Travel plan idea blog

Actually, yes. We were planning a trip to Paris at the end of Novenber. However, after reading about the new wave of riots we have decided to change our destination. It doesn't look that dangerous to tourists but just to be sure we'll go when things have settled down again. As for St. Louis, I have been several times before and have never felt unsafe. Of course after the rankings I will be more wary.

if you'll read the morgue files of their local papers and compile your own statistics, you'll find that very little of the crimes on aruba get reported in their advertising, and official reports. i don't have a clue who's actually doctoring the figures, but it's being done, and it's been done for years and years. perfuming the pig. an aruban artform.
dennisintn

I've been planning to go again to Oaxaca, Mexico, this winter. But today the TV is filled with shots of rioting and gunfire in that most artistic and pleasant of Mexican cities. In an appalling irony, the news said the riots started in May. I've been planning my trip since May! I watch CNN, Fox, CNBC, and the networks, regularly. But today is the first time I've heard of the riots in Oaxaca. It's an excellent example of how little our broadcast press covers foreign news. Needless to say, my plans for Oaxaca are off for this year.

Cliff Morris
East Lansing

Sirs, Ref Aruba, we have been, safe, enjoyment, will go again, it got its bad name because the MEDIA would not letr go, underagev girl missing from sleazy bar, yet thousands still go safely to Mexico, despite U.S. Stae Dept saying dont go, Jamaica, thousands go safely although statistics say you are TEN times safer in Los Angeles. All cities of the world have DONT GO AREAS, simple dont go in that area. B.Shelton, safe area Detroit.

Sirs, Ref my previous not on Aruba, plus all other countries, many people do not realize that when in another country they are subject to U.S. law, also to the laws of the country they are insome can be serious, say, married person with 'friend"double room, adultary, under law of some countries they can be executed, jury, many do not have that system, so beware, study it before you break their, or the U.S. law.

That's the problem with numbers - who throws them into the computer is the problem. Honolulu is as safe as a night in a monastry yet hardly features. It seems to be only when locals bludgeon each other in drunken rages every Saturday night that a city gets 'recognized' in the ratings. And there's also the holiday shoppers' scam - Germans and Japanese in particular (citing Interpol reports), when a more than decent number of travellers file false robbery reports the minute they step off the plane back home hoping that their Rolex and Gucci purchases will be wiped from their credit cards... cities suddenly find themselves rated as dangerous. New York took a nasty beating every year in Japanese ratings of safe holiday destinations until Interpol reported that over 88% of all crimes reported by Japanese travellers had never happened - today it's the place to visit. The Germans gave Rio a nasty rep too yet they continued to flock to it in droves. The thing is that they knew what the numbers meant(I'm not saying that Rio is a safe city...).
When I travel I go as far as my money will take me and in proportion to the anticipated fun. Safety is only relavent to the the odds of getting into a misadventure while travelling. Bah hum bug...

I must agree with the other Aruba visitor, the island has been wildly misrepresented by the American Media. Compared to other places we have visited, it is one of the most pleasent and safeest we have ever seen. I personally have never been approached or offered drugs, nor hassled on the beach with people constantly trying to sell us things, as in other places.
I have even been to the very same bar and walked in that area and never found it a problem. and when we went, it was a nice place to have lunch, and that was all.

No, I have a timeshare in Aruba, went last Christmas and had a great time, good shopping, nice people, never worried and drove all around the island. Have been to Jamaica for years, its like my second home. Planning a trip to Egypt this summer. Bellydancers in America have been going for years and this is the 10th year of a huge dance festival Ahlan Wa Sahlan, which features Egyptian and American dance teachers. Living in the DC metro area, you just have to use your common sense. But there are many places in the world that despite crime are wonderful places that you just shouldn't miss. I went to Phoenix, AZ this summer in the middle of the sniper and rapist ordeal. Went to the Heard Museum of Native American art, took dance classes, ate in great restaurants and took a wonderful tour of the city and shopped. Never worried and everything and everyone I met was fine. You can't let news reports keep you from living your life. MiaNaja