Traveling Into Turmoil  

 
The disruption of daily life in Cairo, Egypt, has impacted travel to that country in a profound way, but it’s not the only destination on the U.S. State Department’s travel alerts and warnings list. There are currently 31 countries for which travel advisories have been issued. What should you do if your travel plans are interrupted by civil unrest, such as the massive protests that filled Cairo’s Tahrir Square, or Mother Nature, such as the recent earthquakes in New Zealand?

We asked our UNIGLOBE Travel experts for advice.

What is the difference between a U.S. government travel alert and a travel warning?
An alert usually addresses what the State Department has identified as a short-term situation where threats to a U.S. traveler’s health or safety are not likely to continue indefinitely. Alerts include things like flu outbreaks, natural disasters like floods or earthquakes, country-wide labor or transportation strikes, and political demonstrations that have the potential to escalate into something violent. Travel warnings are reserved for destinations that are experiencing a lot of upheaval, such as the overthrow of a government, frequent terrorist attacks, or high rates of crime, particularly when the crimes are directed at U.S. citizens or visitors to that country. Alerts and warnings are intended to inform you of the risks of traveling to that destination, and to help you and your company decide if the risks outweigh the benefits of your trip. View the full list of countries under Alerts and those under Warnings.

What should I do to prepare for a trip to a country on the alert or warning list?
Make sure you leave a copy of your itinerary, your passport number and date of issue, and your credit card number(s) with a trusted family member and your employer. If you don’t already have one, apply for an ATM card for your bank account that can be used at your destination. Prepare several copies of contact lists to take with you, including a 24-hour number to reach your employer and your UNIGLOBE Travel agent’s 24/7 Rescue Line. You can follow the State Department on Twitter @travelgov and on Facebook. Finally, consider signing up for the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP. You create an account and give the State Department your contact information. Then click on “Add Trip” and you can register with a specific embassy or consulate overseas, which allows U.S. authorities in those offices to contact you directly in an emergency.

What should I take with me?
You’ll definitely want extra money (cash, a second credit card) and medications, and in particular a good supply of any prescription drugs properly labeled in their original containers. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring a pair to spare. Generally speaking, you’ll want to dress conservatively, and travel light. Not all trouble spots pose the same level of risk to health and security, so it’s important to read travel advisories carefully, and to stay connected to family and co-workers back home.