Solo Travel
Safety Guide
WHERE TO GO AND EXPERT ADVICE FOR TRIPS ALONE
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ABOUT THE GUIDE
Produced by travel website TakeMoreTrips.com, the 'Solo Travel Safety Guide' offers independent adventurers a guide to where to go and how to stay safe around the world.
This report explores an overview of the safest, riskiest, most peaceful and hostile countries. It also provides helpful tips for solo travel from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Data has been sourced from the Gallup Global Law and Order Report, Global Peace Index 2018 and guidelines from the FCO.
THE MAP
This map shows the safest and riskiest destinations for solo travel around the world, based on the population of that country's feeling of safety and security.
NOTE: Values based on the Law and Order Index Score for each country. Data from Gallup World Polls, the 2018 Global Law and Order Report.
THE RESEARCH
Gallup asked residents of 142 countries questions about how safe they feel walking alone at night, their confidence with local police, whether they had been assaulted or mugged and more.
They compiled “positive” responses to four questions into a Law and Order Index score for each country. The higher the score, the higher the proportion of the population that reports feeling safe.
WORLD MAP: LAW AND ORDER INDEX SCORE PER COUNTRY
TOP 10 SAFEST
COUNTRIES FOR SOLO TRAVEL
1. Singapore - 97
2. Norway - 93
3. Iceland - 93
4. Finland - 93
5. Uzbekistan - 91
6. Hong Kong - 91
7. Switzerland - 90
8. Canada - 90
9. Indonesia - 89
10. Denmark - 88
Starting with the safest country (Singapore) with Law and Order Index score from Gallup. The higher the score, the greater proportion of the population reports feeling safe.
Data source: Gallup Law and Order Report 2018 & Global Peace Index 2018
SINGAPORE A SAFE PLACE FOR SOLO TRAVEL
With high feelings of safety and security from residents, this island city-sate off southern Malaysia is ideal for solo adventure.
Singapore scored highest in the Law and Order Index with a score of 97.
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WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
In most economically developed countries with strong rule of law, high majorities of residents say they feel safe walking alone in their areas at night, meaning you will probably feel the same (Gallup).
This response is nearly universal in Singapore at 94% and tops 80% in many Western European countries.
The Global Peace Index also revealed Europe as the most peaceful region in the world, a position it has held since the inception of the index.
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5 MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRIES TO VISIT
Produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the Global Peace Index (GPI) is the world's leading measure of global peacefulness.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008.
According to the GPI 2018 Report, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal and Denmark also sit in the top five most peaceful rankings.
The most peaceful countries for safety and security levels include: Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Singapore and New Zealand (from most to least peaceful)
These five countries also scored highest in the Gallup report for measures of societal safety.
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TOP 10 RISKIEST
COUNTRIES FOR SOLO TRAVEL
1. Venezuela - 44
2. Afghanistan - 45
3. South Sudan - 54
4. Gabon - 55
5. Liberia - 56
6. South Africa - 58
7. Mexico - 58
8. Dominican Republic - 60
9. Botswana - 61
10. Sierra Leone - 61
Starting with the riskiest country (Venezuela) with Law and Order Index score from Gallup. The lower the score, the lesser proportion of the population reports feeling safe.
Data source: Gallup Law and Order Report 2018 & Global Peace Index 2018
VENEZUELA: A RISKY PLACE
FOR TRAVEL
If you are thinking about going to Venezuela, exercise a high degree of caution.
Venezuela’s scored worst on the Law and Order Index, reflecting a country still in crisis:
Just 17% of residents said they felt safe walking alone at night where they live, and 24% expressed confidence in their police.
At the same time, more Venezuelans (42%) reported having had property or money stolen in the past year.
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ADVICE FOR VENEZUELA TRAVEL
As of December 2018, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all travel within 80 km of the Colombian border and 40 km of the Brazilian border. This is due to drug traffickers and illegal armed groups that are active along the border with Colombia and Brazil and a risk of kidnapping.
The FCO advises against all but essential travel to remaining areas of Venezuela due to unrest, instability and ongoing crime (gov.uk).
WHERE RESIDENTS REPORTED
CRIME AND VULNERABILITY
If you are concerned about crime, be careful travelling to Afghanistan, Uganda and South Sudan.
These were the only three countries were residents were considerably more likely than Venezuelans to say they had been the victims of theft in the past year.
Among the 10 countries in which residents are least likely to say they feel safe walking alone at night, five are in Latin America and another four are in sub-Saharan Africa.
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5 LEAST PEACEFUL COUNTRIES
TO VISIT
According to the Global Peace Index 2018, Syria remains the least peaceful country in the world, a position it has held for the past five years.
Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq and Somalia comprise the remaining least peaceful countries.
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20 DESTINATIONS IN PHOTOS
Overview of the safest and riskiest places to travel
SOLO TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS
Solo travel can be exhilarating and rewarding. Find helpful safety tips from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to get the most out of your solo travels.
#1 FCO TRAVEL ADVICE
Check FCO travel advice for the country you're visiting, and sign up to get the latest updates in case anything changes ahead of and during your trip.
Encourage family back home to sign up for alerts too, so they can track any developments that might affect your travels. Make note of the contact details for the nearest British embassy or consulate.
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#3 TRAVEL INSURANCE
Wherever you're going in the world, don't forget to take out travel insurance.
Check the policy and ensure it covers all the activities you're planning to enjoy, such as extreme sports or water sports, as well as any preexisting medical conditions you may have.
If you're heading to Europe, pack your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) too.
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#5 PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER
Check with your service provider to make sure your phone works abroad. Consider leaving your phone's IMEI number with a friend or family member to help block or locate the phone if there's a problem.
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#7 DATING APPS
Dating apps can be a fun way to meet new people abroad. However, meeting someone you don't know can be dangerous, especially without friends nearby.
Make sure you're always cautious and only ever meet up in public places, never giving details of where you're staying.
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#9 LOCAL CUSTOMS
Check for any local customs in the areas you're visiting to ensure you respect and adhere to expected behaviour, and don't accidentally cause offence that could put a downer on your trip.
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#2 MEDICATION
Don't forget to pack any medication you need and keep it on you or in hand luggage in case hold baggage gets delayed or lost between airports.
Check the National Health Network and Centre and NHS Choices advice about travelling with medicines.
#4 ONGOING ILLNESSES
IF you have a chronic or ongoing illness, carry information about your condition on you so others can quickly work out how to help if you become too ill to communicate.
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#6 CONSERVATIVE COUNTRIES
If you're travelling alone in a socially conservative country, make sure you pack loose clothing that covers arms, legs and your chest to minimise hassle. Wearing a ring on your wedding finger can also help reduce unwanted attention.
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#8 PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION
Public displays of affection should be avoided in some countries, like Morocco. If you get swept up in a holiday romance, be mindful that your behaviour in public spaces might inadvertently cause offence.
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#10 LOCAL LAWS
Go the the Government's Foreign Travel Advice web pages to look up local laws for the country you're visiting. There may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home, so it's best to be in the know.
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