U.S. Department Of State Travel Advisories
Did you know that the U.S. Department of State issues travel advisories and warnings that are extremely helpful for traveling internationally. They issue a travel advisory for every country in the world and classify the threats into one of four levels based on the potential of danger to you. You can click on any country to see it has a current ranking level. I personally would not travel to any country with a level 3 or Level 4 ranking, nor would I book your travel to those countries.
- Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.
- Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution: Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
- Level 3 – Reconsider Travel: Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
- Level 4 – Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
What Else Can I Find?
There is an abundance of information available to you at travel.state.gov. I use this site for my personal travel and for any clients that I book travel for. you can find the following information and much more:
- Safety and Security Information: You can find information on travel advisories and alerts, visa's and other entry/exit requirements, local laws and customs, medical care, and numbers for the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
- Crisis Planning: There is a whole section on what to do if there is a crisis occurs in the country you're visiting. You can find it at Crisis Abroad: Be Ready and make an evacuation plan that does not rely on the U.S. government. I highly recommend you always buy emergency evacuation insurance when you travel outside the U.S. I use and recommend Medjet.
- Health Precautions: Read the Your Health Abroad section and check out recommendations for vaccinations, insurance coverage, medicare, doctor and hospital locations, etc.
STEP Program
I highly recommend you register your trip with the STEP program. The STEP program stands for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It is a free service that allows U.S. Citizens and Nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The purpose of the STEP program is to :
- Allow you to receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.
- Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
- Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.
You can enroll at step.state.gov.
