Texans Urged to ‘Reconsider Travel’ To These Popular Destinations

The holidays have come and gone across Texas and it’s time for the annual tear-down. That means getting out in the yard and pulling down the lights and tinsel or just leaving them up until next time, we’ve seen what y’all do in Tyler.

Meanwhile, in parts of southeastern Texas around Orange, Beaumont, and Port Arthur,  it’s not uncommon to replace the red and green of Christmas with the colors and pageantry of Mardi Gras

And if Mardi Gras is on the minds of folks in southeastern Texas the thoughts of spring break have got to be bubbling up in other parts of the state. For a great many Texans who have outgrown their “party beach” days, spring break is a great time for travel.

You probably know someone who has already booked a cruise for spring break or later this spring or summer. If they are sailing out of the Port of Galveston chances are they are heading on a Caribbean cruise. Which should be wonderful and relaxing. But, there are some places on your journey that have just been included in the Department of State’s new travel advisories for 2025.

As of late December, the Department of State has raised the threat level for travellers to Guatemala and Belize. Both of those countries are popular stops for many cruise lines. The threat in Guatemala is listed as a “Level 3” or “reconsider travel” advisory. A Level 3 advisory is the next-to-highest warning issued by the Department of State so it’s pretty significant.

Meanwhile, in Belize, the threat level is at Level 2 which on the State Department scale means “exercised increased caution”. The threat in Belize, like the threat in Guatemala, is related to crime and the lack of response from local authorities. In Guatemala, several areas of the country are considered to be unsafe for any travellers. In fact, the U.S. Government won’t allow employees on the ground in Guatemala to travel to certain sections of the country at certain times of the day.

If your cruise itinerary includes stops in these countries please consult your cruise coordinator for specific details about going onshore. There are places that tourists can visit safely in these locales but the situation could be changing on a daily basis, so it’s worth it to know before you go.

It’s always good advice to “keep your head on a swivel” and be cognizant of your surroundings no matter where you go. A little common sense and precautionary planning ahead of time can really give you peace of mind when you travel. But in some places, even that won’t be enough.

Or you could make the choice to spend your “off time” at home. Or if you just have to visit a “third world” destination you could always visit Mississippi, or maybe you’d like to stop someplace nicer, like these places in Louisiana.