U.S. Updates Travel Warning for Popular Caribbean Vacation Spot

As frigid temperatures, heavy snow, and strong winds move across much of the country, it's a time when you start to consider a warm-weather vacation to escape the frigid winter. If you find yourself planning a trip in the near future, it might be worth considering that the United States has recently updated a travel advisory for a popular Caribbean destination.

Levels to U.S. Travel Advisories

The United States Department of State has four different tiers for its travel advisories, ranging from the relatively mild Level 1 notices to the most serious Level 4 alerts.

A Level 1 advisory urges travelers to “exercise normal precautions” when visiting another country. Countries in this category are generally viewed as safe and include destinations such as Canada, Australia, and Greece.

Level 2 advisories are a bit more serious, recommending that travelers “exercise increased caution” in areas where concerns like petty theft or low-level crime are more common. Countries including Brazil, France, and Italy.

Level 3 advisories are a bit more severe, urging travelers to “reconsider travel” due to elevated security risks. Nations in this category include Colombia, Pakistan, and Uganda fall into this category.

Level 4 advisories are the most severe, urging Americans to simply “do not travel” to those locations because of serious dangers. Countries designated at this level include Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Updated Advisory for Jamaica

Previously, the United States Department of State gave Jamaica a Level 3 travel advisory, warning Americans to "reconsider travel" to the popular Caribbean vacation destination.

While there were no changes to the risk factors, the U.S. did deem it pertinent to decrease the severity of the travel advisory, updating it to a Level 2 advisory, urging travelers to simply "exercise increased caution" in the country due to crime, health, and natural disaster risks.

That said, there are a few areas in Jamaica where the United States warns against traveling "for any reason":

• St. Ann’s Parish - Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios.
• St. Catherine’s Parish - Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford.
• Clarendon Parish - All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
• St. Elizabeth’s Parish - Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth.
• Hanover Parish - Logwood and Orange Bay.
• St. James Parish/Montego Bay - Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
• Kingston and St. Andrew Parish - Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
• Manchester Parish - Green Vale and Gray Ground neighborhoods of Mandeville.
• St. Thomas Parish - Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.
• Trelawny Parish - Clarks Town.
• Westmoreland Parish - Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril.

Additionally, the U.S. government urges travelers not to use public buses or drive between cities at night.