10 Key Travel Advisories Announced in November

The U.S. State Department was busy once again assessing threats to travelers around the world in November. Officials issued dozens of updated travel advisories, with the vast majority warning travelers of the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and or the potential for crime and terrorism in some parts of the world. Here's a look at the most notable travel advisory updates issued over the past month.

Jamaica was among the first countries to receive an updated travel advisory in November, with officials asking travelers to reconsider plans to visit the Caribbean island due to COVID-19 and to exercise increased caution due to crime in some areas, including Spanish Town and parts of Kingston and Montego Bay.

One week after Thailand reopened for quarantine-free travel, the State Department issued a Level 3 travel advisory for the Asian destination. The latest update advises Americans to reconsider travel to Thailand due to COVID-19 and reconsider plans to visit Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces due to crime.

The Netherlands was one of several European destinations impacted by a new surge in coronavirus cases this past month. On November 8, the State Department responded by issuing a Level 4 travel advisory for the country, recommending that Americans do not travel due to COVID-19 and exercise increased caution due to the threat of terrorism.

The Bahamas joined the lengthy list of Level 3 destinations on November 15, with officials encouraging travelers to reconsider plans to visit the islands this winter due to COVID-19 and to exercise increased caution in some areas due to crime.

As of November 15, the State Department advises Americans to avoid travel to Iceland due to COVID-related restrictions. The popular European destination remains open to travelers with proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and a negative test result as well as unvaccinated individuals with negative test results who agree to five-day quarantine.

On the other end of the spectrum, the United Arab Emirates is one of just a dozen countries around the world to receive the State Department's lowest travel advisory heading into December. Visitors are asked to exercise normal precautions in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi as of November 22.

The State Department is advising Americans to reconsider travel to Aruba due to the ongoing pandemic. In a recent update, the island reported that, during the period of November 17-26, active COVID-19 cases increased to 184 with 123 recoveries and 1 death registered.

Denmark was elevated to Level 4 on November 22. The State Department currently warns travelers to avoid the country due to COVID-19 and to exercise increased caution due to the threat of terrorism.

Germany also recently joined the list of over 100 countries to receive a Level 4 travel advisory from the State Department. A recent surge in coronavirus cases in the European destination has officials asking Americans to avoid travel. Visitors are also advised to exercise increased caution in Germany due to terrorism.

The State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory for South Africa on November 27 in response to COVID-19 and the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, urging travelers to avoid the destination as countries around the world enact travel bans against it. Travelers who do visit South Africa are also advised to exercise increased caution due to crime and civil unrest.