Travel Warning: Avoid These Countries

There are some destinations which should be on your list not to visit, because of crime, civil unrest, or the danger of being arrested because of something you forgot was in your luggage.

Newest additions to the U.S. State Dept. Travel Advisory warning list are Venezuela and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Other countries on the “do not travel” list or include Russia, Iran, Iraq, Haiti, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia.

Travel to Venezuela

The country’s rating has been raised to the Level 4, the most dangerous level. Here’s why –

The State Department said there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela.

Protests against President Nicolás Maduro often break out without notice and are met with tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets from police and security forces.

The State Department said there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela. That includes arriving without a valid visa, which risks “lengthy or indefinite detention,” according to the State Department. A visa must be obtained before travel. You can’t get one on arrival, as you can do in many other countries.

Colombian terrorist groups also operate in Venezuela’s border areas with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana, according to the State Department.

In 2019, the United States withdrew all personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and suspended operations there amid the deteriorating political situation and collapsing infrastructure.

Therefore, the US government has no ability to contact or help Americans under Venezuelan detention or provide emergency services, even for something as simple as replacing a lost or stolen passport.

The UK government also has issues a similar warning for British citizens.

Travel to Turks and Caicos Islands

The Caribbean islands are rated Level 2 – Exercise increased caution in the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime.

But there is also an additional warning, due to the recent arrests and detention of five Americans since February 2024.

This is what you’ll see on the State Dept. site –

CHECK YOUR BAGS! Do not bring ammunition or firearms to the Turks and Caicos Islands

We urge all travelers going to the Turks and Caicos Islands to carefully check their luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing from the United States.

Read the “Local Laws” section and our alert titled “Check Your bags!” for more information.

The Americans were arrested for having loose bullets in the luggage, forgotten from recent hunting trips. Ammunition only – no weapons. Three of the five are bunking together awaiting sentencing, and one has been released for health reasons after paying a $6,700 fine.

Turks & Caicos instituted stringent weapons laws recently to combat growing local violence, which is the reason for the State Dept. Level 2 designation.

Sign up for STEP

STEP is a free service from the US State Dept. that sends you emails with updates from the local U.S. embassy or consulate. If there’s an emergency where you are, it helps the US State Dept. contact you with instructions on what to do.

Get real time updates about health, weather, safety, and security in the country.
Plan ahead using information from the local U.S. embassy.
Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there’s an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.

Currently, STEP sends emails only. STEP can send you several types of information:

Routine Messages: News and updates about the country you picked.
Alerts: Messages about short-term security, terrorism, health, weather, or disaster situations that could impact your travels.
Travel Advisories: We re-evaluate the situation in each country every 6-12 months. Advisories include a simple 1-4 rating system, details about specific risks in the country, and clear steps U.S. citizens should take to stay safe.

Join the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

After you set up your account, you can pick what types of messages you want to get.

Stay in touch during an emergency.

Signing up for STEP helps the U.S. embassy get in touch with you if there’s an emergency.
If your family or friends in the U.S. can’t reach you with urgent news while you’re traveling, the US State. Dept can use the information in STEP to try and contact you.

Become a Smart Traveler Now! STEP is an easy first step to being a smart traveler. You should also always research your destination, and consider additional ways to get safety and security information from the U.S. Department of State, like on social media.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.