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lawson@fit2journey.com

From Global Travel Advisories to Walking Tours, We’ve Got You Covered

by | Jun 14, 2025 | 0 comments

🚦 Red, Yellow, Go: A Seasoned Traveler’s Guide to Global Travel Advisories

When planning an international trip, few things are more important—or more overlooked—than understanding travel advisories. For older travelers in particular, who may have additional health considerations, mobility needs, or safety concerns, learning to read and respond to these advisories can mean the difference between a carefree adventure and a chaotic ordeal.

This guide unpacks what those color-coded warnings really mean, how to use them wisely, and where to find the most reliable, up-to-date information before booking or boarding your next flight.

🔍 What Are Travel Advisories—and Who Issues Them?

Travel advisories are official warnings or guidance issued by governments to alert citizens to potential safety, health, or security risks in foreign countries. These advisories are not meant to prohibit travel, but rather to help individuals make informed decisions.

In the United States, the two primary agencies issuing travel guidance are:

  • U.S. Department of State – Focuses on political stability, terrorism, civil unrest, and crime.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Issues health-related travel notices regarding disease outbreaks, vaccinations, and public health measures.

Other helpful international sources include:

  • UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
  • Canada’s Global Affairs
  • Australia’s Smartraveller Service

🟩🟨🟥 Decoding the U.S. State Department’s Four-Level System

The State Department uses a simple four-level system for country-by-country guidance:

🟩 Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

  • These are the safest destinations.
  • Example: Portugal, Japan (as of June 2025).
  • Still use common sense: secure valuables, follow local laws, stay aware.

🟨 Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

  • Some risks exist, such as petty crime, political protests, or outdated infrastructure.
  • Example: Mexico (certain regions), France (due to recent protests).
  • Tip: Research which regions are affected, not just the country as a whole.

🟧 Level 3: Reconsider Travel

  • Heightened risk due to ongoing violence, medical instability, or political tension.
  • Example: Egypt, parts of Colombia.
  • Consider alternate destinations or traveling with a group/tour company that offers protection.

🟥 Level 4: Do Not Travel

  • The government advises against all travel due to extreme risk (war, kidnapping, terrorism, pandemic, etc.).
  • Example: Afghanistan, Syria, Gaza.
  • Travel insurance may be void in these areas, and U.S. consular assistance may be limited.

🦠 What About Health Risks? Understanding CDC Travel Notices

The CDC has its own three-level system for health alerts, especially useful for older adults, those with chronic conditions, or travelers with immune sensitivities:
  • Level 1: Practice Usual Precautions – No major health risk.
  • Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions – Moderate risk (e.g., dengue, malaria flare-ups).
  • Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel – Major outbreaks (e.g., Ebola, localized COVID surges).

Always check vaccination requirements, food and water safety, and whether you’ll need medications or mosquito protection.

🧭 How to Check Travel Advisories Like a Pro

Before every international trip—even a cruise or group tour—do this:
  1. Visit travel.state.gov and search the destination country.
  2. Go to cdc.gov/travel and enter your location for health notices.
  3. Sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) to receive alerts and help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency.
  4. Check local embassy or consulate websites for regional insights.
  5. Monitor real-time updates via:
    • State Department X feed: @TravelGov
    • CDC Travelers’ Health Alerts
    • Your airline’s or tour provider’s notifications

💡 Fit2Journey Tip: Travel Advisory ≠ Travel Dealbreaker

Don’t panic if your dream destination has a Level 2 or even Level 3 warning. The key is knowing where the risk liesand whether it’s manageable. For example:
  • A Level 2 for petty theft? Pack a money belt and stay in reputable areas.
  • A Level 3 for unrest in a border region? Stick to the capital or coastal cities and join a guided group.

🧳 Final Boarding Thoughts

While the world may feel more unpredictable, travel remains one of the most rewarding experiences—especially for older adults ready to explore, reconnect, and renew. The key is not to stop traveling. The key is to travel smart.

Know the codes. Read the maps. And let the advisories guide—not derail—your journey.

 

🌍 Destination of the Week: Cartagena, Colombia 🇨🇴

Cartagena pulses with color, rhythm, and history. Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, this UNESCO World Heritage city offers stunning colonial architecture, Afro-Caribbean heritage, and a welcoming environment for African American travelers seeking cultural connection, relaxation, and warm ocean breezes. More than just beautiful, Cartagena feels spiritually familiar, offering an enriching escape that centers both culture and calm.

🌟 Why It’s Ideal for 50+ Travelers

  • Cultural Familiarity: Cartagena’s Afro-Colombian roots run deep. From the language cadences to the cuisine and music, Black American travelers often find emotional resonance here.
  • Warm, Tropical Climate: Mild sea breezes and sunshine year-round make it joint-friendly for those managing arthritis or seasonal discomforts.
  • Walkable Old City: The walled “Ciudad Amurallada” is mostly flat, charmingly slow-paced, and lined with cafĂŠs for frequent breaks.
  • Affordable Luxury: Mid-range and upscale hotels offer spa amenities, rooftop pools, and concierge-level hospitality at a fraction of U.S. prices.
  • Community Connection: Black-owned and diaspora-conscious tours make the experience feel less transactional, more transformational.

🎨 Top Activities

🕯️ 1. Afro-Colombian Heritage Tour
Explore San Basilio de Palenque, the first free Black settlement in the Americas, located about 90 minutes from Cartagena. You’ll learn about maroon resistance, cultural preservation, and powerful ancestral traditions.

🎭 2. Evening Dance and Drum Performances

Enjoy live cumbia, mapalé, and champeta music in Getsemaní’s plazas or join a casual community dance class. Many performances honor African roots and storytelling.

🛍️ 3. Bazurto Market Tour

This vibrant market offers a crash course in coastal Colombian life—guided tours by local chefs or musicians give insight into food, music, and spirituality.

🌅 4. Sunset Cruise Through the Bay

Sail around Cartagena’s historic harbor at golden hour with live music and light fare—perfect for solo travelers or couples wanting peaceful reflection.

🏖️ 5. Beach Day at Playa Blanca or Rosario Islands

While Playa Blanca can get crowded, hiring a private cabana midweek or venturing to Rosario Islands gives you clear turquoise water and a much calmer setting.

♿ Accessibility Notes

  • Sidewalks in Old Town can be narrow and uneven—wear supportive shoes and avoid walking long distances during the midday heat.
  • Language barrier can be managed with a translation app or bilingual guides—many hotels cater to English speakers.
  • Transportation: Taxis and private drivers are affordable; Uber is unofficial but widely used. Be cautious of unmetered cabs—ask your hotel to arrange trusted transport.
  • Healthcare: Cartagena has modern clinics and hospitals, and travelers report high-quality urgent care at low cost if needed.

🧳 Fit2Journey Tip:

Pack a foldable fan, electrolyte powder, and a wide-brim hat. Cartagena’s humidity can sneak up on you, especially when exploring markets or taking heritage tours. Want a lighter travel footprint? Consider a carry-on-only approach and use local laundry services mid-trip.

For added peace of mind, download Google Translate and the app Maps.me, which works offline to help you navigate the city even without Wi-Fi or data.

🧭 Journey in Focus

Traveled to Jamaica lately? Let us know your impressions and experiences.

 

🌿 Travel With Intention: How to Stay Grounded in an Unsettled World

In a season marked by political unrest, global uncertainty, and personal fatigue, travel can be both a beautiful escape and an emotional challenge—especially for older adults navigating a world that feels increasingly volatile. Whether you’re flying to a long-awaited reunion, taking a solo wellness journey, or just trying to catch your breath between headlines, the key to thriving on the road may not be your itinerary—but your intention.

This isn’t about detox diets or digital fasts. It’s about cultivating mental clarity, emotional resilience, and inner calm while navigating new environments, unfamiliar cultures, or unexpected disruptions. Here’s how to root yourself deeply—even when you’re far from home.

🧭 What Does It Mean to “Travel With Intention”?

To travel with intention is to move through the world with awareness, presence, and purpose. It means:
  • Choosing experiences that align with your values
  • Setting a tone for each day instead of just reacting to it
  • Practicing self-kindness when plans change or the world feels overwhelming

It’s not about being rigid or hyper-organized—it’s about being mindful.

💨 1. Start with Breath: Your Portable Reset Button

The simplest way to reconnect with yourself is through your breath. Whether you’re sitting in an airport lounge or checking into a noisy hotel, a few mindful breaths can ground your nervous system and restore emotional balance.

Try This:

💬 Box Breathing — Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat 3–4 times.
Used by everyone from therapists to Navy SEALs, this technique signals your body that you’re safe, even in unfamiliar settings.

✍️ 2. Set a Daily Intention (Before You Check Your Phone)

Each morning, before the news, before emails—pause and ask yourself:

What do I want to feel today?
What energy do I want to bring into the world?

Write your intention in a travel journal or notes app. It could be as simple as:

  • “Today, I embrace ease.”
  • “I stay open and grounded.”
  • “I let joy find me.”

These quiet affirmations create internal stability, no matter what’s swirling around you.

🙏 3. Make Space for Stillness—Even in Motion

Modern travel can feel like a whirlwind, but older bodies and wiser minds crave stillness. You don’t have to sit cross-legged in a temple to create it.

Ideas for Micro-Stillness:

  • Sip morning coffee in silence while facing the sunrise.
  • Find a bench in a park, plaza, or botanical garden and just watch.
  • Light a small candle (if your space allows) during your nightly wind-down.

Stillness isn’t inactivity—it’s an intentional pause.

🌍 4. Choose Experiences That Nourish, Not Just Entertain

It’s tempting to pack your days with tours and photo ops—but grounding comes from depth, not volume. Look for:
  • Heritage-based tours that reflect your culture and history
  • Local arts or music performances with emotional resonance
  • Cooking classes, nature walks, or spa rituals that promote inner peace

You don’t have to skip the fun. Just balance stimulation with soulfulness.

✋ 5. Know When to Log Off—and When to Speak Up

Too much news or social media can amplify anxiety, especially when political climates are tense or triggering. But silence isn’t always strength.

Your strategy:

  • Schedule one or two intentional check-ins with the news daily. Not endless scrolling.
  • Mute or snooze accounts that disrupt your peace.
  • If you’re in a space where justice, truth, or representation matter, speak thoughtfully, not reactively. Grounded doesn’t mean silent.

🧳 Fit2Journey Tip:

Pack one small ritual item—a pocket-sized affirmation card, a travel candle, a scarf from a loved one, or a favorite herbal tea. Let it anchor you wherever you go.

And if a day unravels? Remember: Intentional travel doesn’t mean perfect travel. It means you return to yourself, again and again, wherever your journey leads.

 

Interested in a Worry-Free Travel Experience?

Let Luxury Travel Advisor Cynthia “Cindy” Amin be your guide.
A woman in a black leather jacket smiles in front of a lake

Visit ColesvilleTravel.com or Call (301) 989-1654

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📱 Featured Resource: Green Book Global

“Where travel meets truth for the Black traveler.”

In a summer filled with political tension, racial microaggressions, and shifting safety dynamics, choosing the right destination isn’t just about affordability or weather—it’s about peace of mind. That’s where Green Book Global steps in.

Founded by African American entrepreneur Lawrence Phillips, Green Book Global is the first-ever Black travel review website and mobile app that allows travelers to rate destinations based on their safety, cultural acceptance, and experiences as a Black person, alongside traditional travel factors like affordability, attractions, and nightlife.

🧭 Why It’s Ideal for 50+ Travelers

  • Culturally Centered: Designed for us, by us—offering insights that mainstream travel guides often ignore.
  • Crowdsourced Wisdom: Tap into the lived experiences of thousands of Black travelers who’ve “been there, done that,” especially helpful for avoiding culturally insensitive or racially hostile locations.
  • Time-Saving: Whether you’re planning a trip to Accra or Amsterdam, you can instantly access reviews sorted by key factors like comfort, community, and inclusion.
  • Confidence Boosting: For solo travelers or those visiting new regions, seeing how others navigated a destination offers peace of mind—and a roadmap.

✈️ Key Features

  • Destination Ratings by Black travelers on:
    • Safety While Black
    • Local Black Community Presence
    • Cultural Acceptance
    • Nightlife, Cost, Fun & More
  • Traveler Reviews with tips on everything from where to stay to what to avoid.
  • Black-Owned Business Spotlights in select cities and countries.
  • Blog and Travel Content tailored to the realities and aspirations of Black globetrotters.
  • App Available on iOS and Android

🔐 Fit2Journey Tip:

Use the filters in the app to search for destinations that are both budget-friendly and highly rated for Black safety and comfort—a great tool for planning heritage travel, solo getaways, or girls’ trips with your circle.

Bonus Insight: The site is also building a database of Black travel influencers and bloggers who offer destination-specific tips. Bookmark a few to follow for real-time stories and inspiration.

💬 What Travelers Are Saying:

“This is the travel site I didn’t know I needed. It gave me the confidence to finally book my trip to Morocco—and I had a wonderful experience.”

—Rhonda G., age 61, Maryland

📲 Visit www.greenbookglobal.com or search Green Book Global in your app store.

Let your travel be informed, intentional, and inspired—because where you go matters. And how you feel when you get there? That matters even more.

It started with a secret. It ends with a reckoning.

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