Difference Between Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings

I usually forget to check the list of places the US government thinks it may be dangerous for me to venture before I go venturing, but it is worth a check of the latest guv-issued travel alerts and warnings to see what's up in the world before you plan, especially if you don't read the news regularly. Myself, I don't make travel decisions based on these warnings and alerts... for instance, (for the first time in a while) I just checked the latest, and Mexico's been on the travel alerts list since October, 2007 -- in the meantime, I've been to Mexico several times (uneventfully -- although I did go to the dentist during one trip, which was rather eventful from my POV). In reading the reasons Mexico's on the travel alerts list, I know that some of them are not only old news, but either don't really apply to me or can be heeded by using the same simple travel safety precautions travelers should take anywhere.

That's not to say they may not be reasons you should not go. Read, read, read before you make any decisions on any places with guv-issued travel warnings and alerts before you go. Zimbabwe, Mali and Tajikstan (edited 02/21/08 to add Serbia) are on the short travel alerts list, too.

What's all this mean? Learn more:

• Difference Between Travel Warnings and Alerts

_{Related: What's a repatriation loan? | Travel Safety | Travel Emergencies}