I want to take my wife and 2 daughters on a tropical trip to a VERY SAFE place. Daughters are 17 and 21 so not kids, but Bora Bora probably too laid back. I guess a pristine beach/lagoon setting for snorkling, sunbathing water activities, shopping (and a casino would be a plus). Anything here a slam dunk? Thanks!

Costa Rica? I was there years ago and never felt unsafe once I got outside of the main city (and the big city felt unsafe only because I wasn't used to a big city) and the rainforests were absolutely gorgeous. We didn't go to the beaches, but I've heard they're fantastic.

Not exactly tropical, but gorgeous beaches and rain/cloud forests and utterly safe would be Australia (Cairns and the area between there and Sydney) and New Zealand.


Many places are perfectly fine for safety if you do your research and use common sense. Your daughters are old enough to be trusted to use their heads (depending on their personalities of course).

Hawaii Islands seem to meet all your criteria.

I've traveled solo and many times to Puerto Vallarta, also Cabo San Lucas and La Paz Mexico. To Negril Jamaica. To Waikiki/Honolulu Hawaii. I've never had any issues of 'safety' in any of those places. I think Hawaii would be considered the most "VERY SAFE".

Safe from what?

Anytime people go to the ocean there is a certain amount of danger. Rip tides, drownings, falling on wet rocks hitting one's head.

Australia? Read Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country. There are more poisonious things in Austrilia than any other place on earth.

Here in nice safe San Diego a cliff gave way while someone was on it.

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, sharks. Staying home isn't much safer no matter where you live.

Pick the destination you want to go to and then educate yourself on the dangers.

There used to be a poster here on Fodor's who would put out warnings about HI when tourist season started. Actually, the state of HI is very good about putting this information.

Enjoy your vacation.

Good point LSky. I jumped to the assumption they were referring to safety against crime in certain destinations. The ocean can be a dangerous place. Hawaii does do a good job of alerting people about places it is not safe to be in the water.

Hawaii and Virgin Islands for beach with low crime. However, the driving in VI was dangerous. Also Costa Rica, but I haven't been to the beaches there.

I've heard that Negril, Jamaica has one of the more beautiful beaches in the world. I would definitely check that location out. It has all the accommodations of a tourist resort but also has a lot of local culture to explore.

_____________________

Dampier~ Have you been to Negril yourself (since you use the phrase "i've heard").

While it's true the 7-mile beach is gorgeous, it is not a place I would send this family since they want a "VERY SAFE" location. I was there for 10 days this past July.

Yes Negril does have a beautiful beach but it is quite rustic, and a little "rough around the edges" and known for a liberal attitude towards the ganja. There is also no shopping to speak of or casino.

I love Negril and suggest it often, but I don't think it fits this post at all. sincerely, suze

that's funny, suze, I thought the OP was talking about crime as well......

It all depends on one's level of paranoia, be it dangerous humans, marauding animals, or natural disasters!

Well "very safe" is a fairly ambiguous term and could be interpretted a few different ways.

Whether they meant personal safety (muggings, robberies), crimes of possessions (breaking into rental cars, pickpockets), or the possibility for injury (drowning in the ocean, accidents while parasailing, etc.), who knows?

you should be safe if you take care.

I suggest Grand Cayman. There are no safety issues I'm aware of and the locals aren't pushy. There is snorkeling opportunities around the reefs on the West side and the beach on the North side is calm as can be, with more amenities. Shopping is available where the cruise ships dock, but I don't think they have any casinos.


Mike....

Thanks for the comments- my question regarding safety was personal safety (the unknown crime aspect about a certain destination). I fully understand the natural risks (waves, sharks, sea serpents asteroids, etc).

I agree, Cayman Islands