What Are Travel Advisories?

Informing U.S. Travelers

Travel advisories are official warning statements issued by governments to provide information about the safety of travel to or from specified locations. Unfortunately, due to threats and dangers that exist in the world, travel advisories or warnings can provide information about the safety and security of travel locations.

Considerations when making travel advisories include:

• Crime
• Terrorism
• Civil unrest
• Natural disasters
• Kidnapping/hostage taking
• Health/disease outbreaks
• Time-limited event (e.g. an election)

Four tiers

In 2018, the U.S. Department of the State, Bureau of Consular Affairs updated the system for issuing advisories. This resulted in a four-tiered system that ranks countries based on safety to help travelers gauge potential destinations.

Why do advisories go up and down?

Note that travel advisories are fluid, depending upon changing threats.  

Here is the basic breakdown:

Level 1 – Exercise normal precautions: This lowest travel advisory level tells people to exercise normal travel safety measures. Note that there is always some level of risk involved when traveling to other countries.

Level 2 – Exercise increased caution: This second level presents that there is a heightened risk to safety and security when traveling.

Level 3- Reconsider travel: This third level tells people to avoid travel to a destination due to serious safety and security risks. 

Level 4 – Do not travel: This highest advisory level tells people not to travel to specified regions due to life threatening risks, dangers, and limited assistance.  

Helping travelers decide

Per travel.state.gov, “Our clear, timely, and reliable safety and security information helps U.S. citizens make informed decisions about their time overseas. Consular Affairs provides information on the Internet, through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, (STEP), and on social media.”

What is STEP?

This is a free service that allows U.S. Citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  

It’s not all cut and dry

The government continually reviews and updates travel alerts to keep citizens informed and to promote safety for travelers.

A travel advisory may tell U.S. citizens to “Exercise Increased Caution” (Level 2) in a particular country, but to “Reconsider Travel” (Level 3) in a certain part of that country.

Why it helps:

The Caribbean is a popular travel destination. It is made up of many islands such as Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Barbados, the Bahamas and more. Many travelers fly to these popular vacation destinations or explore these countries via cruise ship excursions. Recently, a Bahamas Travel Advisory was upgraded to Level 2 on January 26, 2024. Due to an uptick in crime, particularly some with travelers as victims, new travel advisories may be issued. Due to rapidly changing conditions, it’s essential to check travel advisories regularly.

How to check:

Checking travel advisories should be a main and initial step in trip planning. It is an excellent way for trip planners to assess their travel safety and to minimize or mitigate risks. For current travel advisory information click here.  

Taking an international trip? Check out our travel packing tips by clicking here.