The Most Important Travel Advisories Announced in November

As the holiday travel season heats up heading into the final month of 2023, travelers will want to be aware of the latest travel advisories for the top destinations around the world.

The U.S. State Department issued only a handful of updates during the month of November but they included a worldwide caution amid war in the Middle East and some notable threats in popular countries from South America to Africa.

Here are the most important travel advisory updates from the past month. 

Americans are advised to exercise increased caution in South Africa this winter due to crime and civil unrest. On November 7, the State Department updated its advisory to recommend travelers don't rely solely on their GPS.

Visitors are encouraged to "research their route in advance, stay on major highways, avoid shortcuts through townships, and avoid reliance on GPS navigation apps." "When driving on city roads, the shortest and fastest route may not be the safest," officials warn.

In a November 13 update, the State Department advised Americans to exercise increased caution in Belize due to crime. Visitors are asked to reconsider travel to Belize City as "historically much of the violent crime in Belize occurs in the Southside of Belize City and is gang-related."

Travelers to Belize are encouraged always to be aware of their surroundings, avoid walking and driving at night and be extra vigilant when visiting banks and ATMs. They should also not physically resist any robbery attempt.

As of November 15, Peru is listed at Level 2 due to crime, civil unrest, and the possibility of kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk, the State Department notes.

Specific areas to avoid include the Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), including areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junin due to crime and terrorism.

The State Department updated its travel advisory for Ghana on November 20 to reflect threats against LGBTQI+ travelers. Americans should exercise increased caution in the African country this winter due to crime and violence against members of the LGBTQI+ community. Specific areas to be mindful of include parts of the Bono East, Bono, Savannah, Northern, North East, and Upper East regions due to civil unrest.

Visitors are encouraged to exercise increased caution in urban areas and crowded markets and when traveling by private or public transportation after dark as well as in areas near the northern border in the Upper East and Upper West regions.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas prompted another update from the State Department on November 24. Visitors are still asked to avoid Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict and should reconsider plans to visit Israel and the West Bank due to the threat of terrorism and civil unrest.

The southern African country of Namibia is listed at Level 2 this winter, with visitors being encouraged to exercise increased caution due to crime.

"Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, purse snatching, and 'smash-and-grab' attacks on vehicles, is increasingly common, and these can violently escalate into robberies and muggings," the State Department warns. "There is a higher risk of crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark."

Americans traveling abroad are asked to exercise increased caution "due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests," according to the latest worldwide caution issued on November 27.