Right smack in the middle of high summer travel season, the U.S. Department of State has issued a warning not to visit the popular resort destination of Jamaica at this time.
Due to escalating violence in Kingston, Jamaica and surrounding areas, the State Department has issued a travel alert warning of possible violence.
With thousands of heavily armed police and soldiers clashing with defenders of a gang leader sought by the United States, access to the Norman Manley International Airport has been blocked on an intermittent basis, the alert said. Some fights have been canceled. A Delta spokesman said the airline is “monitoring the situation carefully,” and would likely make a decision Wednesday on rebooking policies.
“The possibility exists that unrest could spread beyond the general Kingston area,” the State Department said. The government has canceled official travel into Kingston, and warned U.S citizens in the country to monitor local news and radio reports before leaving their homes or hotels.
The offices of the U.S. Embassy in Kingston were closed Tuesday. Only essential staff were told to report to work.
Hopefully the situation will get under control quickly so we can all go back to partying in MoBay soon enough.
Chinese travel group tours halted? What?! When does that even happen? Well, according to the Chinese National Tourism Administration the situation on the ground in Bangkok, Thailand is too hot for group tours to travel into the area.
After 21 people were killed in political unrest this weekend in Thailand, China’s Tourism Authority has ordered a stop on organized travel trips to the country.
While this is just a temporary suspension of travel, the Chinese National Tourism Administration revealed, “Tourism authorities at all levels will immediately notify all travel agencies to temporarily stop organized group travel to Thailand until further notice,” citing the “volatile situation on the ground” in Thailand as their reason to halt travel.
On Saturday seventeen civilians as well as four soldiers were killed in Bangkok with more than 800 people wounded in a clash between Thailand security forces and “Red Shirt” protesters.
We can only hope that a peaceful solution can be found, and quick, before more people are injured or killed and so that we can get back into Thailand and explore one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
A few weeks after the US added two more Mexican cities for tourists to avoid, Canada is now warning their citizens against visiting certain areas of the country.
Ottawa warned their citizens against visiting the border town of Ciudad Juarez due to escalating violence. The Foreign Affairs website cites “escalating violence linked to drug trafficking” and warns tourists not to visit the area unless it’s absolutely necessary.
The heightened travel alert comes as an American couple with links to the local US consulate in the area were killed.
The Northern Mexico states Durango and Coahuila have been added to the list of Mexican states that U.S. travelers should not visit.
The U.S. State Department made the alert after four recent American killings in those areas, in late 2009 and in early 2010.
But not to worry, you still need to get to Los Cabos anyway!
A new travel alert is under effect in Thailand. While the anti-governmental protests seem to have ended in Bangkok, the situation is still rather volatile and might best be preserved as a travel destination later in the year.
That aside, Thailand is one of the best locations for adventure travel in the world. Not only do you have amazing scuba diving, kayaking, climbing, hiking, repelling and beaches, you also have a haven of history in this rich and fertile land.
Traveling to Thailand between November and February is best as the rain has abated and is not too hot during these months. Also, this is the prime period for the country’s festivals that you don’t want to miss.
If you find that you cannot wait to visit Thailand, be sure to check out iExplore’s current deal to Thailand and Cambodia. Right now you can take advantage of at least 20% in savings, though you may not want to.
