Latest news with #travelsafety
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
How To Find A Safe Neighborhood For Your Next Vacation Rental
Hanging baskets on tradional New Orleans building on Royal Street in the French Quarter. When Ashley Hampton traveled to New Orleans recently, she worried about security. "I wanted to make sure I stayed in a safe part of town," she says. She's not alone. A recent survey by Global Rescue revealed that petty crime and personal safety threats ranked number two on the list of traveler concerns for 2025, eclipsed only by geopolitical instability. (In third place were economic instability or rising travel costs.) But for travelers like Hampton, there's another issue, and it's front and center this summer: How do I know if my next vacation rental is in a safe neighborhood? "Safety is the top concern of travelers as we head into the summer travel season," says Michael Trampas, the executive vice president of business development and marketing at Rentyl Resorts. He says numerous surveys show guests are worried that they might find themselves in a rental in the wrong neighborhood, and they want to avoid that. There are tried-and-true strategies, a few resources unknown to most travelers, and a checklist of things you'll always want to do before renting a home. Actually, crime in vacation rentals is a complicated topic. It turns out that vacation rental guests aren't the only ones who should be concerned with this problem. Owners should, too. Some guests also use their rentals to commit crimes, including stealing from their hosts, also known as burglary tourism. So before we get into it, a quick acknowledgment that some rental guests are far from perfect. So how to stay safe? Hampton, a psychologist from Birmingham, Ala., planned a short visit to New Orleans. "I knew I was relying on public transportation, walking, or an Uber," she says. She used one of the most reliable methods in the book: a careful internet search. "I searched for the local police station and then googled the name of that station with the search term 'crime statistics,' looking for specific overlap with the street names near where I was staying," she recalls. "The information I found was related to petty theft, like pickpocketing and breaking into cars, so I felt reasonably safe an Uber ride door to door would be OK." That's the right call, says Christopher Falvey, co-founder of Unique NOLA Tours, a New Orleans tour operator. "If you're going to research crime statistics, always ask yourself: Are these crimes against visitors and regular people — or crimes between people who know each other," he says. "This is not something you'll ever see listed, but it can be inferred. He says there are neighborhoods in New Orleans that some consider "unsafe" based on statistics, "but I can tell you for sure that a random person with no link to the neighborhood will not be bothered at all," he adds. And Hampton was right. Her trip went off without a hitch. Actually, you can learn a lot about your rental by reading the listing. "Checking the rating of an accommodation in advance is a good practice," says Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection. He's right. I practically live in vacation rentals, so I have a lot of practice with reading between the lines on user reviews. For example, I rented an apartment in Athens from Vrbo a few years ago. The user reviews described it as being in an "eclectic" neighborhood. That should have been a red flag. It turns out the vacation rental was in a run-down and dangerous part of town. Fortunately, the owner offered a full refund after I refused to stay in the place. Other warning words include "vibrant," especially if it's a reference to nightlife. That can sometimes mean trouble. And finally, when guests admiringly describe the home's security features, like upgraded locks, security cameras, and private security, you have to ask yourself, "Why is that even necessary?" Point is, you can sometimes figure out if a vacation rental is dangerous by carefully reading the reviews. But there are other resources. Here are a few sites for finding safety information about your neighborhood. AreaVibes, a real estate site, has some crime data that will answer big questions, like, "Is this area safe?" But it lacks the street-level detail some travelers might want when looking at a vacation rental. You can also find general crime statistics on other real estate sites like Zillow or Redfin. Niche, an education site, also offers crime data. The statistics are easy to find and can provide a broad overview of a city's crime statistics. Numbeo is a platform that lets you compare information about crime levels worldwide. It also surveys users on their sentiments about crime, which can offer some guidance if you're concerned about safety. The Trace, a journalism site about gun violence, publishes an atlas of gun violence that allows you to drill down to an address level to find out if there's been a shooting at your rental address. World Travel Index is a travel-planning tool, but has rich data on crime and answers simple questions like, "Are scams a problem in New York." You can check specific neighborhoods and addresses for crime, including vacation rentals. It also identifies the safest neighborhoods with the help of an AI tool. Tom Abraham, founder of World Travel Index, told me the problem is that there just aren't any reliable resources on crime at a local level — at least the kind that would be useful to a traveler. That's where AI can be a useful tool, culling other resources such as forums and social media to find useful information. In fact, AI may be able to answer any questions you have about crime in your vacation rental's neighborhood far more eloquently than a database you could find online. There are other resources, but they require a subscription. John Rose, the chief risk officer at Altour, a global corporate travel management company, recommends Crisis 24, Exlog Global and International SOS. "They offer current, fact-based intelligence on local crime trends, health advisories, and other security concerns so you can make informed decisions about where to stay," he says. You can check your vacation rental's ratings and study the neighborhood's crime statistics, but in the end, safety isn't about eliminating all risk. It's about being smart. That means checking to ensure your rental has basic security features, like lockable doors and windows, says Alex Foti, president of Bretton Woods Vacations, a management company with more than 130 properties in New Hampshire. (His rentals have them, of course.) "We haven't had a single crime-related issue while we host over 20,000 guests per year," he says. Technology is changing how vacation rental guests approach travel safety. AI, local crime databases, and user-generated content are giving travelers unprecedented insights into potential risks. But ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety. And the way to do that is to stay informed, trust your instincts, and do your homework before booking your next rental.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
'Happy go lucky' British traveller was found dead in Bangkok hotel room with her boyfriend after accidentally taking lethal cocktail of drugs, inquest finds
A 'happy-go-lucky' and 'caring' young British woman died while on holiday in Thailand after accidentally consuming a lethal cocktail of drugs, an inquest heard. Rebecca Turner, 36, died in a Bangkok hotel room after taking what she thought was a line of cocaine with her partner. But the white powder she thought was cocaine was actually a lethal combination of drugs including painkillers, sleeping pills, morphine and anxiety medication. Now her devastated mother has warned other travellers to stay away from street drugs while travelling in Thailand. Anita Turner, 64, from Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, said: 'It's so, so dangerous out there. There are loads of drug deaths all the time. It's shocking. 'I would warn people to stay away from recreational drugs out there because you simply don't know what's in it.' She condemned Thai police and said the drugs were bought from a street drug pusher just yards from police station on a road notorious for tourist deaths. 'There have been multiple deaths on that one road. Loads of people have died and yet the Thai police don't want to know.' 'I'm absolutely heartbroken. It's been devastating for the whole family. I wanted to warn people going out there not to buy drugs. It's too dangerous.' Rebecca had been travelling in Thailand to celebrate a friend's wedding in Laos in March last year. She and friend Sam Melnick, 32, a self-employed gas-engineer and plumber, had checked into the Khaosan Palace Hotel on March 12 and were due to check out on March 16 He had texted a friend on March 15 saying he had just bought some cocaine, Mrs Turner said. An inquest into Rebecca's death heard the couple had planned to check out on March 16 but at midday a friend called the hotel to say Rebecca was missing. Hotel staff made several calls to the hotel room but received no answer so, as the guests were overdue for checking out, staff went to the room and used a key card to gain entry. On entry they discovered Rebecca lying dead on her left side on the floor near the bathroom while Sam was lying dead on the bed. The inquest at East Sussex Coroners' Court in Lewes, was told a clear plastic ziplock bag was found containing white powder, White powder was also found spread on the sink and a bank note was found rolled up on the sink. The drug was ultimately found to be heroin. Rebecca's body was flown back to the UK and an autopsy was carried out. The pathologist carried out toxicology tests and found evidence of multiple drugs in her system including morphine, monoacetylmorphine, noscapine, diazepam, codeine and trazodone. The hearing was told Rebecca had a history of drug and alcohol misuse, depression and anxiety. But the 36-year-old, who had previously spent four years in Laos and described it as her second home, was looking forward to her travelling and was due to meet up with friends. Coroner Laura Bradford ruled out suicide despite Rebecca's history of depression and mental health problems. Giving a conclusion of drug-related death, she extended her sympathies to the family. Afterwards her mother, Anita, said she had visited Thailand three times since her daughter's death last year in a desperate attempt to uncover what actually happened. She plans to go back again in June to help provide assistance for children in schools in Bangkok which was a cause close to her daughter's heart. She said: 'I want to go back and help the schools for the sake of Rebecca, to raise funds and equipment for them. It was something Rebecca really wanted to help with so I'm doing it for her as well. 'But most of all I just want to say: 'Please don't do drugs out there'. It's so dangerous and you don't know what is in it. It's just not worth it. 'Rebecca was a lovely, caring person. She was happy go lucky really and we loved her. We are absolutely heartbroken.' Last year, six tourists - including a British lawyer - died in Laos after drinking vodka laced with deadly methanol. Trainee solicitor Simone White, 28, was among five young women and one man who consumed vodka at the £6-a-night Nana Backpacker Hostel. Just 4ml of methanol, a common by-product of home-brewed alcohol which is sometimes added to bootleg drinks to make them stronger, can be lethal. All six people died despite receiving medical treatment. A further dozen needed hospital treatment but survived.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Methanol poisoning: Why travellers are at risk, and how to reduce the dangers
The government must do more to heighten awareness of the risk of methanol poisoning while abroad: that is the message from family and friends of British victims who consumed drinks spiked with the deadly substance. Six backpackers died in Laos in November 2024 after drinking free shots of spirits tainted with methanol at a hostel in Vang Vienna in Laos. Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from London, lost her life along with two Australians, two Danes and an American. Her travelling companion, Bethany Clarke, is campaigning for greater awareness of the dangers. In July 2022, Kirsty McKie, 38, was working as a ceramicist in Bali when she died after drinking liquor contaminated with methanol. 'Kirsty drank a moderate amount and the results were catastrophic,' says her mother, Margaret McKie. After the inquest in Manchester into her death, the coroner said: "There was little publicity by the UK government of the risk in contrast to the approach taken by the Australian government who had undertaken a campaign to increase awareness to protect their citizens travelling in areas of Asia such as Bali.' Besides these tragedies, in recent years deaths from methanol poisoning have also been reported in other countries including Fiji, India, South Africa and Turkey. The Foreign Office says it will 'will explore more ways to inform British travellers about the risks of methanol'. These are the key questions and answers. What is methanol – and why is it so dangerous? Methanol is a chemically simple form of alcohol, also known as wood spirit or methyl alcohol. Its uses are mainly industrial, such as a fuel and a solvent for paint and plastic. The substance is highly toxic and definitely not for human consumption: if ingested, methanol is processed in the body and becomes formic acid, which attacks the system. The UK Health Security Agency says it causes 'coma, convulsions, blindness, nervous system damage and death'. Just 25ml of methanol – about five teaspoons – can prove fatal. Why would anyone add methanol to drinks? Bluntly, to make money. 'Organised crime regularly doctors drinks,' says Jim Dickson MP, who is working with the families and friends of victims to raise awareness of the risks. Adding methanol boosts the alcohol content, and because it has only a very faint smell and is tasteless you would not know that your drink is contaminated. The Methanol Institute, the worldwide trade association for producers, says: 'Methanol is often deliberately and illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol (normal alcohol that can be consumed) in countries where taxes on legitimate alcohol or the cost of legitimate alcohol might be perceived as too high.' The institute likens methanol spiking to adding petrol to a drink. Poisoning can also happen with home-made alcohol that isn't brewed properly, producing methanol instead of ethanol. What are the symptoms? Beverley Tompkins, travel health nurse for Nomad Travel has written an excellent blog on the dangers of methanol, which says: 'The first signs of poisoning include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, tiredness, confusion and dizziness. 'Further symptoms appear 12-48 hours later and can include headaches, blurry vision, trouble looking at bright lights, tunnel vision or seeing static – like that on an old TV screen – or complete blindness, seizures and coma.' Ms Tompkins says any one of these symptoms is 'a red flag that this is not normal alcohol poisoning'. Urgent hospital medical care must be sought immediately. Treatment includes ethanol ('ordinary' alcohol), a drug called Fomepizole – which stops the methanol turning into formic acid – and dialysis to flush out the system. Where are the biggest risks? The Foreign Office includes information about the risks from methanol poisoning in travel advice pages for five South East Asian nations – Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia – as well as Costa Rica, Fiji and Turkey. The Australian government widens the danger area, saying methanol poisoning 'can be a risk in popular destinations in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe'. What should travellers look out for before drinking? Any situation in which a drink could have been tainted with methanol – or drugs, for that matter. For example, a bar in which shots are poured from open bottles. The Foreign Office warns: 'Say no to drinks from strangers. 'Go to reputable venues. Stick to places with a decent reputation – shady bars aren't worth the risk.' In a relaxed backpacker environment such as a hostel, it is easy to see how travellers could be lulled into a false sense of security. But the dangers extend far beyond the backpacker circuit. Campaigners point out that in Bali, methanol poisoning has been known to affect guests at beach clubs and five-star hotels. 'Drinking at reputable establishments reduces the risk of methanol poisoning, but doesn't eliminate it,' says the Australian government. It urges caution if offered 'unusually cheap or discounted brand-name alcohol'. Margaret McKie, mother of Kirsty McKie, says: 'Kirsty had lived and worked in Bali for years and was well informed about the dangers of methanol. She and her fiance purchased alcohol from a supposedly reputable source that supplied high-end hotels and restaurants.' The Foreign Office minister Catherine West add: 'What is in bottles in supermarkets, in some cases, will not be what is described on the label.' What is the best policy for travellers? If you are in a bar, only consume drinks you can watch being opened and poured. The ideal is canned or bottled beer – in a tropical environment the more fluid the better, too. 'Steer clear, drink beer' is a valuable mantra. If you are buying for consumption in your hostel or hotel, go for a reputable retailer. Avoid anything that could be home brew, and beware of drinks that are significantly cheaper than the market average. The UK government says: 'Check your bottles. Seals should be intact, and labels should look legit (no misspellings or dodgy print).' But campaigners say: 'Branded bottles are often refilled with (home-brewed) alcohol.' Be aware of the initial symptoms of methanol poisoning, including nausea, abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and confusion, so you can help others deal with what is a serious medical emergency.
