The U.S. State Department issued more than 10 updated travel advisories to begin the new year but some were more notable than others.
January's most critical updated travel guidance pertains to a pair of popular Caribbean destinations.
Read on for the latest need-to-know information for travel to Grenada and Jamaica this winter.
Grenada - Level 2
The U.S. State Department started the year by issuing a Level 2 travel advisory for Grenada due to the potential threat of crime.
"Violent crime can occur anywhere in Grenada. American citizens in Grenada have been victims of armed robbery, assault, burglary, and rape," the January 5 notice reads. "In some cases, American citizens have been killed. Police response times are not as fast as one may expect in the United States."
Also known as the Spice Isle, Grenada is a popular international destination among Americans and is poised to remain a significant draw in 2026.
Grand Anse Bay on the island of Grenada, Lesser Antilles. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/pkazmierczak)
Jamaica - Level 2
U.S. officials lowered the travel advisory for Jamaica midway through the month, encouraging Americans to exercise increased caution while visiting the Caribbean island nation.
Threats identified in the January 17 update include crime, health and natural disaster risks.
A Level 3 travel advisory encouraging Americans to reconsider travel had been in place for Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The destination has been quick to bounce back, however, celebrating a successful reopening to tourism in recent weeks.
Nonetheless, there are still a handful of areas in Jamaica that tourists are urged to avoid and U.S. government employees are prohibited from visiting due to the risk of crime, including:
- St. Ann’s Parish - Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios.
- St. Catherine’s Parish - Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford.
- Clarendon Parish - All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
- St. Elizabeth’s Parish - Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth.
- Hanover Parish - Logwood and Orange Bay.
- St. James Parish/Montego Bay - Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
- Kingston and St. Andrew Parish - Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
- Manchester Parish - Green Vale and Gray Ground neighborhoods of Mandeville.
- St. Thomas Parish - Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.
Trelawny Parish - Clarks Town. - Westmoreland Parish - Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril.
Other countries to receive updated travel advisories in January include Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, The Gambia, Central African Republic, Comoros, Mali, Czechia, Benin and Palau.
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