The Most Important Travel Advisories Announced in January

With international travel seeing a spike in popularity as the industry achieves record-breaking levels, more and more Americans are venturing abroad.

The U.S. State Department continues to monitor potential threats around the world and while the vast majority of destinations are safe to visit it's always wise to stay up to date on the latest travel guidance and to know before you go.

Here are the key travel advisory updates issued over the first month of 2024.

The State Department began the new year by reissuing a Level 3 travel advisory for Colombia. Officials ask Americans to reconsider travel to the South American country due to crime and terrorism. Visitors are also advised to exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping.

Specific areas to avoid include Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism and the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping and the risk of detention when crossing into Venezuela from Colombia.

Americans are still encouraged to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. U.S. citizens should also avoid traveling to Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict.

Travelers venturing to Cuba this winter should exercise increased caution due to crime, according to a January 5 update from the U.S. State Department. It's recommended that visitors be aware of their surroundings, not physically resist any robbery attempt, avoid displaying signs of wealth—such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry—and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to be located in an emergency.

The State Department reissued its Level 1 travel advisory for Japan on January 8, meaning visitors can continue to exercise normal precautions in the Asian hotspot this February.

In Central America, Nicaragua is a Level 3 country this winter. "Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of wrongful detention, and limited healthcare availability," the State Department warns. "Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime."

Iran is listed at Level 4 as of January 11. Americans should not travel to Iran due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens. The State Department also asks visitors to exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions.  

The Southeast Asian country of Myanmar is another destination to avoid this winter due to civil unrest, armed conflict, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Officials also encourage Americans to reconsider travel to Myanmar due to limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources, and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnances.

Those who do visit should exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions.

The State Department advises Americans to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime and limited medical services. Officials "strongly encourage you to obtain traveler's insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before traveling to Jamaica" and note that the State Department does not pay medical bills.

It's worth noting that the island country is coming off of a record year in terms of visitation and earnings.

As of January 24, Americans should reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks. Those who do visit should exercise increased caution in the Middle Eastern country due to terrorism, the risk of arrest based on social media activity, and importation of prohibited items.

Areas to avoid due to the threat of missile and drone attacks and terrorism include within 50 miles of the Saudi-Yemen border, as well as the cities of Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Khamis Mushayt; Abha airport and Qatif in the Eastern Province and its suburbs, including Awamiyah.

Visitors to the Bahamas should exercise increased caution due to crime this winter. The U.S. Embassy in Nassau recently encouraged travelers to use caution, keep a low profile and be aware of their surroundings as 18 murders have occurred in the region since the start of 2024.