What is a traveler to do when a crisis hits?
Climate change, earthquakes, natural disasters, fires, civil unrest, and even war are all happening with more frequency around the world. In the current situation, the US administration moved to put out a ‘global travel warning’ for tensions and potential backlash against American travelers. With all that happening, it’s hard to not pause and rethink traveling altogether. However, there are ways to assess the situation and make decisions based on your risk tolerance. There are still plenty of other places to visit and you should not let fear stop you from being curious about the world.
What do travel warnings mean?
In many cases, travel warnings are meant to heighten your awareness of potential conflict in certain areas. Be sure to read the full warning and the corresponding State Department travel guidance. Look at the last time it was updated and the circumstances they are taking into account.
Avoid any areas addressed in the alert. While I was living in Lebanon, there were always warnings about the border with Israel and Syria, however, they are easy to steer clear without missing anything. Do your research, and only rely on trusted sources.
Have a plan and be prepared
Be extra observant of your surroundings, and have a plan in case of emergency. If you are traveling and a very high warning is issued that recommends you leave the destination, get in touch with your airline and look at backup options to depart sooner.
Before You Go: Make a List
When a crisis or alert is issued you want to be extra prepared so making a list before you go is a good idea. Below are my recommendations:
Make sure important documents like your passport are up to date with at least a 6-month validity for your full travel dates and beyond if possible. It will help should you ever be stuck in a destination a little longer.
Save digital copies of all your travel documents, license, passport, prescriptions, travel plans, and receipts.
Assess the situation and be as level-headed as possible. If you’re working with a tour operator or a travel advisor, there will be people in the destination to help you. Have their phone numbers written down, and on your phone as well let them know where you are if you do deviate from your itinerary. You’re going to want to work with someone who has connections and local strings to pull if you’re going to a destination that might be more risky.
Share your location on your phone with a dedicated person back home. Provide them with the number of your hotel and tour operator.
Be observant of exits, have a plan B, and understand the local transportation.
Stay away from large gatherings, protests, or situations that could escalate. If your gut says something is off, then stay clear.
Don’t panic cancel your reservations, unless you’re extremely close to your travel dates. First, look at your options and travel insurance policy or credit card cancellation policies.
Sign up for the STEP Program before you go, and know where the local US Embassy is located, emergency services/police station.
Pack your medications and some additional days in case you get stuck — even for flight delays or cancellations that would delay you.
Blend in as best you can and always be respectful of the local culture. If you’re a woman in a more modest/conservative destination, make sure to pack a scarf that is big enough to cover your shoulders (and knees) if they are exposed. Read up on the local customs and clothing recommendations. Head coverings are required inside some churches, for example.
Download a map on your phone in case you don’t have service when you arrive.
Make sure you have a fully charged phone when you’re out, and bring a backup battery pack.
Get a local SIM or international phone service with your carrier. You never want to be off without a way to communicate in some remote areas.
For Future Travel
Don’t cancel a trip immediately when you see a negative headline. If you have time to read up on what’s going on and plenty of time before your trip, wait to see how it unfolds. Often you will lose out on deposits and incur cancellation fees when the situation could be resolved by the time of your trip dates.
Whether its’ natural disasters or political tensions in the region, consider the short and long-term implications of the situation. We can never predict the future but we can make a reasonable assessment, and talk to local travel providers on the ground. Some destinations might need some time to rebound, while some might be desperate to have the tourism dollars. Years ago, a pipe bomb went off in Zanzibar before I was going with friends and many people were spooked by the headlines, but we assessed the situation and went anyway. It was completely fine. So you really can’t listen to people who haven’t traveled much and have zero risk tolerance. You have to make your own educated decision.
Two years ago, I encountered this situation in Lebanon - their economy was in disarray, and the fuel crisis was making it tough on resources. However, the locals were happy to have US travelers, and know that the world hadn’t forgotten them. Now that the country is back to business, the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7th, causing many to cancel plans to visit. Lebanon shares a southern border with Israel but the Lebanese don’t want another conflict as they’ve been through enough. The group trip I’m organizing is many months away, and we’ll be monitoring the situation. Even before the conflict, we purposely avoided the Israel border, and we will not be anywhere near the border during the trip. For more information, visit the group trip page for May 31-June 9, 2024.
Make smart, educated decisions, and be safe out there. Don’t let fear win.
As a travel advisor, I’m happy to work with you to ensure you’re traveling safely. Using a trusted advisor to book your travel can give you a sense of comfort knowing they have your back (and the resources) to help you should any issues arise. Book a trip Discovery Call with me.
