Field Notes

Stromboli is an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily. Italy. The island’s Mount Stromboli – one of the four active volcanoes in Italy – has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2,000–5,000 years. Photography: Roland.

Staying informed without feeling alarmed

A well-informed traveller is a confident one, and researching safety advisory updates is simply part of travelling responsibly. The key is to use this information to stay aware and adaptable, not anxious. Maintain perspective and let the latest information keep you grounded, not something that results in you losing hope or inspiration.

Safety advisories help us make informed choices by reviewing the latest travel advisories from reliable sources like your particular government’s foreign affairs department. These updates can offer helpful information about local conditions, health alerts, political stability, conflict, or natural hazard and climate change-related events that might affect our plans.

Travel advice may differ depending on your location and may also change suddenly and unexpectedly from day-to-day, so it is important to consult your local travel advisory portal when researching the most current advice about your destinations.

Based on the countries where the majority of our readers live, here is a useful list of government travel advisory portals you may like to bookmark.