Tagged: safety

The World's Safest and Most Dangerous Countries in 2026

The state of global peace in 2026 is pretty grim, according to an annual report. And according to your own eyes if you've followed the news lately. Each year, the Institute for…

These Are the Safest Parts of Mexico for Travel Right Now

Given its sunny beaches, rich culinary and cultural traditions, vibrant cities, historic villages, and ancient ruins, Mexico is always an appealing notion for travelers from the United…

These Are the Safest Caribbean Islands for Travelers, According to the U.S. Government and Other Sources

The safety situation for travelers in the Caribbean varies across the region's many islands, with crime rates improving here or worsening there based on economic conditions,…

U.S. Issues "Do Not Travel" Advisories for Places Affected by Ebola Outbreak

Amid a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the U.S. Department of State has updated its travel advisories for those African nations, urging…

Brain-Eating Amoeba Found at Three Very Popular National Parks—What Travelers Should Know

A new scientific study threatens to cast a pall over the summer cannonball season. Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey and other organizations have detected Naegleria fowleri,…

Another Major U.S. Airline Is Restricting This Common Device on Flights

Due to safety concerns, American Airlines has tightened its rules for traveling with portable chargers that run on lithium batteries. Effective Friday, May 1, each passenger is limited…

Which of the World's Great Road Trips Has the Best Weather Conditions for Driving?

Visibility is tops "in the hierarchy of perfect driving conditions," asserts British meteorologist Jim N.R. Dale in a new report that ranks road trips by weather. That sounds like bad…

Kiddo Not Quite Tall Enough for a Theme Park Ride? You Might Get to Skip the Line Next Time

You would think measuring a kid’s height would be a pretty cut-and-dried process. And yet, more often than you might imagine, theme park ride operators and attendants have to be the…

Southwest Airlines Further Restricts Portable Chargers on Flights

Southwest Airlines is establishing one of the strictest policies on lithium portable chargers in the U.S.According to an internal message that was posted for employees this week and…

More Airlines Restrict Power Banks: Is Your Battery Allowed?

Last year portable chargers, a commonly packed item that provides extra power for electronics, began appearing on the no-no lists for flyers. Lithium batteries can be lifesavers for…

Bad AI-Generated Traveler Info Provokes Religious Tension: 'Mistakes Like This Can Be Dangerous'

When Kim Kardashian recently failed to pass the California bar exam, she blamed ChatGPT for feeding her wrong information.You might not be daft enough to study for such an important…

The Ways Our Changing Climate is Pushing Up Prices of Travel

AirfaresThere are several factors at play. From 2027, airlines in 126 member states will be required offset growth in carbon dioxide emissions. Some airlines are getting in there…

Nervous Flyers Can Dial a Pilot-Staffed Helpline to Ease Fears

If knowledge is an antidote to fear, then anybody who gets anxious about flying in a plane has a resource to help overcome that particular source of dread.Dial a Pilot, which launched…

Tourists Warned of Deadly Tainted Alcohol in Mexico, Japan, Brazil, and Other Travel Hot Spots

Public heath experts are sounding the alarm about a worrisome uptick in poisonings from tainted alcohol in many countries around the world, including several major destinations for…

What Are the Safest Countries to Visit in 2026?

Smart travelers make safety a top concern no matter where they're headed. But, obviously, some places pose fewer risks than others due to factors such as economic and political…

The Unexpected Travel Effects of the Federal Shutdown

No matter how common they have become, U.S. Government shutdowns can be painful, especially for travelers.Already, the action that began on October 1 is affecting everything from…

The TSA Has Banned These Hair Care Products from Checked Luggage

This year, the Transportation Security Administration has made a few important tweaks to security rules at the airport.In February, the TSA clarified that portable chargers and power…

Men Accused of Surveilling Cruise Ships in Mediterranean for Suspicious Reasons

On June 22, a 26-year-old man was arrested near a NATO base in Souda Bay on the popular vacation island of Crete, Greece. He had booked a hotel room overlooking the port and paid in…

Tourists Continue to Make Terrible Decisions Around the Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park

The hot springs at Yellowstone National Park have injured or killed more people than "any other natural feature" there, according to the National Park Service. As you might imagine,…

Kidnappers Are Targeting Dating App Users in This Tourism Hot Spot, U.S. Embassy Warns

U.S. government officials have issued a warning for tourists who use dating apps while on vacation. In a new security alert, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico reports that it has confirmed…

Standing Airline Seats Are Reportedly Coming in 2026. That News Doesn't Sit Well

When you have covered travel news for 25 years, as I have, you notice that certain stories flare up with the regularity of heartburn. Such it is with standing airline seats, a sizzling…

Southwest Airlines Becomes the First U.S. Carrier to Ban a Common Electronic Device from Overhead Bins

If Southwest Airlines had a theme song for 2025, it would have to be Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'."Not only has the carrier ditched its much-beloved/much-maligned…

Make Sure This Common Electronic Device Isn't in Your Checked Bag—Now TSA Rules Forbid It

Amid all the brouhaha over the long-awaited launch of the Transportation Security Administration's REAL ID requirement at U.S. airports, you might have missed news of another important…

How to Stay Safe on Cruises Now That the CDC Has Fired Health Inspectors

A new virus emerges. It has a high infection rate, sickening dozens almost immediately after its discovery. The Trump administration underplays the threat.Sound familiar?History is…

Hurricane Season 2025: What Forecasters Say Is in Store for Florida and the Caribbean

Looks like we're in for another "above average" Atlantic hurricane season, according to weather experts. Researchers at Colorado State University's Tropical Cyclones, Radar,…