Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Travel Advisory

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- - Travel Advisory (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/travel-advisory-41606/)

Given recent postings expressing concerns over traveling to Europe, I thought I would pass this warning from the U.S. military issued to all service members and their families. Take what you will from it. INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL IS EITHER PROHIBITED OR CATEGORIZED AS EXTREMELY RISKY. BEFORE INDIVIDUALS CONSIDER TRAVELING TO ANY OF THE NOTED COUNTRIES, CLEARANCE BY THE AMERICAN EMBASSY AND/OR THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS NECESSARY: (1) ALBANIA (2) BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (3) CROATIA (4) FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (5) GREECE (6) HUNGARY (7) LIBYA (8) MACEDONIA (9) MONTENEGRO (10) RUSSIA (11) SERBIA (12) TURKEY B. TRAVEL TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES IS PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS AND STRONGLY DISCOURAGED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: (1) ALGERIA (2) ANGOLA (3) ARMENIA (4) AZERBAIJAN (5) BELARUS (6) BURUNDI (7) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DROC) (8) EGYPT (9) GEORGIA (10) LEBANON (11) MAURITANIA (12) RWANDA (13) SLOVENIA (14) SYRIA (14) TANZANIA (15) UGANDA (16) UKRAINE C. (U) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, SPECIAL EVENT, GROUP OR PERSONAL TRAVEL TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES IS DISCOURAGED DUE TO INCREASED RISK AND A LESS THAN ADEQUATE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT: (1) BENIN (2) BOTSWANA (3) BULGARIA (4) BURKINA FASO (7) CAMEROON (8) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (9) CHAD (10) CYPRUS (11) ESTONIA (12) EQUITORIAL GUINEA (13) GABON (14) GAMBIA (15) GHANA (16) GUINEA (17) GUINEA-BISSAU (18) ITALY (19) IVORY COAST (20) LATVIA (21) LESOTHO (22) LIBERIA (23) LITHUANIA (24) MALAWI (25) MALI (26) MALTA (27) MILDOVA (28) MOROCCO (29) MOZAMBIQUE (30) NAMIBIA (31) NIGER (32) NIGERIA (33) PAKISTAN (34) POLAND (35) ROMANIA (36) SENEGAL (37) SIERRA LEONE (38) SLOVAKIA (39) SOMALIA (40) SOUTH AFRICA (41) SUDAN (42) SWAZILAND (43) TOGO (44) TUNISIA (45) WESTERN SAHARA (46) YEMEN (47) ZAIRE (48) ZAMBIA (49) ZIMBABWE

Interesting list. The risks are higher, of course, for someone identifiable as a member of the military. [I remember my brother's list when he was in the military in Germany in the early 70s. -- he couldn't go within x number of miles of the [then] East German border. This was a problem as his future spouse's family was within that limit!] I'm wondering how Hungary got on the top 12 list. There is a large Serb population in the southeast of Hungary, but the north should be fine.

Trina, I've looked at the US Government's website that lists travel advisories, and it doesn't inlcude this many countries by a long shot? Is there a military personnel website that you look at, or that you can recommend for this type of list? I'm considering Greece in mid-May and the opinions are definitely split. Thanks!

Why don't they throw in Newark and Jersey City? If a person is looking for perfect safety in this world, they should stay at home in bed. Come to think of it, more people die there than anywhere else!

Helena - I can't think of a specific website for you to check other than an embassy site. My list was sent out via email from military higher-ups. Also, I just got this list today, so maybe the sites you checked were not current at the time you inquired. Al - My intent was not to cause alarm, only to inform. You have to take into account the current situation and use your own judgment. There has been a significant increase in political activities all over Europe, including "safe" countries like Germany (where I live) and the level of safety is unpredictable. Mike - As for the safety of Slovenia and Croatia, I think you have to take into account more than just the local population when considering its safety. Also, I would imagine that, and this is just speculation, if family members of military members are required clearance from the American Embassy to enter these two countries, that other U.S. citizens are required the same clearance. At the very least, it should cause some to pause. S.Fowler - Point well taken, but given that most military members and their families do not travel wearing battle uniforms or other military insignia, I'm not sure that we are at any greater or lesser risk as being identifyable targets. Again, I did not intend to cause alarm, only to provide information for you to do with as you please.

I consider Trina's post as sound advice. If the U.S. military is warning their own on these countries, caution should be exercised by everybody. Trina, thanks for sharing. Again, IMHO, stay away from demonstrations, don't attract too much attention, and try to stay at less crowded cities. I'm still going to Spain & Portugal....

My husband works with the diplomatic community here in Washington, and as far as we know, the average American citizen does not need to obtain clearance to enter countries such as Greece, Croatia or Slovenia.

My understanding, at least of the time when my brother was warned, is the concern is for hostage taking and then, depending on the person, monetary or political blackmail. But then my brother knew "secrets." [That he still can't talk about] The latter is also a concern. I do understand that families-of- servicepeople do not wear a big "FOSP" on their forehead, but problems that they run into may have different implications than for joe_and_susie_tourist.

The State Department's website at http://www.state.gov/ lists all the current travel advisory warnings. However, common sense should prevail- you could get into trouble anywhere in the world if you don't speak the language, and don't know what areas to stay away from.

High Risk Alert - Athens, Greece - Demonstrations by the Greek communist party and others have placed US citizens at risk of spontaneous violence. US Government officials, particularly military service members, are at risk of political assassination by motorcycle riding gunmen or bombs from the Terrorist group November 17. Increased security precautions should be taken to raise awareness.

Who issued this warning?