Traveling to a Global Hot Spot
Recently, the world seems to have more than its share of “hot spots” – areas in which unusual or unstable conditions, either natural or man-made, are creating headlines that might make travelers think twice about vacationing there.
 It’s always a good idea to keep current with the news coming out of your next vacation destination: if it’s a truly unsettled place, your travel professional can help you change your plans. However, be sure to do enough research to know if your vacation will truly be affected by what you read and hear in the news.
For example, the news from the Gulf of Mexico is distressing to say the least: a broken underwater oil well is releasing crude oil into the water off the Louisiana coast, endangering sea life, disrupting livelihoods and threatening the Gulf’s lovely beaches. However, as of this writing, all of Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches remain open. Constant surveillance and clean-up efforts have kept the beaches safe for swimming and other water activities.
Drug-related violence, such as that recently reported in Kingston, Jamaica, and along the Mexican border with the U.S., usually happens far from where most tourists spend their time. Visitors to Jamaica’s gorgeous Montego Bay are nearly four hours away from Kingston where a much sought after crime figure has finally been apprehended. Mexican resorts like Cancun and Cabo San Lucas are far south of any strife along the border.
The Greek city of Athens experienced riots in May after the country’s debt-ridden government announced austerity measures. Since then, the situation has calmed considerably, and the turmoil had no effect at all on Santorini, Mykonos and other Greek Isles popular with tourists.
Remember that it’s always wise to be cautious and to follow common-sense safety practices when you travel, whether you are in the U.S. or abroad. If you have any questions about how recent events could affect your vacation plans, talk with us first, call 281-480-1988.
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