Travel Alert: Hoosiers Warned Do NOT Travel to These Locations

What is a Travel Advisory?

The Department of State provides information to United States citizens regarding travel safety overseas. So, if you are planning a trip to a foreign country, you can sign up for travel advisory alerts.

There are four Travel Advisory levels, and I was very surprised to see that there are currently 21 regions in the Level 4 category, which is the highest risk.

This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance, including during an emergency. 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. We advise that you write a will prior to traveling and leave DNA samples in case of worst-case scenarios.

PHOTO: CANVA TRAVEL ALERT

Update Your Will

I suppose it is a good idea to always have an up-to-date will, just in case the worst happens. This is one of the precautions we need to take if our plans take us to one of the 19 regions that are simply not safe for Americans right now.

DNA Samples

Big Yikes as the kids say. Leaving behind some of my DNA just in case I have to be identified is certainly not on my vacation checklist. However, if you plan to travel to any of the areas in the Travel Advisory, you probably should.

The Official U.S. Government 'Do Not Travel' List

Traveling to unique and exotic places rather than the usual tourist traps can be quite an adventure. However, it's crucial to research your destination thoroughly.

While every trip comes with some degree of risk, requiring you to mind your surroundings and take some precautions, there are some places you just shouldn't visit, as they are not worth the risk.

The United States government has a convenient website that helps by listing travel advisories they have in place for countries all over the world, ranking the risk from Level 1 through Level 4.

If a country is issued a Level 4 advisory, you should NOT travel there. As of November 2024, the countries below are on the 'Do Not Travel' list.

Gallery Credit: David Drew

Source:[The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs]

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[WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter private or abandoned property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing.]

Gallery Credit: Sandi Hemmerlein