Citizens tips

On October 19, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare advisory that Americans overseas “exercise increased caution” due to heightened tensions and chances of terrorism around the world, spurred by the Israel-Hamas war. It’s part of a system of travel warnings that’s been around in some form since 1978, designed to help citizens assess how safe a destination might be at a given time.

Have you ever dreamed of dropping everything and moving to a sunny seaside town in Italy or a picturesque mountain village in Switzerland?

Welcome to Namibia, one of the world’s newest countries and one of its least densely populated.

Botswana is one of Africa’s most stunning safari destinations, famed for its high-end, low-impact tourism model, vast fence-free national parks and spectacular wildlife. And there's good news for travelers: many visitors can get a visa on arrival and start exploring.

The good people of Sweden are well aware that many United States citizens not only mix up Sweden with Switzerland geographically, but also, culturally. The tourism board, Visit Sweden, has recently authorized an analysis on this phenomenon in partnership with the data platform Dynata and the results are just what you might expect: Half of Americans are unsure about what makes Swedish culture different from Swiss culture. According to research and data from MyTelescope, for example, 85,000 Google searches in the last year coming from the U.S. inquired, “Are Sweden and Switzerland the same?”.

The U.S. State Department has issued updated information for Americans traveling in the Middle East amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, including information on charter flights out of Tel Aviv this week. The latest guidance comes just four days after officials issued a worldwide caution for U.S. citizens traveling abroad."Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution," the U.S. State Department said on October 19.Americans are encouraged to avoid travel to Gaza, Lebanon and Iraq and reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank as of Monday. U.S. citizens who wish to depart Israel and the West Bank with U.S. government assistance need to complete a crisis intake form.Additionally, Monday's update includes details regarding upcoming charter flights out of Israel via Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport."Commercial availability remains limited out of Ben Gurion Airport. The U.S. government is facilitating charter flight transportation for U.S. citizens; we urge those wishing to leave to take advantage of these charters while they are available. There will be flight departures from Ben Gurion International Airport on Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26," the State Department confirmed."Please go to Ben Gurion International Airport, Terminal 3 if you wish to depart Israel. U.S. Embassy personnel will be present to direct you and provide specific flight information. Be prepared to wait," officials added.Regardless of where they're traveling abroad, U.S. citizens are being asked to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts that make it easier to be located in an emergency and follow the State Department on Facebook and Twitter for the most up-to-date information.

Mexico is a vibrant country full of incredible culture and wonderful people – no wonder it's so continuously popular with visitors.

On Thursday, October 19, the US State Department issued a worldwide travel advisory urging American citizens to “exercise increased caution” while overseas, “due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, [and] demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.”

Visas are an essential part of travel – the physical gatekeepers of entry or exit into a country – and citizens of many countries outside Africa will need a visa to visit Benin.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide caution alert for Americans traveling abroad in response to rising tensions in the Middle East. It’s rare for the department to broadcast a travel alert at this level. U.S. citizens are advised to reconsider foreign travel.

In light of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, the U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide travel advisory for U.S. citizens, encouraging enhanced caution abroad.

The U.S. Department of State issued a “Worldwide Caution” alert on Thursday, warning Americans around the globe to be aware of their surroundings.

Whether you prefer hiking mountains, exploring temples, or soaking in hot springs, Taiwan is an island of endless temptations.

Fiji is an incredible island nation with the kind of stunning beaches and vibrant culture that will make you never want to leave. But first, you need to arrive, and a big part of that is figuring out whether you need a visa and how to get one if you do.

The U.S. Department of State warned Americans to reconsider travel to Israel in an updated advisory on Thursday amid the ongoing conflict.

On Saturday, violence erupted across Israel and Gaza in one of the worst conflicts the region has seen in decades, according to The New York Times. After Hamas militants began launching thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli towns early Saturday morning, the conflict has continued to escalate, with Israel’s military responding with massive air strikes. The violence has left thousands dead, according to CNN. Thousands more are injured on both sides.

— Laura R.

After warning travelers to expect consistently delayed passport processing times for 2023 in March, the U.S. Department of State has announced slightly improved wait times.

If you’re not a US citizen, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops before you can vacation in the USA.

Most mornings, around 6:30, Tharshan Selvarajah arrives at the Élysée Palace, seat of the French presidency, and unloads around 30 baguettes into the security scanner.