Why My Travel Habits Raise Some Eyebrows

As a frequent traveler, my travel habits raise some eyebrows in my friend and acquaintance group. Mostly, it’s due to the sheer number of times my family travels each year, which seems crazy to “normal” people. If they don’t know that I use miles and points for all our flights and some of our lodging, they assume we are either rich or incredibly irresponsible.

But in addition to that, people often question my judgment when they hear where we are traveling. This happened when I traveled to Russia (pre-war), Hong Kong and China. And lately, I’m getting a few concerned comments about my next travel destination, Guatemala.

Is it safe to travel there?

I won’t try to convince anyone to travel somewhere that would make them feel so worried or stressed that they couldn’t enjoy themselves. But, everyone has a different comfort level with risks. Personally, I like to review the travel advisories published by the U.S. Department of State.

The travel advisories are:

1: Exercise Normal Precautions

2: Exercise Increased Caution

3: Reconsider Travel

4: Do Not Travel

I won’t travel to any country with a level 4 travel advisory. Currently, this includes countries like Russia, Afghanistan, Burma, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, and a few more.

However, I will consider traveling to a level 3 country after reading more information about specific regions and safety precautions to take. Guatemala has a level 3 travel warning, but the detailed travel advisory report lists 4 specific areas with the highest risk. I won’t go to any of those areas. I also plan to follow other recommendations included in the report like:

• “Do not travel outside Guatemala City at night because the roads are poorly lit, and there is a high risk for serious traffic accidents.”
• “Do not hike trails or volcanoes without a qualified local guide, as robberies can happen and getting help can be difficult.”
• “Avoid using public ATMs, and do not show signs of wealth like wearing expensive watches or jewelry. Also, try not to use your phone in public.”

I’ve been to Guatemala before (although it’s been a long time), and I didn’t feel unsafe. But, I understand this type of travel environment isn’t for everybody.

Do your travel destinations raise some eyebrows?