With virtually no natural disasters, an eerily law-abiding citizenry (its no-nonsense government practices tough love), and a security establishment that has aggressively battled terrorism threats, Singapore is about as safe as they come. The worst thing that might happen to you is sunstroke beneath the strong equatorial sun or maxing out your credit cards in the posh shops along Orchard Road.
U.S. State Dept Scoop: “Major crimes against tourists in Singapore are uncommon.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
This north Atlantic nation was hit harder by the economic crash than anywhere else on the planet. But that hasn’t turned the 300,000 Icelanders into diehard felons. Crime rates remain low across the board and the egalitarian, highly educated society dampens social problems that might otherwise fuel crime or unrest.
US State Dept Scoop: “Tourists should be aware that downtown Reykjavik can become especially disorderly in the early morning hours on weekends.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
With three of the top five cities (Bern, Geneva, Zurich) on the latest Mercer rankings of the world’s safest urban areas, it’s impossible to keep neat and tidy Switzerland off our list. Toss in the Alpine nation’s renowned neutrality and respect for authority, and the nastiest thing that’s likely to befall you is indigestion from too much fondue.
US State Dept Scoop: “Travelers may wish to exercise caution on . . . overnight trains to neighboring countries. Thieves, who steal from passengers while they sleep, can enter even locked sleeping compartments.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
The happiest place in Asia (according to one recent survey) is also one of the safest. What the homogenous Himalayan kingdom lacks in material wealth it more than compensates with strong Buddhist faith, family values and the economy fueled by Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than cash accumulation. Did anyone say Shangri-La?
US State Department Scoop: “Petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching, is occasionally reported.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
Mauritius and Seychelles are neck and neck when it comes to the lowest crime rates in Africa. But Mauritius has the advantage of being located much farther south in the Indian Ocean and thus far away from the piracy that plagues waters near the Seychelles. According to Interpol, overall crime in Mauritius is even lower than super law-abiding nations like Japan.
US State Dept Scoop: “All individuals should exercise caution on beaches and poorly lit or deserted areas at night.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
Kiwis are much more into harming themselves (via rugby or bungee jumping) than assaulting others. As a result, New Zealand boasts among the lowest violent crime rates in the Western world. The islands are too far south to attract tropical cyclones, too far north for Antarctic blizzards. The last fatal earthquake was 1968.
US State Dept Scoop: “The most prevalent crime is theft or attempted theft from cars, camper vans and hostels.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
A strong economy, family values, terrific education system—and two British military bases—help make this breezy eastern Mediterranean isle a haven of calm in the tumultuous Middle East.
US State Dept Scoop: “Avoid so-called ‘cabarets’ which sometimes . . . present foreign patrons with grossly inflated bar tabs, threatening those customers who refuse to pay.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
Are the Irish all talk and no action? That would seem to be the case given a recent World Health Organization study that found the Emerald Isle the least violent country in Europe.
US State Dept Scoop: “There have been several reported assaults in Dublin by small, unorganized gangs roaming the streets in the early morning hours after the pubs close.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
Proactive security, thousands of surveillance cameras and a government obsessed with economic and social stability counterbalance the fact that Dubai lies in the eye of the Middle East’s political hurricane. How secure is the little emirate? An increasing number of the rich and powerful from all around the region, as well as Russia and Central Asia, are purchasing homes in Dubai as insurance against chaos in their own lands.
US State Dept Scoop: Travelers are advised “to take normal precautions against theft, such as not leaving a wallet, purse, or credit card unattended.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts
Too far south for hurricanes, the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are also blessed by low crime rates and peaceful polyglot populations comprising residents from all over the world.
US State Dept Scoop: “Car theft, especially of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur.”
SEE ALSO: Travel Taboos, Do's and Don'ts