tokyo Vice and have made more sense.
That movie is showing Japan as if it's a part of the US.
If a regular taxi driver will take you there without grumbling then the destination is safe.
Abidjan has daily AF La Premiere flights, so it must be safe and nice
That's a bit of a generalisation. People affording LP out of Abidjan can also afford private security there and have private security there. There is an incredible amount of wealth inequality there with a weak police this fuels crime. Expats live in closed compounds.
Safety is very much an opportunity thing. Are you at the wrong time and the wrong place.
I guess the question is how likely are you to get to...
That's a bit of a generalisation. People affording LP out of Abidjan can also afford private security there and have private security there. There is an incredible amount of wealth inequality there with a weak police this fuels crime. Expats live in closed compounds.
Safety is very much an opportunity thing. Are you at the wrong time and the wrong place.
I guess the question is how likely are you to get to the wrong place at the wrong time doing simple daylight sightseeing. We know Ben is not up after dark =)
I typically do some research first, and if I find conflicting information, I'll try to find people who have been to those places and ask them directly (either if I know them in person or I use reddit which is pretty useful for travel questions). But when doing research, I try to use specific websites, otherwise I feel like I gain fear about any place that I previously thought was safe.
The good thing for...
I typically do some research first, and if I find conflicting information, I'll try to find people who have been to those places and ask them directly (either if I know them in person or I use reddit which is pretty useful for travel questions). But when doing research, I try to use specific websites, otherwise I feel like I gain fear about any place that I previously thought was safe.
The good thing for me is that I grew up traveling to places seen as "not safe" from a western point-of-view, so I was raised taking all of the precautions I have ever had to take in a foreign country. Frankly, I find it easier to travel to most countries now.
About a year ago, I was contemplating travel to Bogota. It was my first time visiting South America and I heard two different narratives when it came to Bogota. I decided to pull the trigger (because I really wanted to fly EK's new MIA-BOG flight lol). I decided that I'll see how it is when I get there. I talked to some close Colombian friends for tips. If I didn't feel safe when I arrived, I could just stay in the hotel or move my flight up. I originally planned to be there for 3 days. I loved it so much when I arrived that I changed my flight and stayed 6 days. As Ben said, practice common sense, use good judgement, learn local customs and research your destination.
I don't. I just travel.
I was just in Istanbul last week whom are having a number of problems politically and with their currency. No issues.
Wherever you are, from Baltimore to Auckland, from Walmart to Hermes, keep your head on a swivel. You can get got anywhere.
LOL, Istanbul????
Try Kinshasa or Juba.
'I visited a village in the Swiss Alps and was surprised by how safe it was.'
@Eskimo @Throwawayname sit down and actually read his message (or global news for that matter). There have been ongoing protests and quite some political tension in Türkiye (and especially Istanbul) for the last 3 weeks, so yes, one could argue that right now cities like Dakar, Lagos and Abidjan are "safer" than Istanbul
This thing is munching my responses again. I think I trust my friends who live there more than some random foreign journo.
@Ben Holz
Wake up and actually read the message. (or local news for that matter)
There have been ongoing protests and quite some political tension in US of A. They even had a big protest all over the country last week.
Hence under you naive brainwashed logic, so yes, one could argue that right now cities like Dakar, Lagos and Abidjan are "safer" than entire USA.!!!!!
Half joking but kinda true:
What would my credit card do if I used it there:
1. Not allowed to use (sanctions) - don’t go
2. Flag it as fraud - use caution
3. Approved - common sense but feel comfortable and free
#2 has a lot of grey area since I’ll get some flags in the US but generally never get flagged when in EU, North America, parts of Asia, etc
I love this answer because, although it is lighthearted, it highlights the fact that no single human can do as good of a job at security assessment than companies who do this full-time.
So yeah, personally I would *roughly* follow those rules and then do a bit of my own research on top, especially considering any recent developments.
My card got flagged in California.
Use caution in CA, sounds about right.
Visited Dakar in 2023 and it felt completely safe. Absolutely no issues walking around and people were friendly. Senegal is a lovely country - highly recommended.
Dakar and Abidjan will be absolutely fine. I think that Nigeria is significantly less safe than the others, so I would do some more elaborate online research before deciding on an itinerary- assuming you don't just want to go to a luxury hotel and stay in there for a couple of days.
I generally adopt the approach outlined in this post and have been fine everywhere, but there are some assessments to be made...
Dakar and Abidjan will be absolutely fine. I think that Nigeria is significantly less safe than the others, so I would do some more elaborate online research before deciding on an itinerary- assuming you don't just want to go to a luxury hotel and stay in there for a couple of days.
I generally adopt the approach outlined in this post and have been fine everywhere, but there are some assessments to be made around things like whether you can roam around at anytime vs getting a taxi everywhere after dark. The only place where I have felt in quite some danger was Johannesburg.
These three locations are just as safe as any other major city. No need for a guide, can simply exit the airport and grab the next taxi to the hotel, ask the hotel to arrange a car or ask the next taxi to take you to your destinations etc.
One of several factors I use is price of a standard full service chain hotel (like a Marriott or Hilton). Providing the standard level of services and security can be surprisingly expensive in "unsafe" locations. For example, a standard Marriott in most of India is <$100 bc there isn't a ton of worry about security and associated expenses whereas certain developing countries in Africa (and at least the one that used to be in Port-au-Prince...
One of several factors I use is price of a standard full service chain hotel (like a Marriott or Hilton). Providing the standard level of services and security can be surprisingly expensive in "unsafe" locations. For example, a standard Marriott in most of India is <$100 bc there isn't a ton of worry about security and associated expenses whereas certain developing countries in Africa (and at least the one that used to be in Port-au-Prince Haiti) are usually much more expensive. Seeing the standard Marriotts and Hiltons well over $200 a night in a developing country (without a special event) is usually a red flag to me. I had such a situation the first time I was in Addis years ago.
Now, let me clarify that a place being "unsafe" doesn't necessarily mean I wouldn't go... A degree of understood and prepared for risk shouldn't be a deal breaker but that's a different rant.
In fact Lagos is the perfect example of this. You can see the new Hyatt Regency is a cat 5, which is oddly high for sub-saharan Africa right? See how the Hyatt Regency Cape Town is a cat 1? Yeah, some of that is definitely a "safety surcharge"
But JNB isn't that expensive in terms of those hotels, and it's far less safe than Dakar or even Nairobi.
Manhattan is over $500.
Definitely unsafe.
I don't have a good answer, other than to say that I always think of the time I was in line for security at international departures at JNB (in a city that has a maybe-overblown reputation for not being very safe) and there were a few South Africans flying to the US in line ahead of me, talking about how worried they were about the risk of gun violence when they got to the US.
If airport is used as a benchmark, TLV is actually among the heaviest and most paranoid security I've seen.
I remember taking a Bolt (like Uber) out of JNB and the driver scared the crap out of me by creepily telling me how dangerous Bolt can be and that it is not safe, and I should stick to Uber in Johannesburg.
Apartheid Museum is totally worth it though!
While I personally haven't been to many countries in Africa, my father regularly travels to west and central African countries for business and always takes a couple of extra free days for tourism. He pretty much always feels safe and travels on its own but recommends to have a local contact that can advise on which areas to avoid, arrange drivers or even provide assistance should something go wrong.
Of course, you should always...
While I personally haven't been to many countries in Africa, my father regularly travels to west and central African countries for business and always takes a couple of extra free days for tourism. He pretty much always feels safe and travels on its own but recommends to have a local contact that can advise on which areas to avoid, arrange drivers or even provide assistance should something go wrong.
Of course, you should always follow the advice from the Foreign Office and local authorities and it advised to inform your embassy of your travel plans.
This advice is spot on. I spent my entire career working with a well-known international nonprofit health organization and traveled many times to the places in Africa Ben mentions - Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), and Lagos (Nigeria). I always had a local contact to advise/accompany me, or I used the concierge service of hotels to hire a local guide. Even then, I experienced some difficult situations, including an attempted mugging in Dakar and a...
This advice is spot on. I spent my entire career working with a well-known international nonprofit health organization and traveled many times to the places in Africa Ben mentions - Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), and Lagos (Nigeria). I always had a local contact to advise/accompany me, or I used the concierge service of hotels to hire a local guide. Even then, I experienced some difficult situations, including an attempted mugging in Dakar and a gunpoint abduction by a cab driver in Lagos. Having a local with me saved me, especially since they spoke the local language.
Ben, did you read about the Australian traveler who got deported from JFK because he flew via HKG (a route they thought was unusual), despite having all valid documentation? It’s interesting but also worrying. Is there anything more to the story that we do not know of? Surely, flying CX or an adventurous flight plan (CX flights are usually cheaper, so the traveller in question might’ve chosen the cheapest flights) would not be the reason for a deportation right?
As far as I recall he didn’t have an onward ticket as he planned to travel via land via Mexico. He should have had proof before of his intent to depart the USA. It wasn’t related to how he arrived or what route . CX should have asked him at check in, although he’s still liable.
@Icarus, that's exactly what happened.
In the pre-pandemic past I frequently flew that route as it was easy to get a 1st class CX award HKG-LAX/JFK, so a no brainer.
I wonder if there's more to this story, but we will never know I guess. Neverthless, it's been widely reported in the Australian media as yet another reason one should reconsider travelling to the USA.
I has already made my decision not to.
I have visited all 3 of those and the same use common sense/judgement applies. All three are very easy and manageable, and all worth a visit. It's a shame to just visit the cities though; the rest of the country (in each case) has so much to offer and see. For safety, I do my own research and if it's a place I'm more uneasy about, I try to speak to people who have been...
I have visited all 3 of those and the same use common sense/judgement applies. All three are very easy and manageable, and all worth a visit. It's a shame to just visit the cities though; the rest of the country (in each case) has so much to offer and see. For safety, I do my own research and if it's a place I'm more uneasy about, I try to speak to people who have been there recently (obviously situations can change quickly, though). I do register with STEP for more off the beaten path destinations too. It's a good way to get alerts while you're there or about to travel. At the end of the day, it's up to you and what you're comfortable with.
Unless you're traveling to an active war zone, I think anywhere on Earth should be considered safe. Lagos, Abidjan, and Dakar are huge cities with millions of hard-working, healthy, and well-fed people just living their normal lives. Statistically, you probably have a much higher likelihood of facing violent crime in Florida. Uber definitely exists in Lagos and it's as safe there as it is anywhere.
I usually get a "feel" for a place once I'm...
Unless you're traveling to an active war zone, I think anywhere on Earth should be considered safe. Lagos, Abidjan, and Dakar are huge cities with millions of hard-working, healthy, and well-fed people just living their normal lives. Statistically, you probably have a much higher likelihood of facing violent crime in Florida. Uber definitely exists in Lagos and it's as safe there as it is anywhere.
I usually get a "feel" for a place once I'm on the ground. It's hard to explain, but generally I can tell what's good and what's bad. If you leave your hotel with nothing more than the clothes on your back, a credit card, and $50, what's the worst that can happen?
Consider crime, medical facilities, and politics.
Safest might be Taiwan or Singapore. Low on the list might be Yemen or Somalia.
The moon is dangerous because of lack of medical facilities and the trip there has risks, at least in 1969.
I have visited all 3 of those and the same use common sense/judgement applies. All three are very easy and manageable, and all worth a visit. It's a shame to just visit the cities though; the rest of the country (in each case) has so much to offer and see. For safety, I do my own research and if it's a place I'm more uneasy about, I try to speak to people who have been...
I have visited all 3 of those and the same use common sense/judgement applies. All three are very easy and manageable, and all worth a visit. It's a shame to just visit the cities though; the rest of the country (in each case) has so much to offer and see. For safety, I do my own research and if it's a place I'm more uneasy about, I try to speak to people who have been there recently (obviously situations can change quickly, though). I do register with STEP for more off the beaten path destinations too. It's a good way to get alerts while you're there or about to travel. At the end of the day, it's up to you and what you're comfortable with.
Did we actually made it there in the 60s?
A lot of this is also down to good research and having a trusted contact on the ground. I’ve visited Yemen and Somalia in the past year, and enjoyed both thoroughly. I mean, Qatar Airways flies to Mogadishu 3x a week which says something…
For Africa travel, I asked my Cape Town-based travel agent. For everything else I read up.
Foreign Office advice first, then news outlets, travel blogs/Google and finally asking people I know who might have been there.
The British advice red/yellow guide on countries is a good measure, in the UK this invalidates our travel insurance if we ignore it. Obviously anything can happen anywhere but personally think anything not marked like this is generally ok to travel to.
Visited Dakar in January 2020. It was my 100th country. Had no issues. Beautiful beaches. I’m gay and if I took the gay purity test of not visiting countries that are not LGBTQ friendly, I would never leave the house. Visited Pakistan in 2022 and the flight to Skardu is a bucket list for any avgeek. Pakistani mountains are amazing. Most tourists travel with guides. Didn’t feel unsafe at all.
Pakistan is safe for tourists. My family is from there (I was born and raised in the US) and it is safe now to see the country. The food is incredible and the hospitality is amazing, with some of the nicest people you will ever meet. You will be treated like a king there. And good luck trying to pay for anything if you look like a foreigner.
Just stay away from the KPK...
Pakistan is safe for tourists. My family is from there (I was born and raised in the US) and it is safe now to see the country. The food is incredible and the hospitality is amazing, with some of the nicest people you will ever meet. You will be treated like a king there. And good luck trying to pay for anything if you look like a foreigner.
Just stay away from the KPK province (and maybe the places near the Afghanistan border). Also, practice common sense and street smarts. Don't wear anything flashy, and watch out for pick pocketers. But, that's more of a risk to me (someone who looks like they are form there) rather than a tourist (who are treated very well since there aren't many tourists there).
The northern areas are so beautiful, often referred to as the Switzerland of Asia. Flying into Skardu is a must as well! Islamabad is one of the cleanest capitals in the world (aside from the smog - but thats more seasonal). Lahore is known for its culture, history, and shopping.
Don't worry if your gay or practice another religion, people won't say anything as long as you respect local customs (and regarding the former, don't do anything over there that'll get you in trouble and don't advertise it and you will be fine).
Salam and I hope you enjoyed Ramadan and Eid.
Simon Wilson apparently visited Pakistan and even took the train.
https://www.youtube.com/@SimonWilson12/videos