Traveling Abroad: Heeding U.S. Travel Warnings

Traveling abroad presents certain risks for Americans, especially in light of the recent bombings in London, England. For the most part, terrorists are the problem, although drug, gang, and criminal activities can also be a factor. In addition, local health conditions can be a separate problem. Thankfully, the U.S. State Department regularly issues and updates Consular Information Sheets for every country in the world. These sheets give valuable information to travelers, information you must know before you take your next trip.

As mentioned, the Consular Information Sheets provide important information for travelers. You can also check the State Department's Current Travel Warning list to see which nations the U.S. government encourages Americans to avoid altogether. Currently, the following countries are listed:

Uzbekistan

Kenya

Iran

Iraq

Congo-Kinshasa

Nepal

Israel, the West Bank and Gaza

Afghanistan

Haiti

Nigeria

Saudi Arabia

Indonesia

Yemen

Colombia

Lebanon

Central African Republic

Pakistan

Kyrgyzstan

Philippines

Zimbabwe

Liberia

C