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The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
State Dept. lowers Jamaica travel advisory level, but urges caution
The change comes two months after Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Jamaica and pledged to re-evaluate its travel notice. The highest possible advisory level is Level 4 or "do not travel." "We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions," a State Department spokesperson previously told USA TODAY. "The Department of State routinely updates our Travel Advisories and destination information pages based on a comprehensive review of all available safety information and ongoing developments." Here's what travelers should know. Is it safe to travel from the US to Jamaica? The overall advisory level has been lowered, but the State Department warns crime and medical concerns remain, and there are areas travelers are urged to avoid all together. "While violent crime in Jamaica has decreased since 2024, it remains statistically high throughout the country," according to Thursday's advisory, which adds that armed robberies and sexual assaults are common and homicide rates are among the Western Hemisphere's highest. "Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country," the State Department continued, but noted, "The U.S. Embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts" and many cases aren't fully prosecuted. U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from visiting certain parts of Jamaica, which travelers are also warned against visiting "for any reason." See the State Department's travel advisory page for the full list. How to stay safe while traveling The State Department shared the following safety tips for Americans visiting Jamaica: "Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, are severe, and can include long prison sentences. Avoid walking or driving at night. Avoid public buses. Avoid remote places. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile. Visit (the State Department) website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Jamaica. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States." The State Department also notes that Americans should not expect the same level of medical care in Jamaica, including slower emergency response, less available care and potentially having to pay up front before being admitted to hospitals. Travelers are encouraged to buy insurance before their trips. Contributing: Reuters
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
U.S. Issued Travel 'Warning' for 3 Popular European Countries
If you're planning a trip to Europe this summer, you may want to check out the latest travel advisories from the United States Department of State. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4 warning for Somalia due to an increase in terrorism and civil unrest. There are also health-related concerns plaguing the country. "Do not travel to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping, piracy, and lack of availability of routine consular services," the U.S. said. "Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Somalia are prohibited from traveling outside the Mogadishu International Airport complex where the U.S. Embassy is located. The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu maintains normal staffing." Although a Level 4 warning wasn't administered to a European country this week, a few countries have been put on notice. The U.S. Department of State has officially issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Switzerland. This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. That means Americans should exercise normal precautions before visiting there, such as reviewing the Country Security Report. On May 22, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 warning for Belgium. Anyone traveling there in the near future should exercise increased caution due to the risk of terrorist attacks. Italy has also been tagged with a Level 2 warning due to terrorism. That's a huge concern considering Italy is a hot spot for travelers in the summer. According to the U.S. Department of State, terrorists in Italy have been targeting the following places: Tourist spots Transportation centers Shopping malls and markets Local government buildings Hotels, clubs and restaurants Religious sites Parks Sporting and cultural events Schools Airports Public areas The full list of travel advisories issued by the U.S. can be seen here. The U.S. government could always alter its travel advisories in the blink of an eye, so make sure you stay alert over the next few weeks. U.S. Issued Travel 'Warning' for 3 Popular European Countries first appeared on Men's Journal on May 27, 2025
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Travel alert: Be cautious when visiting this European country due to its terrorism risk
Americans should use increased caution when traveling to Italy, as there is currently a heightened risk of encountering terrorist violence while visiting, the U.S. State Department warned in a travel advisory on Friday. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, the state department said. Common targets include tourist destinations, transportation centers, shopping centers, local government buildings, hotels, clubs, restaurants, religious sites, parks, schools, airports and cultural events. If you decide to travel to Italy: Stay alert when visiting tourist destinations. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Italy. Make a plan for emergency situations. Review the state department's Traveler's Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest travel health information related to your travel. Mass. weather: Will it rain on your Memorial Day parade? Names for 2025 hurricanes released: Did yours make the cut? Will Mass. get more rain Memorial Day weekend? Here's what to expect over the next 3 days Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Travel alert: US officials warn DO NOT TRAVEL to parts of popular South American destination
The U.S. State Department has a message for anyone considering travel to Peru: exercise increased caution. Peru is home to the famed archeological wonder of Machu Picchu as well as other popular destinations such as the Inca Trail and the Sacred Valley. But crime, civil unrest and even kidnapping are all dangers in the country of Peru, particularly in certain portions, according to an updated travel advisory from Friday. 'Crime is common in Peru,' the warning reads. 'Petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime often happen even in daylight hours and with many witnesses around.' The notice said that kidnapping is 'rare,' but that it does occur, and that the risk of crime increases at night. 'Criminal groups sometimes set up roadblocks to rob people in areas outside of Lima,' the travel advisory continues. The travel advisory told travelers not to travel to the Colombia-Peru border area in the Loreto Region, the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers and some areas within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica and Junín. Crime and terrorism are possible in those areas, the advisory continued. Drug trafficking and poor infrastructure in the above regions make it difficult for Peruvian law enforcement to operate. The advisory stressed that while portions of the region of Cusco are especially dangerous, the city of Cusco and popular tourist sites nearby including Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are not located in the affected area. The advisory stressed to travelers to avoid using the drugs ayahuasca and kambo, due to people having suffered serious illness and in some cases death. The notice also warned that public demonstrations can take place for political and economic reasons and can shut down local roads, trains and even major highways. The advisory stated travelers should keep the following in mind if they decide to travel to Peru: Stay aware of your surroundings. Visit the State Department website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Avoid demonstrations and large crowds. Develop a communication plan with family or your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business), so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. Specify how you'll confirm you're safe (text, calls, etc.), how often, and who you'll contact first to share the information. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Peru. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. Buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. Mass. State Lottery winner: $100K winner won or claimed at Springfield 7-Eleven Susan Sarandon's lawsuit against WMass contractor dismissed Major Mass. bank announces it will lay off 125 workers Mass. substitute teacher faces child sex abuse material charges Mass. destination makes 2025 list of top 40 family-friendly vacations Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
U.S. Issues Travel Warnings for 2 New Countries
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Over the past two days, April 28 and 29, respectively, the United States offered new warnings for residents traveling to two different countries. The United States offered a Level 1 (out of four levels) alert for residents traveling to Czechia, asking travelers to "exercise normal precautions." For those deciding to travel to the Czech Republic, the United States gave a list of precautions: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for the Czechia. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your and return to the United States. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. While the United States offered a slight word of caution for those traveling to Czechia, it offered a much stronger warning for those attempted to travel to Burundi. Travelers are being asked to "reconsider travel" to the country, which the United States placed a Level 3 advisory. "The possibility for political violence exists throughout Burundi. Police and military checkpoints are common and can limit movement. Police may search private homes for weapons. The borders may close without notice," the advisory states. "Violent crimes like assault, carjacking, home invasion, grenade attacks, and armed robbery are possible. Criminals may target foreigners and residents suspected of having large sums of cash. Local police lack the resources and training to respond effectively to crimes." The United States also warned that medical services in the country "fall well below U.S. standards, and there are no adequate trauma services." The full warning for those traveling to Burundi can be found here. Related: Walmart Makes Troubling Decision After Announcement
