May half term is a hugely popular time to get away, but with a number of volatile situations across the globe, it’s important to check the latest FCDO advice before you go anywhere
Check Foreign Office advice before you travel(Image: Getty Images)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its advice on which destinations are safe for Brits to visit during May half-term.
Half-term week, which is the last week in May for most schools, sees huge numbers of Brits heading to the airport. However, if you have a trip booked, it’s a good idea to ensure you sign up for FCDO alerts for your destination. This means you’ll get the latest security advice for your holiday.
The FCDO has a list of 14 countries where it advises against all travel for Brits. Many of these countries are in the Middle East, such as Iran, Israel, and Syria, although it also lists destinations such as Haiti and Russia as no-go zones.
However, not all its advisories cover entire countries. Some countries, even major holiday destinations, have areas that Brits are urged to avoid. For example, Tunisia welcomes around 450,000 British tourists each year, but there are some areas visitors will need to avoid.
The FCDO has a map of the areas that Brits should avoid, which are mostly along the borders of Libya and Algeria. It states: “This is due to cross-border terrorist activity and operations by the Tunisian security forces.” While these areas are away from the major holiday resorts, tourists should keep up to date with the latest FCDO updates before and during their trip as things can change quickly.
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Meanwhile holidays to the likes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain off the cards as the Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.
Its advice says: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. The Iranian regime has publicly stated its intention to target locations associated with the United States and Israel. This includes US or Israeli-linked organisations, businesses, facilities and institutions. Stay away from areas around security or military facilities, and US or Israeli-linked locations.”
Countries FCDO advises against all travel to
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Burkina Faso
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Mali
- Niger
- Palestine
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Travelling to countries or areas advised against by FCDO generally invalidates standard travel insurance policies, and can mean that consular assistance is limited if anything goes wrong. Always check the latest Foreign Office advice for a destination before planning a trip.
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