 The
World's Safest Travel Destinations
A
note about our travels : In our world touring that we do we are often
asked by fellow travellers about what we consider to be the safest places for
a vacation and really there is no definative answer. When we travel in groups
during our organized tours we often get an unrealistic feel for the country we
are visiting because all of us are moving about the attractions together in a
large group and often with a guide. On
the other hand when we are doing backpacking or more rustic camping or eco-trekking
we are often alone or travelling in small groups with our possessions and supplies
on our backs and we can feel a bit more vulnerable. Also, as a woman, when I am
alone and travelling I often am up against a different perception from the natives
of the country I am visiting and must sometimes be extra careful when travelling
alone. There are definately some countries that are not safe for women travelling
alone but mostly a single female vacationing must have a certain level of confidence.
As a solo-traveller
by nature I have spent years off the beaten path and staying in the best hotels
all around the world and have seen my share of the good, the bad and the ugly
as far as tour operators and even travel companions. Not all places I have visited
have opened their arms to me as a voyager but after twenty years of wandering
this lonely planet I can say that more often than not I have met some incredible
people and seen some of the most breathtaking sights in the world and by all means
have tasted the finest international foods and done some of the most phisically
demanding and spiritually challenging things ever! Safest
Countries For Travel
The choices for
travellers in 2009 is huge and there are full package holiday vacations
available for every budget. While I often prefer to pack the car and
just start my trip with an adventure filled drive to the nearest airport
and then decide upon arrival where my heart guides me there are times
when planning ahead can be the smartest move. I have been on the move
for many years and my list of the top vacation countries in the world
is here presented in no particular order. My consern, as a single
women, is finding the safest vacations and the safest places to travel
in the world. Below I have compiled the list of what I consider to
be the best destinations especially for a single woman or for anyone
concerned about having a safe vacation.
The
Safest Vacations & Safest Places to Travel
Hawaii
 New
Guides for Travel in Hawaii
My vacation to Hawaii was simply incredible for so many reasons!
While I have travelled safely all over the world I found that my
visit to the Hawaiin islands was idyllic due to the friendly residents
and simplicity of the accomodations. While I arrived in my vaction
to the six isalnds including Maui and Kauia which is the oldest
and northernmost island in the Island chain which is graced with
dramatic, natural beauty including volcanoes and lava caves and
incredible scuba sites. I was literally floored by the outdoor adventures
and romantic escapades that flourish on the island of Kauai.
Glistening, tumbling waterfalls and unmatched grennery have made
my vacation in Hawaii one of the best trips I have ever been on.
If you enjoy natural beauty combined with the soft white beaches
and shadow filled forests of lush greenery then this is the place
for you. Island mountains rise like turtle baks above the warm Pacfic
waves and when I camped among the lanai I always felt safe and found
the value of a Hawaiian vacation to be one of the best destinations
in the world. As a Canadian I am sometimes wary to travel to the
USA but the islands are like a supreme paradise with the Volcano
caves and Art centre as well as Kona historical tours make this
one trip that is surely to be memorable.
My night trip to the Hawaii volcanoes national park was an extremely
beautiful trip I will never forget. The people of the islands are
super friendly and a visit to Maui on Hawaii Airlines is such a
dramtic flight over the islands you can't help but be transformed.
One of the safest and most incredible vacation trips I have ever
been on. Perfect for solo travellers and families on a budget looking
for the ultimate in wild vacations.
Iceland
 New
Guides for Travel in Iceland
My travels to Iceland were one of my fondest travel memories. The
idea of visiting Iceland had always appealed to me and since it
was a country I'd often heard about how safe it was to visit especially
for a single woman travelling alone. Iceland has the history of
the Vikings still pulsing in the hearts of the residents. I was
instantly mesmerized by the raw energy literally billowing from
the earth even in the nightclubs of Reykjavík which I visited on
my first night in Iceland. Visiting Reykjavík means you will see
a village friendly town full of striking contrasts where eccentric
tiny corrugated iron houses cuddle in the arms of futuristic glass
and steel buildings. Modern state-of-the-art ammenities are only
minutes away from the rugged black volcanic terrain! Walking on
the glacial floes is awesome and the solitude you can experience
in central Iceland is undeniably blissfull!
Travelling alone in Europe can often be stressfull but my vacation
in iceland was completely free from worry. I trekked into the Westfjords
which are are Iceland´s least populated region besides the highlands.
Here I fwelt as if it could have been three hundred years ago surrounded
by seabirds on rugged cliffs, Arctic foxes scurrying from hiding
spot to hiding spot. I strolled quietely in small fishing villages
that have been huddled against the sheer mountains here, where for
centuries, people have battled with the forces of nature to harvest
the ocean´s riches. Ísafjörður is the main town and I found the
social scene and people extremely cordial and was recommended to
visit Vatnajökull Glacier which is Europe's largest glacier which
is a must-see! The hot springs, geysers of hot steaming clear water
and craggy waterfalls slowly tumbling over high cliffs were magical
and surreal. In face the American astronauts practiced for their
moon walk in Iceland due to the insane terrain! The bizarre lava
landscapes like "Trolls' Cathedral" simply left me stunned. The
incredible birds of Iceland combined with the midnight sun of summer
made Iceland one place I have placed on my list of places I must
revisit soon.
Australia
 New
Guides to Travel in Australia
I always plan to stay at least three full weeks when I go down under
to Australia. My most memorable was when I stayed for 6 months and
worked in Queensland and I suggest that if you want to really immerse
your spirit deeply into this magnificent country then you have to
plan to stay as long as possible. Travel in Australia definately
has it all from warm sandy beaches, arid huge collosal desserts
and the dramatic Australlian National Parks with their awesome and
often unbelievable collections of birds, flowers and exotic animals
like the ever present kangaroos, the dearl koalas and an amazing
array of birds.
Singapore
 New
Guides to Travel in Singapore
Although Singapore is definately one very safe and very clean don't
let the small size or urban development of the country dissuade
you from visiting this South East Asian jewel of a country. The
strict nature of the society is feeling some pressure to relax a
bit the laws that have given Singapore a reputation as a very prosperous
but antiseptic and almost repressive city. While I am not a big
fan of skyscrapers and Singapore is mainly urban areas there are
some wonderful zoos and the polite people of the country and their
peaceful attitude make it a place I may return to. Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve houses the country's primary rainforest within its boundaries.
I enjoy more adventure and Sungei Buluh Nature Park is one of the
better spots I found for trekking.
Ireland
 New
Guides to Travel in Ireland
Because of my love for literature and beer I have always loved visiting
Ireland and found it to be safe and friendly. The small siaze of
the green island is perfect for a caravan travel or a biking tour
of Ireland and I've done them both. The country is rich with history
and folklore and while it may not be the warmest spot I've ever
camped in the evenings with the locals around the fire will always
be remebered. I prefer to go in the warmest months of Summer when
I travel to Ireland.
Austria
 New
Guides to Travel in Austria
I have to admit that when I am going to Austria, no matter what
time of year, I've even spent my winter vacation in snowy Austria
and there is not many places that can match the beauty of this place.
Definately a safe place to visit, Austria has bi far some of the
most incredulous and sometimes over-blown architecture anywhere
in Europe, it is royal and almost over the top! The awe inspring
Alps are perfect for my ski trips and when I'm visiting in summer
I can't help see a fioeld of flowers against a backdrop of snow
covered mountains and want to sing The Sound of Music. The rich
heritage of music including Mozart is literally breathing in the
streets of Vienna and the heritage of buildings mized with the friendly
people make this one of my favorite travel destinations.
Canada
New
Guides to Travel in Canada
Because I am actually born and raised in Canada I have a certain
love of the country. Having travelled throughout the North-West
Territories, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Nunavut I have come
to know and love the country as one of the safest places to visit
and live in the World. The natural beauty of this huge country are
unmatched with mountains, oceans, praries, huge forests and some
of the friendliest people anywhere. The rich multi-cultural heritage
means that the variety of festivals, events and opportunities to
enjoy the natural parks and camping and canoes in Canada are why
it is one of the largest playgrounds on Earth.
Sweden
 New
Guides to Travel in Sweden
My visit to Sweden was one of the most memorable European vacations
destinations I have ever shared. I was captivated by the west coast
city of Gothenburg with the haunting and intoxicating maritime sights
and sounds and scrumptious Michelin Star rated restaurants! Of an
North American tourist I just had to do a cosmopolitan activity
like visit Sweden’s largest amusement park in Liseberg. Stockholm,
Sweden's capital and thoroughly magical city, is built on 14 islands
that are crisscrossed by a series of bridges. One bridge took me
to the trendy Södermalm island, with a rich live music scene and
hip night clubs for the almost too-trendy residents! But for those
inclined on traditional and classical fare Sweden has a rich mixture
of medieval and modern architecture and because of the Northern
latitudes the summers are short and bright and the winters are crisp
and perfect for skiing. I particularly loved Stockholm, Gothenburg
and Malmö with their historical sites and lovely parklands.
Netherlands
 New
Guides to Travel in The Netherlands
The Netherlands are one of the safest places for
a vacation and while I had heard stories mainly revolving around
some of the cliches of windmills and Amsetrdam with her decadent
lifestyle I stayed off the beaten track and found a beautiful country
of incredibly pristine sandy beaches, peaceful meandering canals,
windmills (naturally) and found that most of the country was relatively
untouched by the International tourism footprint! Amsterdam on the
other hand was overwhelming for me with this city being the major
tourist destination with curiosity seekers who come to savour the
sin and sensuality of this cosmopolitan city. The Netherlands is
mainly flat land and was perfect for biking and trekking, which
are an integral part of the national spirit of the Netherlands.
My favorite cities in Holland were Den Haag, Utrecht and Limburg
but I most enjoyed the camping in the secluded wilderness of the
backpackers paradise available in the Netherlands.
Czech
Republic
 New
Guides to Travel to The Czech Republic
The oppulance of the Czech country is simply mesmerizing and being
one of the safest countries in Europe (and one of the least expensive)
makes me recommended this as a vacation destination. Beyond Prague
the central Bohemian landscape awaits and an incredibly large recreation
tract fills the southern region of Prague along the Vltava and Sázava
rivers. As a backpacker in Czech I found I wasn't alone and met
other hikers and canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. In the Southern
Bohemia region the castles, chateaux and crystal clear lakes took
me back through time and the nature of southern forests in Bohemia
is extremely diverse. Awesome peat-bogs surrounded with lush forests
and rolling green meadows,lead and run along the harsher mountain
landscapes in this sweet region nearly untouched by modern civilization.
I loved Šumava, which is known as the “green roof“ of Europe and
features wooded mountain range along the south-western border of
the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. Huge parts of this region,
including the peat-bogs, glacial lakes and the remnants of primeval
forests, were proclaimed the National park of Šumava.
Tahiti/Polnesia
 New
Guide to Travel in Tahiti & Polynesia
The beauty of the Tahitian Islands is unmatched and I can still
see the thatched-roof bungalows we slept in that were perched above
the deep turquoise lagoon waters. One of my safest travel destinations,
especially when I travelled alone exploring the deep lagoons filled
with tropical fish made this one of the best solo snorkling vacation
trips I have ever gone on. I have seen no better way to find a sense
of everyday Tahitian life and experience the culture of French Polynesia,
than when I was passing through the small villages on a circle-island
tour of the region. My trip started with a flight from New York
and I flew to Tahiti to explore the incredible chain of five archipelagos
with 118 islands scattered like diamond jewels over an area the
size of Europe.
I safely travelled five archipelagoes: - the Society Islands, -
the Tuamotu atolls - the Austral Islands, - the Marquesas Islands,
and the Gambier Islands. It is a natural delight for campers and
explorers and I met many single travellers who were seeking an adventure
in the warm seas. Being a woman of culture and knowing many languages
I was nonplusses that the common language is French in these Tahitian
islands. Papeete was my first stop and is the capital of Tahiti,
the largest island, nicknamed 'the island of love'. It was my first
arrival port because of the international airport of Tahiti-Faa'a
which is where my plane landed. Moorea is the sister island, some
17kms north west of Papeete. Here the tranquil waters of Cooks Bay
and Opunohu Bay lap at its majestic volcanic peaks which thrust
into the sky.
Bora Bora is 240kms north west of Tahiti in the Society Islands,
as is Huahine Island, which comprises two islands joined by a narrow
isthmus and enclosed by a protective necklace of coral. This was
one of my most memorable vacations and the peacful demeanor of the
residents and sheer openess of the islands made me fee completely
safe which is why it is listed as one of my all time favorite tropical
vacations and among the safest destinations I've ever travelled.
Germany
 New
Guidee to Travel in Germany
My first German vacation was more as a journalist visting the fall
of the Berlin Wall in '89 and so that doesn't officially count as
a single girl travelling in Germany. It was in 2003 that I decided
to return to Germany and while many friends in travel forums talked
about safety for a woman in Germany I decided that my training and
self confidence made it possible to take the train throughout the
country with no distractions and I really enjoyed the country on my
vacation in Germany.I started my last travel adventure in Hamburg
which is Germany's second-largest city. Its superbe merchants' houses
and incredible promenades, international musicals, modern shopping
malls and St. Pauli district give Hamburg a truly cosmopolitan feel.
A whisp of the exotic clings to the warehouse district and the city's
trademark canals. With its many glorious parks and gardens, Hamburg
is also known as Germany's greenest city. I spent many hourse enjoying
the fine shops and restaurants and music halls and was never far from
a old fashioned beer hall where traditional costumes decorated the
delicious German nightlife. Hamburg has more than 50 museums offering
an informative, fun and educational experience, from the Museum of
Art and Craft to special exhibitions in the Bucerius Art Forum to
the miniature railway wonderland in the warehouse district. From Ernst
Barlach House to the Hamburg Dungeon, there is no limit to art in
Hamburg.
My favorite memories are the rolling foothills of the Alps in southwestern
Germany near the Swiss Austrian border. Many of the old-school border
guards have disappeared due to the European Union and the greenery
caused swelling tears in my eyes as I recalled my visit to the state
watching the downfall of Communism. A safe and enjoyable country,
Germany has captured my heart many times since my first visit.
Coming soon:
Safe Travel in Japan | Safe Travel in Liechtenstein | Safe Travel
in Monaco | Safe Travel in Hungary | Safe Travel in New Zealand |
Safe Travel in Norway | Safe Travel in Finland | Safe Travel in Samoa
| Safe Travel in Switzerland | Safe Travel in Thailand
© 2007 - 2010 SafeDestinations.com
|
