On January 3, the U.S. State Department issued a level 2 travel advisory for American citizens traveling to China, urging them to “exercise increased caution.” The warning was likely triggered by the increasingly tense trade war between the two superpowers. In its release, the State Department warned that the Chinese government was actively using exit bans to keep Americans in the country, and that those detained could be prevented from leaving “for years.”

While the State Department warning sounds alarming, is it just a level 2 advisory. The department also issues level 3 and level 4 advisories, which mean “reconsider travel” and “do not travel,” respectively.

A record number of Americans are forecast to travel to other countries this year, buoyed by a strong dollar and a surging economy. In 2017, the number of U.S. visits overseas rose by 9.1% from the previous year to 38.3 million, according to data from U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, and the National Travel and Tourism Office. The number of visits to Europe, at nearly 16 million in 2017, climbed 16% — the most of any region.

With so many Americans traveling, it would be in their best interest to check the U.S. State Department’s website for travel advisories, which the department is constantly updating. The advisories are intended to keep Americans who are traveling aware of potential terrorist attacks, civil unrest, and level and nature of crime in other nations.

24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of the 2 countries the U.S. government doesn’t want you to go to.

Click here to see the 29 countries the U.S. government doesn’t want you to go to.
Click here to read detailed findings and methodology.