I don’t know if it was this post about a writer whose father died in a house rented on Airbnb that moved me and got me thinking â€" or if it was the terrorist attacks in Paris, or that bomb that downed a Russian jet, or the terrorist alert in Bali, but there’s no denying we live in frightening times where almost anything can happen anywhere to anyone of us.

And so as I spent the last weekend in Bangkok in a house rented on Airbnb, I found myself more conscious than ever of safety and security considerations.

Now I am usually the happy traveller, the one who tends to brush off concerns about risks on the road, but the world we live in today forces us to think differently if not for ourselves, then for our families and friends.

My niece is travelling to Paris and Europe in December. Her mother is concerned. I say she should go ahead and enjoy herself but be more aware of her surroundings and where she chooses to stay â€" it’s the best we can do in these new times.

We shouldn’t be cowed into not travelling but we should be perhaps more aware and more conscious of safety and security. What happens when something goes wrong?

We live in an increasingly dangerous world and taking extra precautions on the road would be a prudent thing to do for corporations and individuals.

The house we rented on Airbnb is advertised as big enough for 10-12 people. It’s four storeys, has five bedrooms, four of which comes with ensuite facilities. We were a party of eight and as such, we wanted a big house where we could all be together.

Hotels do not offer an affordable alternative if you want one big space for a group of friends and family.

And so while I personally would not have opted for an Airbnb in Bangkok which is full of wonderful, great value hotels, this requirement meant Airbnb was the best option for this trip.

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