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Topics: Travel, US News, World News
Ellie Kemp
US citizens are being warned to 'reconsider travel' to 21 destinations, as the government added a South American country to its 'do not travel' list last week.
With summer fast approaching, many of us may be on the hunt for an exotic vacation to escape from the stresses of day-to-day life. However, there are several countries that the US government advises against travelling to due to major health, crime, and safety risks in certain parts of the world.
It comes as a fresh travel warning against Venezuela was issued last week.
On May 27, the US Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, urged US citizens to avoid travelling to the country, as well as the surrounding borders between Venezuela and 'Colombia, Brazil and Guyana' for 'any reason' - primarily due to ongoing political unrest and high crime levels.
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But Venezuela isn't the only country that the US government believes could pose risks to vacationers, as the State Department's Travel Advisory List regularly updates the risks certain countries could pose to its citizens.
While the government issued a level four warning, advising against all travel to 21 countries—including North Korea, Russia, and Ukraine—for any reason whatsoever, a level three alert also covers another 21 countries.
According to the State Department's website, countries are assigned a level from one to four, with one indicating 'exercise normal precautions' and four denoting a 'do not travel' warning.
Each level is then reviewed within a certain length of time, as levels one to two are revisited in 12 months, while three to four are revised 'at least every six months'.
The 'reconsider travel' warning means countries aren't recommended to travel to 'due to serious risks to safety and security.'
Among them are the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
The US Department of State recommends that Americans' reconsider travel' due to serious risks from crime and kidnapping, as well as acts of terrorism.
Other tourist destinations include Egypt, which is on the level three list due to terrorism concerns.
As for the reason to exercise caution when travelling to Egypt, the website says: "Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to the Embassy's limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained."
The full list of countries on the 'reconsider travel' list includes: