15 Dangerous Locations Americans Should Avoid on Their Vacation
Having a USA passport can get you into many countries around the world! It is one of the best passports to have when you want to visit many places. However, being able to visit a city or country doesn’t mean that you should. In fact,there are many places Americans should not visit since they’re dangerous. Before planning your next vacation, review this list of 15 dangerous locations that US citizens should avoid!
1. Caracas, Venezuela
At the top of our list, you’ll find Caracas, Venezuela, widely reported as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Although Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, it continues to face significant violence due to poor political and economic conditions. Violent crimes are common, as well as petty theft on the streets. We recommend you take Caracas off of your list of places to visit for now and pick another destination.
2. Baghdad, Iraq
Although Iraq has many historical and cultural landmarks worth seeing, American tourists should not visit Baghdad. It has consistently been on the do not travel list from the American government for many years, owing to the frequency of violent crime. Since violence in Baghdad is usually tied to terrorism, there is no way to predict whether it will be safe or not. Americans should not even consider traveling to Baghdad at this time.
3. Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is one of the cities Americans should not consider traveling to at this time. Lagos and Nigeria, more broadly, suffer a high rate of petty and violent crime, including kidnapping and robbery. Instances of scams and cybercrime are also unusually high in this area. All of these things make it an undesirable place for American tourists to visit.
4. Quito, Ecuador
While the city of Quito is unique, it is also a hotspot for crime. Instances of gangs are quite high in Quito, which correlates to violent crime, such as armed robbery and explosions. Petty crime is also quite rampant, especially during the evenings. If you insist on visiting Quito (perhaps on your way to the Galapagos), check recent travel advisories for the area and always travel with a trusted, registered guide. Staying off the streets at night and monitoring your belongings is also crucial.
5. Acapulco, Mexico
With a reputation for golf resorts and beautiful beaches, Acapulco has really taken a turn in the past years. While it used to be known as a luxurious beach town, crime, and violence in this area have gotten much worse. In fact, it is known as the “murder capital” of Mexico for how much violent crime occurs there. Though you’re likely safe in the resorts, we recommend you pick a different coastal city for your vacation to avoid these high crime levels.
6. Guatemala City, Guatemala
Although Guatemala has gotten safer overall over recent years, Guatemala City remains on our list of places you shouldn’t travel to. The city has a high rate of drug crime, as well as a high murder rate and human trafficking issues. In addition to this violent crime, petty crime has also been on the rise in recent years. If you want to visit Guatemala, skip Guatemala City and pick a more secure city to explore.
7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Although Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited spots in Brazil, it is also one of the most dangerous cities in the country. With over a million tourists visiting every year, it is no wonder that petty crime has risen at astronomical rates. Street crime here is extremely common, especially at night. If you insist on visiting Rio, stay in the right part of town, travel with a guide, and take security precautions to ensure your safety.
8. Cairo, Egypt
Cairo may feel like an obvious place to stop when you’re headed to see the pyramids. However, it is a dangerous place for Americans. Although it can be a safe destination, terrorism in the area strikes without warning, and terrorist groups often target tourist locations specifically. Petty crime has also been on the rise due to worsening financial conditions in the area. It can be a dangerous spot to visit and is best avoided if you can help it.
9. Bogota, Colombia
As the capital of Colombia, many tourists want to see this city during their travels. However, Bogota remains a place with high crime rates and petty theft. The high crime rate ties back to drug-related schemes and gang activity, both of which produce violent crime in the area. Petty crime also tends to center on tourists, who are perceived as wealthy. Our advice is to skip Bogota and the dangers it can entail.
10. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh, has been on American citizens’ do-not travel list for many years. But in recent times, the government has even requested all non-essential staff leave. Due to the city’s rapid growth, which has resulted in poor urban planning and dire living conditions for most residents, there is great civil unrest in Dhaka. Displeased residents have turned to terrorism and crime, which makes it a very unsafe place for Americans. On top of this, you’ll have limited government support should anything go wrong in Dhaka. For all these reasons, we suggest US tourists stay away from Dhaka entirely.
11. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
There are so many places you could visit in Mexico. We suggest you steer clear of Ciudad Juarez. Ciudad Juarez struggles with drug crime and violence, and it is known as one of the most violent spots in the country. Police corruption is also relatively high here since police are used to getting paid off by drug cartels. This means that if something terrible happens to you, getting the help you need can be difficult. Steer clear of this city in favor of another Mexican destination!
12. Manila, Philippines
While the capital city of the Philippines has plenty to see, it is not recommended for American travelers to visit there. The city is plagued with violent crime, ranging from murder and armed robbery to rape and sexual assault. Gangs are pretty active in the city and are subject to little to no police control. On top of this, petty crime rates are very high due to high rates of poverty in the city overall. Unfortunately, tourists tend to be the target of petty theft due to perceived wealth and status. We suggest entirely taking this destination off of your list.
13. Yangon, Myanmar
Yangon, Myanmar, is another city recently added to Level 4 and does not have travel status with the United States government. With high rates of civil unrest and armed conflict, without a strong system of justice or police to enforce it, Yangon is a very unsafe place for tourists. What makes it worse is that Yangon is not a particularly stable city either; conflict can break out unpredictably and without much prior warning, making it difficult for tourists to ensure their safety. Americans should not be traveling to Yangon under any circumstances at this time; it’s simply unsafe.
14. Kabul, Afghanistan
Visiting Afghanistan and seeing something radically different from the United States can be tempting. However, Kabul is not where you should go on your vacation. Consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, Kabul continues to be an active war zone, with terrorist attacks, violence, and bombings. You never know when danger will appear in Kabul, so all US citizens should stay away.
15. Cape Town, South Africa
For anyone visiting South Africa, Cape Town feels like an obvious choice. With so much natural beauty nearby, staying in Cape Town makes a lot of sense. However, levels of violence, drugs, and gang activity in the city make it a dangerous spot for tourists, especially those who are unaware of where the safe neighborhoods are. If you can avoid Cape Town, do so, or stay in a secure area and don’t walk around alone at night.
Keeping Safe on Your Vacation: Dangerous Locations to Avoid
When you’re on vacation, you don’t want to constantly worry about whether you’re safe. Being in a dangerous location not only threatens your safety but also detracts from the fun you should be having on vacation (even if nothing happens). Avoid risky situations and their stress by not traveling to dangerous spots in the first place! If you plan to visit one of the locations above, just skip it for now. There are other more safe, fun places to check out on vacation.
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