U.S. says ‘do not travel’ to these 2 islands in this popular Southeast Asian destination

If you’re planning a trip to this island destination in Southeast Asia, you might want to take note that there are some islands in the country where you should not travel.

The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory to the Philippines, warning travelers not to travel to certain islands due to “crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism.”

The advisory also noted that in other parts of the country, travelers should “exercise increased caution.”

Here’s what you need to know if you still plan on traveling to the Philippines.

What does the latest travel advisory to the Philippines mean for you?

The agency gave a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory to the Philippines due to “crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping,” noting that some areas have increased risk.

The State Department especially warned people not to travel to at least two different islands in the Phillipines. This advisory is for “The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea” due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping, as well as “Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.”

What is the highest travel advisory?

There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4. This travel advisory for the Philippines is a Level 2 concern for the entire area, and Level 4 for at least two islands.

When planning a vacation, you should check the current travel advisory for that destination. So, which level is the most concerning?

• Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions – This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.
• Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution – There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.
• Level 3: Reconsider Travel – There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.
• Level 4: Do Not Travel – This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.

What should travelers to the Philippines do in light of this travel advisory?

The U.S. State Department warns travelers who are planning to travel to the Philippines to do the following:

• Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
• Avoid demonstrations.
• Buy insurance before you travel

One of the suggestions from the State Department is to get travel insurance before traveling to a country with a high-level travel advisory. The State Department recommends medical evaucation insurance, travel health insurance, and trip cancellation insurance.

The State Department also suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency and prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations using the Traveler’s Checklist.

You can find out more about the travel advisory to the Philippines on the State Department website.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.