Travelers warned about danger in the Bahamas. These other countries are considered dangerous
Travelers are being warned to take extra caution when going to popular island destination the Bahamas.
The Caribbean nation was already listed at “Level 2: exercise increased caution,” according to the State Department’s rubric for travel safety, where Level 1 means “exercise normal precautions” and Level 4 means “do not travel.”
However, the destination’s travel advisory was updated with additional information on March 31 to “reflect crime, swimming-related risks, and information on traveling with firearms and ammunition.”
“Violent crime — like armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults — can occur anywhere in The Bahamas,” according to the travel advisory. “Most crime occurs in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. Stay alert in the ‘Over the Hill’ area in Nassau, south of Shirley Street, where gangs have killed residents.”
Here's everything you need to know about what other countries are under a travel advisory and how to globetrot safely.
What are the travel advisory levels in the US?
The State Department classifies how safe a place is to travel by assigning an advisory level, from Level 1 to Level 4. Here's what the advisory levels mean:
- Level 1: Exercise normal precautions. This indicates the least risky places to travel to, but the State Department cautions that "there is some risk in any international travel."
- Level 2: Exercise increased caution. Travelers should be aware of higher safety and security risks in their destination, and that conditions can change at any time.
- Level 3: Reconsider travel. Serious safety and security risks exist and conditions can change at any time. The State Department provides more specific guidance for travelers in Level 3 areas.
- Level 4: Do not travel. Level 4 countries represent the highest risk of life-threatening danger and little to no ability for the U.S. government to assist when an emergency occurs. The State Department advises travelers to avoid Level 4 countries, that Americans in those countries leave as soon as it's safe to do so, and to write a will and leave DNA samples before travel in case of worst-case scenarios.
Some countries have varying advisory levels with different guidance based on the region. This includes Mexico, where most states are under advisories ranging from Level 2 to Level 4.
What countries have a Level 4 travel warning?
As of April 2025, these countries and regions are under a Level 4 advisory, meaning do not travel:
- Mexico
- Yemen
- Iran
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Afghanistan
- Lebanon
- Central African Republic
- Belarus
- Iraq
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Haiti
- Libya
- Somalia
- Russia
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Mali
- Burkina Faso
- North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
- Sudan
What countries have a Level 3 travel warning?
As of April 2025, these countries and regions are under a Level 3 advisory, meaning reconsider travel:
- Guinea-Bissau
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Niger
- Chad
- Pakistan
- Burundi
- Guatemala
- Vanuatu
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- Macau
- Uganda
- Egypt
- Guyana
- Bangladesh
- Jamaica
- New Caledonia
- Papua New Guinea
- Colombia
- Nigeria
- Mauritania
- Ethiopia
How to check for travel advisory?
Visit travel.state.gov for detailed advisories on the country or countries you plan to visit.
USA TODAY reporter Eve Chen contributed to this article.