Travel advice: how to travel safely
You’ve got the travel bug, but you’re concerned about safety in your destination. Comparis explains how to travel with peace of mind.
23.11.2023
iStock/Physical Geography
1. In which countries is it safe to go on holiday?
Various organizations create risk maps to show how safe different countries are. These maps are a good starting point to plan a safe trip.
International SOS, for example, releases a travel risk map every year with information on safety, medical care and mental health. The American insurance company The Swiftest has examined the safety of the 50 most popular travel destinations. The result: the Travel Safety Index.
On the map, you can see how safe different countries are (as at November 2023). Various factors are taken into account in the calculation.
The map is a good starting point. However, it is partly based on older data. In addition, you should consult the travel guidelines of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Murder rate
WHO, Homicide – Estimates by country, 2019
Traffic fatalities
WHO, Estimated road traffic death rate (per 100,000 population), 2019
Unintentional poisoning
WHO, Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning (per 100,000 population), 2019
Deaths due to poor hygiene
Deaths due to disease
Our World in Data, Burden of disease, 2019
Deaths due to injury
Our World in Data, DALY rates from injuries, 2019
World Risk Index – Risk due to natural disasters
IFHV and Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft, World Risk Index, 2023
Peace index
Institute for Economics and Peace, Global Peace Index, 2023
Data has been weighted. Most data has the same amount of impact. Exceptions: natural disasters were given less weight. The peace index was weighted more strongly.
How safe your holiday is also depends on the type of trip. If you take an all-inclusive trip and mostly stay in the hotel, you are usually safe. If you like to travel to remote places, you need to be more mindful.
Example: the Dominican Republic is considered a popular but unsafe destination. One of the reasons is the high number of traffic fatalities. If you stay at the hotel during your holidays, the likelihood of a traffic accident is low.
2. Do I need a visa or certain vaccinations?
Whether you need a visa depends on the regulations of the country you are travelling to. Each country sets its own entry requirements. It is best to contact the embassy or consulate of your destination for more information.
Visa-free travel to EU countries
You don’t necessarily need a visa to travel to EU countries. Nevertheless, take your ID or your passport with you in case you have to identify yourself.
Which vaccines are recommended for your trip? You can check this here, for example:
In some countries in Africa and South America, yellow fever vaccination is mandatory or recommended for entry. These include, for example, Brazil and Kenya.
3. Where can I find up-to-date information on safe holiday destinations?
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has travel and safety information for all countries on its website. Here you can find out about the guidelines for your chosen travel destination. Possible travel warnings can also be found on the country pages.
You can find out whether the FDFA advises against travel in the travel advice section. The department distinguishes as follows:
Tourism and non-urgent travel is discouraged: the FDFA advises against such travel, and you should only enter with special precautions. These measures are set out in the travel advice for the country concerned.
All travel discouraged: if the FDFA considers the risk to be too high, it advises against all travel to a country. In some cases, Swiss people living in the country are also recommended to leave.
A brief overview of travel warnings can be found on the UK government foreign travel advice website. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides travel advice, safety guidelines and travel warnings:
Travel advice: travel advice includes information such as entry requirements and medical advice.
Safety guidelines: indicates special risks in the country. This may be a recommendation to limit or waive travel to the country.
Travel warnings: travel warnings are an appeal by the FCDO not to travel to a country or territory. This is for cases where there is an acute danger to life and limb.
4. Tips for safe holidays
We have a few tips for you to make your holiday even safer. These apply to every country you travel to.
It’s best to find out about your travel destination before you book. This will allow you to take all the necessary precautions. This also includes writing down the emergency numbers of the destination country or storing them in your mobile phone.
Find out about the necessary vaccinations in good time. Some vaccinations take six to eight weeks to take full effect.
Store your most important documents in an online safe. You can find digital safe deposit boxes at some banks, for example.
Take any medication you need with you and do not buy it locally. Counterfeit or expired medicines are in circulation in some countries and regions. Note: pay attention to the regulations for the import of medicines in your country of travel.
Share your travel plans with friends or relatives. Among other things, give them the contact details of your accommodation and copies of your travel documents. This way they know where to reach you in case of an emergency.
Register with Travel Admin. In emergencies such as natural disasters, the FDFA will provide you with the information you need.
In some countries, emergency medical treatment can be expensive. Sometimes you have to pay for your treatment directly. Basic insurance does not always cover all costs. If necessary, take out supplemental insurance.
Take out travel insurance. This way, you won’t lose all the money you paid if you don’t go on your trip, or if you need to end it early for any reason. Insurance will also help you get back home in an emergency.
Talk to locals, for example the receptionist at your hotel or the landlord of your holiday apartment. They can give you tips on the area and tell you which places to avoid.
Leave your valuables in the hotel safe. This means they can’t be stolen while you’re out and about.
If you are threatened, hand your valuables over to the criminals. Doing so may save your life. Sometimes it helps to have a little cash in your pocket to hand over in such situations.
Adapt to the rules and culture of your destination country. What is considered normal in Switzerland or your home country may be a criminal offence in some places. This includes, for example, same-sex acts.
Have a healthy distrust of people and listen to your gut. If you have a bad feeling, there’s usually something wrong.
Be careful with public Wi-Fi networks and USB charging stations. Unauthorized persons can access your data in this way.
You can find more information on safe travel in the brochure If you’re going on a trip... (brochure not available in English) and on the FDFA website.
This article was first published on 23.11.2023
