Why You May Be Reading Travel Advisories All Wrong

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2027 Small Group Trips Preview

What's the Best Approach to Deciphering an Advisory? 

The State Department uses a "one-size-fits-all" number for the headline, but the world isn't one-size-fits-all. A country might be flagged as Level 3 because of a specific border conflict or a remote province that is 500 or 1000 miles away from where you’ll be sipping espresso or visiting a museum. 

If you only look at the number on a State Department Travel Advisory, you may be missing the full story. Some travelers might see a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) or Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory and immediately be inclined to cancel their flights. But here’s the secret: the State Department often grades a country based on its most dangerous corner, not necessarily its most popular tourist destinations. 

Let’s take a look at one country recently in the headlines.

Mexico: A Case Study

Take Mexico as an example. If you read the detailed breakdown, you’ll see that the State Department actually rates Mexico on a state-by-state basis. While some regions are "Do Not Travel" due to cartel activity, tourist hubs like Yucatán, Mexico City or Campeche may actually carry the same ratings as the countries perceived to be the safest in the world. 

When an incident occurs in one region, the whole country may be tarnished with that news story for a prolonged period. Unfortunately, there was recent cartel activity spilling over into Puerto Vallarta and it did cause very serious problems for both locals and visitors. This story also led many travelers with plans to visit other parts of Mexico, even far into the future, to fear for their personal safety, regardless of their actual destination within the country. At this point, just a few weeks later, there are no State Department restrictions on travel to Puerto Vallarta nor to Guadalajara, although certain other areas in the state of Jalisco do bear a Level 3 advisory.

In the end, the story generating headlines may have little effect on the daily life of other destinations in the same country. The advisory change may be short-lived. It pays to study the maps and read the details before making any hasty decisions about future travel. Advisories are never to be taken lightly, but I also try not to overreact or generalize.

How to Read an Advisory

Next time you check travel.state.gov, don’t stop at the big bold number. Scroll down to the "Specific Areas" section and study the related color-coded maps and the detailed geographic descriptions of the advisory. You’ll often find:

• The Pocket Rule: Advice to avoid specific neighborhoods, states, or border zones while the rest of the country remains open for business as usual.
• Actionable Advice: Instead of "don't go," the details might simply say "don't drive alone at night" or "use regulated taxis.” This is practical advice for any destination, especially one where you don’t speak the language.

What kind of other advice might you see from the State Department? 

• Avoid Demonstrations: This is good advice in any destination—including Europe. (But most marches and protests in Europe are very peaceful!)
• Enroll in STEP: This is the best way to get real-time alerts if regional conditions change quickly. I update my STEP account a few times a year to reflect my travel plans.
• Stay Alert at Landmarks: Travelers are always advised to stay vigilant in crowded tourist areas. Again, it’s good advice for any locale—New Orleans, Austin, Nice, and Barcelona come to mind in terms of headlines. That said, the top threat for public places and crowded spaces in any busy tourist area is likely not terrorism—it’s pickpockets and petty theft! The unexpected can happen anywhere, but each individual traveler must determine their own comfort zone when choosing destinations.

The Bottom Line: Don’t let a scary headline ruin a long-awaited trip. Read the fine print, check the regional maps, and make your decision based on where you are actually going, not just the name of the country or a headline without context.

Travel insurance won't cover everything under the sun, but a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy may lend extra peace of mind if you are comfortable with coverage for 75% of trip costs rather than 100%.

How about Health Advisories? 

The same actually goes for CDC health advisories--read the details and study the maps. The area or city you will be visiting in a particular country may not actually be part of a more general malaria caution, for example.

Who's on First?

Feeling like a Level 1 trip? Some of your options would be Australia, Austria, Finland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mongolia, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Here are just a few examples of countries with a topline Level 2 designation (Exercise Increased Caution) today: China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and even Vatican City. Does it surprise you that all of those places are in the same category?

As you can see, this small sampling of the vast list of Level 2 countries is an indication of how many of the world’s most popular destinations are not graced with the Level 1 mantle.

Level 3 destinations currently include Colombia (where I have just been, sticking to areas designated as better choices for tourists), Nepal, and Tanzania.

I’d give all Level 4 countries a hard pass, obviously. I would love to visit Russia again, but that probably won't happen anytime soon…glad I had the chance to take a group in 2017.

Enough Heavy Reading. Now, the Fun List! 

There’s another list I want to mention today, and that would be the tentative Small Group Trip destinations in the works for 2027:

March 2027: Vienna, Austria

The next installment in the City Breaks series will be a real treat for art, history, and music lovers. This glorious city is home to over a hundred museums; it is studded with stunning architecture and design of both the imperial era and art deco period; and it is also home to some of the swankiest and most delightful cafés and pastry shops in Europe. (Vienna’s café culture cred is totally on point.) Just walking along the Ring or riding the tram as it traces the Ring is a delight all by itself. Music lovers will want to take advantage of this opportunity as well, because the opera, ballet, and orchestras should all be in season at that time. And if you’re good, I’ll even take you to visit one of the top wineries in Austria, which is just on the outskirts of Vienna. Look for details by early summer, but contact me now to be added to my First Dibs list for this trip--and let me introduce you to one my absolute favorite cities.

May 2027: Turkey, Crossroad of Civilizations

(This trip is on the bubble after having been postponed.) Turkey is the timeless bridge between Europe and Asia, where ancient history and vibrant culture come together. Universally known as the Crossroads of Civilizations, Turkey has been dominated by powerful empires for thousands of years—from the Hittites and Greeks to the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Whether you're drawn to ancient wonders and biblical history, breathtaking landscapes, or the fusion of cultures, Turkey offers an unforgettable journey through time. Come and experience the living heart of world history—where continents connect, and civilizations come alive.

This trip had been considered for 2026 but was put on the back burner due to other developments on the groups calendar. Let me know if you are seriously interested in this trip. If there is enough traction, I will put it back on the schedule for the first half of May 2027. Otherwise, it goes back on the shelf.

August 2027: Best of Holland & Belgium

Cruise these scenic waterways on the beautiful new AmaSofia (christened this week!). I’ve been to the Netherlands and Belgium several times, but really excited about this itinerary (link) that includes new destinations for me, such as Antwerp and Ghent, along with excursions to the incredible Delta Works flood control project (a true engineering marvel—take it from a girl born on the bayou), Bruges, and the windmills of Kinderdijk. I have to say that 70 degrees in August sounds absolutely divine to me and I can’t wait to cool off in the Low Countries when it’s 100 degrees back in Texas. I might even feel the need to bring a jacket for the cool evening weather and catching a breeze on the ship's sundeck.

I have multiple early booking promotions currently available for this trip, and the kicker is that some are combinable, which is frequently not the case. The promotions are hypothetically in effect through the end of June, but once they hit a certain capacity, they will be retired. On top of that, I still have some 5% coupons that I can apply to your booking to reduce the price even more. Read more about the itinerary by clicking the corresponding button below, and contact me for pricing and availability asap!

Late September/October 2027: Andalucia & Morocco

I had been considering two different trips at two different times of the year—one to southern Spain and another to Morocco--and I decided to combine them. This one will be designed as an either-or-both situation, where you can sign up for just the Spain portion, just the Morocco portion, or both. I expect the entire combined trip to be about 15 to 20 days. From the Alhambra to the Alcazar, it will be marvelous to explore the Moorish influence in Andalucia and then see the roots of those styles in Morocco, just a short distance away. I probably won’t be publishing the brochure or taking bookings until this summer, but pencil this in on your calendar. Be sure to let me know if you’d like to be on the first dibs list for this trip!

Private trip planning: your interests, your priorities, your travel style.

The Mon Voyage private trip planning calendar for 2026 is filling fast. My best availability at this time is for planning your November and December 2026 or your 2027 trips. Reach out now, while I can still accommodate a few more 2026 requests--and if you're looking at holiday season travel, it's time to get on the stick!

À la prochaine,

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