Traveling this Summer? The U.S. Government warns not to travel to these 21 Countries.
Traveling this Summer? The U.S. Government warns not to travel to these 21 Countries.
Hey Hawaii travelers, before you book your next big trip using points and miles, make sure you're not heading somewhere the U.S. government is warning against. The State Department just updated its Do Not Travel list, and it includes 21 countries that could pose serious safety risks (Level 4).
If you’re sitting on a stash of points from your AMEX, Chase, or Capital One cards, here’s what you need to know before you redeem them for an international getaway.
What is the U.S. “Do Not Travel” List?
The U.S. State Department issues travel advisories ranging from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel). These alerts are based on safety issues like crime, civil unrest, terrorism, health risks, or conflict.
The Level 4 list isn’t a legal ban, but it's a strong advisory — especially important if you're traveling with family or booking flights using hard-earned points. View the full list, you may be surprised if your favorite travel destinations are deemed “risky”.
📍 21 Countries Currently on the “Do Not Travel” List:
As of now, these countries are marked Level 4 by the U.S. government:
Afghanistan – Crime, civil unrest, terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and limited healthcare facilities
Belarus – Arbitrary law enforcement, wrongful detention, civil unrest, and involvement in the Russia/Ukraine war
Burkina Faso – Terrorism, crime, and kidnapping
Burma (Myanmar) – Civil unrest, armed conflict, landmines, arbitrary law enforcement, wrongful detention, and limited healthcare
Central African Republic – Armed conflict, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping
Democratic Republic of the Congo – Armed conflict, crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism
Haiti – Kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited healthcare
Iran – Terrorism, wrongful detention, civil unrest, and kidnapping
Iraq – Terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest
Lebanon – Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, landmines, and armed conflict
Libya – Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, landmines, kidnapping, and armed conflict
Mali – Crime, terrorism, and kidnapping
North Korea – Long-term and wrongful detention
Russia – War with Ukraine
Somalia – Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, piracy, and health issues
South Sudan – Crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict
Sudan – Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping
Syria – Kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, hostage taking, armed conflict, and wrongful detention
Ukraine – War with Russia
Venezuela – Wrongful detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary law enforcement, crime, civil unrest, and limited healthcare
Yemen – Kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health reasons, armed conflict, and landmines
⚠️ Note: This list can change quickly based on global events. Always check the State Department Travel Advisory website before booking.
🌴 Why This Matters for Hawaii Travelers Using Points
If you’re part of the Hawaii Reward Travel community, you already know we’re all about stretching your miles to see the world. But it’s just as important to redeem wisely.
Here’s why this matters:
Some of these destinations may show up with “cheap award seats,” but you don’t want to risk safety for a good redemption.
Travel insurance may not cover you if you knowingly travel to a Level 4 country.
Getting stuck abroad in an unstable country could make it hard to get help from the U.S. embassy.
✅ Safer (and Still Amazing) Alternatives
Still want to explore new places using your points? Here are safer, high-value options for Hawaii-based travelers:
Japan – Easy to book with Virgin Atlantic points via ANA
Singapore – Great value using Amex or Capital One transfers
Australia – Book via Alaska or American Airlines
Thailand or Bali – Fly via JAL or Singapore Airlines for solid redemptions
Italy or Spain – Great value via Iberia or Air France/KLM using Avios or Flying Blue
💬 HRT Final Thoughts
You work hard to earn your points, don’t waste them on redemptions that could put your trip or safety at risk. Let's stick to destinations that give you both incredible value and peace of mind.
Mahalo,
Scottie, Hawaii Reward Travel
