For Tunisia, the attack at Bardo Museum in Tunis has made most tourists skeptical and even paranoid about visiting. This notion has overshadowed the fact that it is one of the very few countries to emerge from Arab springs as a democratic state.  Tunisia is easily one of the safest countries in Africa. It’s sometimes really easy to cast a dark shadow over a place or thing after one traumatic experience, and this is understandable. However, I urge you not to in this case.  I recommend that you visit the beautiful country of Tunisia and take plenty of pictures (post them here when you return!). 

If you’re being honest, one of the first things most Americans (non-Columbians in general) think about when it comes to Columbia is drug trafficking. Namely the work put in by one Pablo Escobar who wreaked havoc for many years throughout the country. While Columbia has not rid itself of the cocaine business, it’s unlikely that you will find yourself in the middle of a gun fight if you pay a visit. Many years ago I invested in a small television station in Medellin with an old friend. He was the one who traveled back and forth, mainly because his then wife was born and raised there and it was an opportunity for her to see family on a semiregular basis. Regardless of what crime statistics don’t or do say, our team never had an issues visiting and freely roaming through the town during the day or night.  They would even go into the hills where some locations were actually patrolled by men with guns, but no one made trouble for them at all (most likely because my team wasn’t looking for trouble. Usually the case no matter where you go!). 

Although I would consider Columbia one of the safest countries in south America, it isn't to undermine those who have had negative experiences.  To qualify what I mean, there have been a lot of instances of men being drugged and robbed, among other things.  While I sympathize with anyone who has ever fallen victim to crime while traveling, I will say that most of the time those who fall into these situations are in certain areas partaking in activities that greatly increase the chance of becoming a victim of crime. 

In the western world we’ve got a pretty skewed view, on average, of Iran. This is because of its name being tied to so many headlines involving the “middle east”.  However, Iran is hands down one of the safest countries in middle east.  A good friend of mine who spent more than 2 years living there had mostly good things to say about the country. From how friendly the locals were and good the food is. Being born and raised in Detroit he would often joke that he felt a million times safer walking through the streets of Tehran, Iran’s capital city. I recommend doing a little research yourself on the history of Iran to better understand what made it into the country we hear about today. One of my favorite places for historical content is Crash Course (watch a brief, yet thorough, history of Iran). 

Kosovo's tourism sector has suffered greatly since the Kosovo war era. Even though that was many years ago, people still avoid Kosovo, especially Prishtina and its surrounding areas. Actually, Kosovo is one of those areas with a fantastic night life and lots of attractions and things to do. The culture is rich and the food is even better.  It doesn't take long to understand that Kosovo is one of the safest countries in Europe.  Definitely a sweet destination to add to your bucket list! 

The Philippines is known for high crime rates in areas such as the Southern Islands due to violent clashes with Muslim separatists.  However, compared to the more northern parts the situation is drastically different. Areas like Batanes are so peaceful that the police are mostly idle with little to do but keep watch.  To be clear, though, the southern portions are safe to visit as well.  Like with any destination, do your research ahead of time to better understand the situation and what to expect. In this way you will be more than prepared and your expectations will be aligned with reality and not fear.  The Philippines is one of the safest countries in Asia, full of beautiful scenery and people, definitely a place worth visiting.  Lastly, it's also known as one of the safest countries for women.

Having visited Mexico on multiple occasions and in different cities throughout the country, I can say that it is safe for the most part. I have personally never felt as though I was in danger or anything close. I should let the reader know that I mostly avoid resorts, so all of my experiences are on the ground with the actual people who live there. No different from any other country or place, Mexico has its good and bad. For your sake you want to be vigilant and avoid placing yourself in situations that may lead to something problematic. On a personal note, I’d be much more reluctant to travel through New York, LA, or Atlanta at night than I would most cities in Mexico. Lastly, I would like to leave you with an interesting statistic. Mexico city operates with a citizen-to-police ratio of 100:1 and this is VERY good if you didn’t know, among the best ratios in the world, in fact.  Despite some very unfortunate stories related to Mexico, it's easily among the safest countries in central America, and I encourage everyone to visit!