When it comes to traveling the world, some destinations are more popular than others.
Beautiful beaches, picturesque views, and iconic attractions all rank highly on the list of things the average traveler is looking for from their next trip.
Unfortunately, even when a country offers all of these things, it isn’t always considered a safe place to visit. And the U.S. State Department doesn’t consider popularity when issuing its advisories.
With this in mind, the United States State Department has issued travel advisories for these 5 popular destinations:
They have been given a level 3 ‘reconsider travel’ rating, which means that the state department advises that travelers should strongly consider canceling their travel plans and going somewhere else instead.
Here are the 5 popular destinations affected:
Guatemala
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Guatemala was popular with American adventure travelers. The country is best known for its lush rainforests, beaches, stunning Mayan ruins, and unique culture.
Despite its many incredible attractions, American citizens are advised to reconsider traveling to Guatemala due to high incidences of crime.
There are also areas where U.S. travelers are advised not to travel at all. These are the San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department and Zone 18, and Villa Nueva in Guatemala City.
If you do decide to travel to Guatemala, then the U.S. State Department offers some safety tips for you to follow.
These include using certified tourist providers and traveling between villages on the lakeshore by chartered boat when visiting Lake Atitlán, as the path surrounding the lake poses a serious crime risk.
Visitors are also advised to arrange their travel with their hotel or resort if they plan to travel outside their resort, and they should only travel to Guatemala City during daylight hours.
Colombia
Colombia is one of the world’s most diverse countries, bordering two oceans, a host of different climates, and an exceptional array of wildlife. Like Guatemala, it is a popular destination for American tourists looking for some adventure on their next vacation.
But the U.S. State Department is advising American citizens to reconsider traveling to Colombia.
Colombia was given a Level 3-Reconsider Travel rating because of crime and terrorism. There are also parts of the country that have been given a ‘Do Not Travel’ rating.
American travelers should not visit Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism. They also should avoid the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping, and risk of detention when crossing into Venezuela from Colombia.
If you do decide to travel to Colombia, you are advised to keep a low profile in the country, avoid protests and crowds, and monitor local news for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
Jamaica
Jamaica is a coastal paradise. It boasts a host of all-inclusive resorts that are incredibly popular with American visitors looking for a relaxing vacation where they can do very little and enjoy spectacular views.
American citizens are advised to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime. And U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to many areas due to increased risk.
The State Department travel warning says that “violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common in Jamaica. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.”
Families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities. This can only add to the distress of losing a family member overseas.
Despite this warning, American citizens continue to travel to Jamaica in droves, and America is the most popular country of origin among foreign visitors to Jamaica.
Honduras
Honduras is a beautiful vacation destination where tourists can relax on palm-fringed beaches, explore tropical jungles, and meet exotic wildlife.
Honduras is also a popular stop-off point for cruise ships. When cruise visitors and tourist numbers and combined, the country welcomed 2.8 million foreign tourists in 2019.
Despite this, Honduras continues to be listed as a ‘Level 3: Reconsider Travel’ destination. American citizens are advised to reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime and kidnapping.
The advisory goes on to say that violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common in Honduras.
If you decide to visit this tropical paradise anyway, then you should avoid demonstrations, don’t walk or drive in the country at night, physically resist any robbery attempt, and avoid demonstrating any signs of wealth. That means leaving watches, jewelry and designer brands at home!
Egypt
The Great Pyramids of Giza in the heart of Egypt are one of the seven wonders of the world. And Egypt’s Red Sea coastline is considered a snorkelers paradise.
But U.S. citizens are advised to reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism.
The U.S. State Department warns that terrorists may attack in the country with little or no warning. Up to this point, they have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets and shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities.
The Egyptian government also doesn’t recognize dual nationalities. This means that the U.S. Embassy in Egypt will have a limited ability to assist dual-national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained in the country.
The Sinai Peninsula is considered the most dangerous part of Egypt due to frequent attacks on security forces and civilians. The U.S. State Department lists this as a ‘Level 4 – Do Not Travel’ area.
The only exception to this is the beach resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. This is a level 3 area like the rest of the country, but travel to Sharm El-Sheikh is only permitted by air.
