Is it protected to travel this fall? What experts say

Like many Americans, I’m traveling this fall. And like many Americans, I’m asking myself: Is it secure to travel this fall?

It all depends, experts say.

“This fall, there are a few things travelers should be concerned about from a safety perspective,” notes John Gobbels, Chief Operating Officer of Medjet.

For example:

• Have you seen the “TOURISTS GO HOME” signs in Europe this summer? Some popular destinations are slamming the door in our faces because they fear too many tourists will destroy their cities. It’s a legitimate concern, but you don’t need to be caught in the course of it.
• Instability is increasing. The wars within the Middle East and Ukraine are more complicated than ever and are unlikely to be resolved by the autumn. Indeed, the war in Gaza threatens to spill over into other parts of the region and potentially make travel to countries which are now considered protected tougher.
• The US elections are usually not helping. This presidential campaign could possibly be essentially the most contentious in recent history, which could affect your safety. “Americans should be aware of how locals feel about them and have a plan in place in case negative sentiments actually threaten their safety,” says Gobbels.

In other words, in case you’re taking a brief domestic trip, nothing out of the strange awaits you. However, in case you’re traveling abroad, things could get interesting this fall.

“There will be a relatively normal travel pattern,” says John Rose, Chief Risk and Security Officer at ALTOURa travel management company. But you continue to must take some precautions.

Here’s my goal for this fall – and why I’m a bit nervous

I travel three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months, which implies travel safety is on my mind always. I plan to go to several destinations this fall, and truthfully, I’m a bit anxious. Here’s what I’m doing to remain protected:

• I’m starting my trip in Dublin, which has a fairly good repute for safety – although there are parts of the town I’d be higher off avoiding. I plan to spend most of my time working from my apartment and visiting all the favored sights. Tourist traps with plenty of foreign visitors might be scary because they attract petty thieves and criminals, so careful planning is a must.
• I may also be in Istanbul – a city with an appropriate safety record unless you’re silly. And by silly I mean accepting an invite to a bar from a friendly stranger after which being duped into buying overpriced drinks, which is a standard scam. I’m also cautious about discussing politics and religion of any kind in Turkey. If I keep my head down, it must be absolutely no problem.
• My last stop this fall is Doha, Qatar. I visited through the pandemic, just as they were preparing for the World Cup, and located it to be one among the safest places on the planet. I’ll be there through the US presidential election and have vowed that if I’m asked about Trump or Harris, I’ll immediately change the topic to the weather.

When it involves security, I agree with you. And I’m a bit anxious too.

Professional suggestions for protected travel this autumn

You can avoid dangerous situations this fall by following these easy suggestions from safety experts.

Find out about your destination very fastidiously

Don’t book a visit anywhere without considering fastidiously first, even in case you’ve been there again and again. Things are changing, says Jeremy Murchland, CEO of Seven Corners. “More than anything, any savvy traveler should be mindful of what’s happening politically in their destination,” he adds. “From overtourism protests to election cycles to labor strikes, current events can impact your ability to travel. In extreme cases, they can also put you at higher risk than normal.” Seven Corners has been monitoring the safety situation, and Murchland says he’s noticed an increase in tensions ahead of the autumn travel season.

Make a plan and follow it

Once what potential hazards you face, you have to develop a plan, says Carrie Hartman, president of the worldwide business travel and relocation platform 3Sixty. For example, consider the high-activity hurricane season predicted for this fall. “Having an emergency plan — including knowing local shelters and emergency contacts — can literally save lives,” she says. Don’t wait until you are on the bottom to make a plan, because by then it could be too late.

Stay away from politics

As tempting as it might be to speak about your favorite candidate, don’t. “The United States presidential election is viewed very negatively in most parts of the world, regardless of which side of the political spectrum you are on,” says Rose, ALTOUR’s security expert. “For this reason, it is highly advisable to refrain from any political discussion, especially about the countries you are visiting. In fact, in some countries, visitors can be imprisoned for initiating a discussion about that country’s policies, especially if they perceive them to be negative.”

How to remain protected this fall

Bottom line: You can keep yourself protected by taking a number of easy steps—and avoiding dangerous places. And there are a number of latest tricks to allow you to stay out of trouble, too.

“While it is impossible to completely eliminate all risks, there are proven ways to significantly reduce them,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA.

The Alliance has released a new edition of Allyz TravelSmartits travel app, which incorporates special safety alerts. Anyone can download and use the app, which also includes a hospital locator that quickly guides you to a close-by healthcare facility, in addition to a medical dictionary.

If you do not mind telling the federal government where you’re, you may as well enroll within the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service that permits U.S. residents and nationals traveling abroad to register their trip with the closest U.S. embassy or consulate. The State Department will notify you if there’s an issue at your destination and will give you the option to supply assistance.

So is it protected to travel this fall? Yes – so long as you’re taking a number of common sense precautions.