Travel Advisories Are Getting Louder. Has the World Actually Become More Dangerous?
When every country warns you about every other country, it’s time to zoom out and breathe.
Over the last few years, travel advisories have started to feel like weather alerts that never expire. Everywhere is yellow. Some places are orange or red. Open any government travel page and you’d think the entire planet is on the brink of collapse.
Europe advisories warn about terrorism. Canada has advisories for parts of the United States. The United States has advisories for Mexico. Mexico has advisories for parts of the United States.
Are we all just pointing fingers at each other?
I’m not that naïve so let’s start with the obvious: Yes, there are global tensions. There are protests, crime, unstable regions, just to name a few. Ignoring any of these would be irresponsible. But lately the tone of travel warnings feels disproportionate to the lived reality most of us experience when we land somewhere new.
And if I’m honest, I see some of the same things at home. Downtown Vancouver has its own challenges: open drug use, random outbursts, property crime, noise issues, just to name a few. You don’t need a passport to find unpredictability. You just need to step outside.
The Netherlands Is “Yellow” Right Now. So What?
Canada currently rates the entire country of the Netherlands at a level that suggests “exercising a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorism.”1 Yes, my hometown, The Hague, has seen some heated demonstrations. Some of the footage about riots has been painful to watch, even from a distance. When protests turn chaotic, they can be unsettling.
But here’s the thing: The Netherlands is still one of the most stable, organized, and well-functioning countries in the world. Yes, you should travel there (and probably skip Amsterdam, or move on quickly to something more interesting). The chance of accidentally walking into a violent protest in The Hague is slim to none if you’re paying attention and adjusting plans accordingly if needed.
And that last sentence is the key: Pay attention and adjust accordingly.
That’s not a new rule. That’s always been the rule. I said very similar things in my travel book that was published over a decade ago.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. ~ Mark Twain
As Mark Twain famously said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” To add to that, travel is also fatal to exaggerated fear when you actually show up and see reality for yourself.
The Advisory Spiral
If you follow the advisory logic too literally, the conclusion is absurd:
Europe warns about terrorism. Canada warns about parts of the U.S. The U.S. warns about Mexico. Mexico warns about parts of the U.S.
So where exactly are we supposed to go? Mars? Elon Musk may soon be selling tickets.2
The truth is that governments issue advisories based on liability, intelligence signals, and risk modelling. They are not wrong, but they’re also not written to inspire confidence. In true government fashion, they are mostly written to cover every possible scenario, using risk calculations that may or may not align with your personality.
But let me be clear: That doesn’t render those advisories useless. It just means they require interpretation. What are you comfortable with? Would you pick an all-inclusive destination, or do you prefer a more local experience?
An advisory is not a verdict on a destination, but just a data point that may help you prepare for your trip.
Perspective Changes Everything
When I traveled to Lima, Santiago, Manila, and other cities that carry heavy reputations online, I noticed something interesting. The people living there were going to work, meeting friends, picking up groceries, and raising families. Just like we do in Vancouver.
Yes, there were neighbourhoods to avoid and precautions to take. But that’s true in every major city I’ve ever visited, including the one I call home today: I don’t wander through the Downtown Eastside at 2 a.m. and then blame the city for being unsafe. I make choices and adapt to stay safe.
Travel works the same way.
Practical Safety Without Paranoia
Here’s how I personally handle travel advisories without letting them hijack my plans:
First, I read the advisory in full instead of just the headline colour. Often the warning is specific to certain regions, events, or behaviours.
Second, I compare it to places I already know well. If a country is rated similarly to a city I’ve lived in comfortably, that helps calibrate my emotional reaction.
Third, I stay situationally aware everywhere. Usually not hyper-vigilant, just aware: Who’s around me? What’s the vibe? Does this street feel off today? If yes, I pivot.
Fourth, I avoid obvious risk amplifiers. Excessive drinking, flashy displays of wealth (which may include “normal” things like recent iPhone models or nice cameras - put those away). I also avoid wandering unfamiliar areas late at night alone without a plan. In my travel book, I explain how I travel like a cat: every day I venture a little further from my home base, depending on how comfortable I feel. It’s about baby steps, and small victories.
Finally, listen to locals, not sensational headlines. Talk to hotel staff, café owners, fellow travellers. They usually give the most grounded advice in the moment.
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. But that’s okay. ~Anthony Bourdain
As Anthony Bourdain once said, “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. But that’s okay.” Discomfort is not the same as danger.
Fear Is Contagious. So Is Courage.
I’ve noticed that the more exhausted I am, the more I default to “maybe we should just stay somewhere safe.” An all-inclusive resort can feel like emotional insulation from the world. And sometimes that may be exactly what you need: the structure helps your system reset.
But I also know that if I always choose the comfortable bubble, I start to lose my edge. I may even start to believe the world is more hostile than it actually is. Even some of my more “off the beaten path” destinations just turned out to be just another place to go.
Most of my most meaningful travel experiences happened because I leaned into curiosity instead of fear. They happened because I explored just a little bit further and trusted my instincts without catastrophizing.
Staying aware of your surroundings is still a good idea. That never changed. Whether you’re in Lima, New York, Amsterdam, or downtown Vancouver.
Despite global tensions, the world did not suddenly become more dangerous this year. We just have more alerts and information about it.
Get Into Action
If travel advisories have you hesitating, I encourage you to zoom out and recalibrate instead of retreating entirely. Read the advisory, understand it, then compare it to places you already know. Decide consciously, not reactively.
If you want a deeper framework for how to travel smarter, safer, and more intentionally, my book The Freedom Project: Travel walks through exactly how I plan trips, assess risk, and still say yes to adventure without being reckless. Travel is not about ignoring reality. It’s about engaging with it wisely.
Bon voyage, and as always, travel safe.
Further reading
“Exercise a high degree of caution in the Netherlands due to the threat of terrorism. There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities. Attacks in the Netherlands cannot be ruled out. Further attacks elsewhere in Europe are likely.” Source: Government of Canada.
Elon Musk aims to establish a human settlement on Mars through SpaceX’s Mars colonization program, which envisions a self-sustaining colony. However, recent updates indicate that plans may be delayed, with a focus now shifting to lunar development first.