REVIEWS OF HOTEL EXECUTIVE CLUB LOUNGES, KIDS CLUBS AND MORE.
When planning a family holiday, safety should always come before finding the cheapest flights or the best hotel deals.
From time to time, governments issue "Do Not Travel" advisories for certain destinations. These warnings are the highest level of travel advice and are usually issued when there are serious safety concerns, such as armed conflict, terrorism, widespread civil unrest, kidnapping, or situations where emergency assistance may be very limited.
In this blog, we will explain what a "Do Not Travel" advisory means, why these warnings are issued, and which destinations currently have them.
A "Do Not Travel" advisory is the highest level of travel warning that can be issued by a government.
It does not simply mean that a destination has a higher crime rate or that travellers should be more careful. Instead, it means the risks are considered serious enough that people are strongly advised not to visit.
These warnings may be issued because of:
These travel advisories can also change quickly, so it is important to check the latest official guidance before booking or travelling.
While planning a trip is always exciting, at least for the most part, travelling, especially with kids, still poses some challenges. The last thing you want is to be held up in an airport, encounter roadblocks, or even get stuck in a foreign destination.
Young children also don't know how to deal with these challenges and may struggle with long travel delays, limited access to food or clean water, disrupted medical care, extreme weather conditions, and stress caused by rapidly changing situations.
For these reasons, destinations with "Do Not Travel" advisories are generally not suitable for pretty much anyone, but especially for family holidays.
The exact list depends on which country's travel advice you follow, but several destinations are widely recognised as high-risk because of ongoing conflict or severe health and security concerns.
As of July 2026, countries or territories commonly listed under the highest level of travel warning by major governments include:
Some countries may also have advisories that apply only to certain regions rather than the entire country. For example, border areas or conflict zones may have a "Do Not Travel" warning even if other parts of the country have a lower advisory level.
If a "Do Not Travel" advisory is issued after you have booked your trip, don't panic. Start by contacting your airline, tour operator, travel insurance provider, and accommodation provider. Depending on the circumstances and the terms of your booking, you may be offered a refund, a travel credit, a change of dates, or an alternative destination.
Your options will depend on the type of booking you made and when the advisory was issued.
"Do Not Travel" advisories are issued when governments believe the risks are serious enough that people should avoid visiting a destination. These warnings are usually linked to conflict, terrorism, violent crime, political instability, or other situations that could put travellers at significant risk.
It is therefore very important to pay attention to these advisories. Before booking any international trip, take a few minutes to read the latest official travel advice, understand the risks for your specific destination, and make sure your travel insurance provides appropriate cover.
We are a family of 4 - mother, father and two children. Our aim is to travel the world and review all travel opportunities to help other families.
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