Travel Safety Guides

I have traveled to more than 65 countries over 15 years, and the question I get most is not where to go. It’s “Is it safe?” This is where I answer it honestly. My travel safety guides come from my own trips, not recycled news headlines, and I update them when the U.S. State Department changes an advisory or something happens on the ground.

Every guide covers the current advisory level and what it means in real life, the neighborhoods I would book and the ones I would skip, common scams, getting around, and what I do as a woman traveling solo or with my girlfriends. I’ll also tell you the truth most safety articles won’t: a lot of travelers who get into trouble went looking for it. If you wouldn’t walk into a bad neighborhood at home to buy something you shouldn’t, don’t do it on vacation.

Is Mexico Safe? Start Here

Mexico is the country you ask me about most, so start with Is Mexico Safe to Travel Right Now for the state-by-state picture. Then go city by city: Is Cancun Safe, Is Tulum Safe, Is Isla Mujeres Safe, Is Cabo San Lucas Safe, Is Puerto Vallarta Safe, Is Mexico City Safe and Is Loreto Safe. Traveling alone? My list of the safest cities in Mexico for solo female travelers is where I would begin. Still deciding? Read my Mexico vs. Costa Rica guide.

Is the Caribbean and Latin America Safe?

For beach trips and adventure, read Is Costa Rica Safe, my guide to crime and safety in the Bahamas, and Is Quito Safe if Ecuador is next on your list.

Is Africa Safe to Visit?

Africa is where I spend a lot of my travel time, and South Africa is one of my favorite countries in the world. Read Is South Africa Safe first, then my city guides: Is Cape Town Safe, Is Johannesburg Safe and Is Durban Safe.

Is Europe, the Middle East or Asia Safe?

In Europe, start with Is Italy Safe and Is Palermo Safe, then Is Athens Safe, Is Prague Safe and Is Turkey Safe. Jordan is another favorite of mine, and Is Jordan Safe for Solo Female Travelers covers what it’s like on the ground right now. Heading to Thailand? Read Is Phuket Safe.

Travel Safety Tips Before You Fly

Some safety questions come up before you even leave the house. I cover whether flying is safe, what to do when someone asks you to switch seats, whether you can take edibles on a plane, flying with weed and cannabis travel laws by country. Visiting the U.S. from abroad? Read Is America Still Safe to Visit. For the habits I use on every single trip, start with my travel safety tips.

Get My Complete Travel Safety Guide

Want everything in one place? My Comprehensive Travel Safety Guide is the checklist I use before every trip, from booking to landing to getting home.

My approach is simple. Travel safety is about preparation, not fear. I want you to land knowing how to get out of the airport, which areas fit your style, and what to do if something goes wrong. Bookmark this page and check back before your next trip.