Safest Places to Travel Safest Places to Travel

We’ve got the urge to travel! After all we’ve been through these past few years with Covid risks and restrictions, it’s no surprise many are yearning for a stress-free adventure. That starts with picking a destination that is safe and relaxing. Read on for some data-driven safe travel picks for 2023.

First off, how can one determine a country or city is a safe travel destination? While certainly there are no guarantees, according to experts, the spot should have a stable political climate, low crime activity, ample and available medical facilities, and no travel advisories or warnings. So what countries fall into these guidelines? According to the Global Peace Index, the top peaceful spots in 2022 included: Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Singapore, and Japan. Why does Iceland get the top spot? For starters, it has no standing military. Crime is extremely low. The ideals of equality and democracy are embraced. Oh, and there are no dangerous animals to worry about (that’s right, no bears, snakes, poisonous spiders…not even ticks or mosquitoes!).

Iceland also ranks on Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s Safest Places to Travel in 2023 list, coming in third. Here are their recommended top 15 safest countries: the Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Australia, Norway, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Spain, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. Here, the top spot goes to the Netherlands, which boasts relatively low crime, low incarceration rates (prisons here are actually closing), and low poverty. The list is comprised from data from the aforementioned Global Peace Index, the State Department’s travel safety ratings, and the GeoSure Global score, an app that measures one’s “vulnerability in real time, for anyone traveling domestically or abroad” on a scale of 1 to 100. These resources supply information about current weather conditions, terrorism threats, and ongoing health emergencies, such as Covid. In addition, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection surveys travelers asking about their experiences over the past five years. Their safest cities recommended for the year ahead include Reykjavik (hello again, Iceland), Copenhagen, Montreal, Amsterdam, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Sydney, Barcelona, Honolulu, Rome, Dubai, and Paris. So if you’re looking for a safe destination for you and your family, Northern Europe or Southeast Asia may be a good bet. Want to stay closer to home? Check out Montreal, Canada, or Honolulu, Hawaii, which both rank very high on well-researched safety measures. Happy travels!

Ful

Thai Chicken Tacos

INGREDIENTS

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into ½-inch strips

¼ cup fresh lime juice

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 shallot, sliced

1 tbsp fish sauce

3 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce, divided

1 tbsp grapeseed or canola oil

5 tbsp Maggi® Sweet Chili Sauce

Directions

¼ cup chunky peanut butter

2 tbsp rice vinegar

8 corn tortillas, warmed

2 cups shredded cabbage

2 radishes, thinly sliced

16 sprigs cilantro

2 limes, quartered

Combine chicken, lime juice, garlic, shallot, fish sauce and 2 teaspoons soy sauce in a resealable plastic bag. Seal bag; press with fingers to distribute marinade.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Using tongs, transfer chicken and shallot to skillet. Discard marinade. Cook chicken, turning frequently, for about 10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked and golden brown.

Combine sweet chili sauce, peanut butter, rice vinegar and remaining teaspoon soy sauce in small bowl; whisk until thoroughly mixed. Place 2 to 3 pieces of chicken on each warm tortilla. Top with peanut sauce, cabbage, radishes and cilantro. Squeeze lime juice over tacos. GoodNes.com

Southeast Valley Cities Neighborhood Activity Report

Market Update Month Over Month:

TheMarket statistics for March vs. February are very encouraging. First, the Median Sale Price went up and the Days on Market went down significantly in Gilbert, as well being less in all the Southeast Valley cities. Second, mortgage rates have decreased for 4 weeks in a row (as of 4/11/23). This has brought buyers back into the market. Therefore, based on all the statistics including inventories still being well below normal rates with less than a 2 month absorption rate, we are still in a Seller’s market. But it is also getting easier for Buyer’s to purchase. We are into a normal Spring market. This is the time of year that we see the most listing activity and the most sales activity from March – June.

Let me know if you’d like to learn more about your options for either buying or selling a home this Spring.

**Note the stats below are for year over year for March. The interest rate was still below 5% for 2022.

Do you have questions about your specific situation?

Contact me today to discuss all your options in today’s market.

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