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11 Ways to Stay Organized While Traveling

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Even the most prepared tourist can feel completely off-kilter when staying in new surroundings or dealing with the many unknowns of travel. Thankfully, a bit of preparation and some clever travel organization hacks will keep any trip from devolving into utter chaos. Here are a few on-the-go travel organization tips to keep you sane, no matter where your journeys take you.

Download Itinerary Apps

The days of juggling printouts of flight info, hotel reservations, rental-car confirmations, schedules, maps, and directions are over. With the help of itinerary apps, you can organize all of your itineraries on your smartphone. The best of the bunch is TripIt . Simply forward confirmation emails to TripIt and it will generate a complete itinerary for you, then customize your itinerary by adding maps, directions, and notes. You can even share your account with others, making group travel a cinch.

Use a Packing List Before and During Your Trip

You should always make a packing list before you even pull your suitcase out of the closet. (And to get started, download a copy of our Ultimate Packing List .) But what about when you’re on the road? It may be a good idea to print a duplicate copy and pack it in your suitcase. That way, you can check it against your belongings while on the road to ensure you leave no item behind. When you’re repacking at the end of a long vacation, you can check items off as you place them back neatly in your luggage.

Use Packing Cubes

A trusted workhorse in organizing your travel bag is packing cube sets. I’ve used durable eBags packing cubes for years to separate clothes by type and to keep my toiletries and accessories separate. Packing cubes are the easiest way to turn your suitcase into a compartmentalized closet, and make unpacking at your destination incredibly simple.

Organize Your Technology

Carry a lot of technology with you on your travels? Then you know how easily cords get tangled and gadgets get lost. Cocoon makes several accessory organizers that feature an organization system with rubberized elastic bands to hold your chargers, headphones, backup storage, and other accessories in place (some even come with pockets for your tablet and computer). These flat, lightweight cases fit easily into carry-on bags and are invaluable on the road.

Carry a Well-Organized Wallet, Satchel, or Money Belt

A high-quality, well-organized wallet is indispensable for travel: This one has plenty of pockets for clever storage, but isn’t too bulky to pack and stick into your pocket or handbag. Eagle Creek has a number of smart options with sufficient organization for your passport and boarding passes, while Bellroy’s leather travel wallet earns praise for its clever, sleek design and included mini travel pen.

You can also get a designated small satchel or discreet money belt to use on your travels—this will force you to prioritize what you need and make you less susceptible to theft. I’m a fan of small cross-body satchels with secure zippers like Travelon’s Anti-Theft Crossbody . Secret pouches that can go under your clothes or a coat also work well, like Zero Grid’s Neck Wallet , if you want something stealthy and light.

Hang Your Toiletries

Anyone with a hefty toiletries bag knows how hard it is to keep all those tiny travel items organized and accessible. The solution is a hanging version—you can hang it open at the hotel to see all your toiletries at once, and still zip it up and stash it away when you need to. 42 Travel’s unisex toiletry kit has high-density, water-resistant fabric and mesh pockets that let you see inside its biggest compartments while it’s hanging.

Organize Your Seatback

Family road trips are a blast until you realize you need something you packed away in the trunk. Keeping everything you’ll need in sight is simple with a seatback organizer. Autoark’s insulated multi-pocket version has a main bag that’s big enough to fit drinks and snacks inside, plus outer compartments for all your smaller necessities.

Organize Your Undies

The only way to pack underwear is to awkwardly attempt to fold it, fail, ball it up, and stuff it in the corner of your suitcase, right? Wrong. Underwear bags are a life-changing travel accessory, especially for women packing bras and other intimates that can get lost or damaged in a stuffed suitcase. Mochithings’ Underwear Pouch v2 has a zippered section perfect for stacking bras or other undergarments, plus small top-flap compartments and a detachable zippered pouch. All your tiniest necessities will be at your fingertips when you need them, and not buried or tumbling out when you open your bag.

Use Plastic Bags

Simple plastic baggies come in handy for many packing situations—dirty clothes, wet items, carry-on liquids, jewelry, etc. Whether you grab a handful of Ziploc kitchen baggies or invest in reusable multi-sized ones like Travelon Packing Pouches , keeping some stashed in your suitcase is one of the easiest travel organization tips on this list.

Unpack Immediately

Living out of a suitcase can lead to a disorganized vacation. When you arrive at your destination, always unpack immediately, even if your trip is a short one. Fold clothing and place it into dresser drawers, hang up any garment that may wrinkle, arrange your shoes in the closet, and unpack your toiletries in the bathroom rather than leaving them in their quart-sized plastic baggie. You’ll feel more relaxed and at ease, and you won’t be pulling clothing out of a rumpled pile on the floor.

Recreate Your Home Environment

There’s something about a hotel room that makes even the neatest person messy (and turns the naturally disorganized into a hot travel mess). One thing I always do when staying in a hotel is to make my surroundings as home-like as possible.

At home, I keep my keys and wallet on a table near my door, so I recreate that in my hotel room by placing a bowl or box near the door for my purse, keys, wallet, lip balm, etc. That way, I never forget to grab something essential as I’m heading out for the day. When possible, I unpack my clothing into the same dresser-drawer configuration that I use in my own dresser at home, and I arrange my cosmetics and toiletries in a similar fashion in the bathroom. I even charge my iPhone in the same location as I do at home. It sounds a bit type A , but it keeps me organized during hectic trips—and it ensures I never leave anything behind.

What are your best travel organization tips? Share them in the comments.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Ingenious Packing Tips Every Traveler Needs to Know
• How to Pack Efficiently: 8 Products That Can Help
• The Ultimate Packing List

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Shannon McMahon, Dara Continenza, and Margaret Leahy contributed to this story.

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Patras a city located in Western Greece and the third most-populated city in the country. Nicknamed the ‘Gate to the West’, Patras is an important commercial and business hub and provides many routes of trade to Western Europe. Culture-wise, Patras offers a range of festivals and museums, giving travellers a variety of activities to choose from.

Zakynthos, or more commonly known in the UK as Zante, is an island in the Ionian Sea. It is one of the country’s biggest islands and is a very popular tourist destination as it even has its own airport. The island has the nickname “The Flowers of the Levant” and is especially popular with party holidays.

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Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and is located in the centre of the country. The city is home to over 80 different museums, so there is something for every kind of interest. Brussels is also one of the greenest capital cities in Europe, with over 8000 hectares of green space.

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Featured Travel Tips

Over the years we have collected many great travellers tips, this means many moments of ‘Oh, if I had only known!” can be avoided. Here are a featured selection of top travel tips collected from experienced travellers from around the world.

• Taking offence – Travelling you will meet a lot of like-minded people, but not everyone will want to be your friend. Be confident, don’t take what people might say personally.
• Local language – If travelling to a non-English speaking country, try to learn a few phrases. You will find you get a lot more respect from the locals.
• Take some time to walk up the 275 step narrow, spiral staircase in York Minster  for breathtaking 360 views of the city and a great sense of achievement.
• If you're in York during the summer, book a Hot Air Balloon flight for unforgettable views of York and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
• Follow your instincts – You will know if something feels right. Always listen to yourself and don’t be dragged with the crowd.
• Watch your belongings – Split your money and keep it close. Keep an eye on your bags at all times, this could save you a lot of trouble and expense.
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Travellers Questions

Are there any places i should avoid visiting.

We would never say don’t go anywhere. It’s your choice . What we would say is make sure you are prepared and you know what you might expect during your visit. As long as you have done your research you can make yourself as safe as possible in the places you are visiting.

What should I take with me backpacking?

Firstly remember, whatever you take you will have to carry with you for the whole travelling experience. Don’t take anything you can’t afford to lose or can’t replace. At a minimum make sure you have the follow, the rest you can buy.

• Phone and adapters
• Notebook and pencil
• Lock for your bag
• Clothes and laundry bag
• Comfortable shoes and flip flops
• Water bottle
• Toiletries and painkillers
• First aid kit

What are the safest countries in the world to visit?

The Institute for Economics and Peace released its Global Peace Index for last year, this is their ranking of the world’s safest countries.

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Easy Travel Organization Tips for a Long Trip (2024)

Traveling on a long trip with multiple destinations can be a great decision if you’ve got the time. You’ll save money (and travel time) by combining itineraries AND your travel will be environmentally more responsible. But multi-destination trips can be exhausting, primarily because it’s difficult to stay organized. Whether you’re taking a road trip, traveling overseas, or heading off on a safari, a long trip involves a lot of logistics – travel days, changing accommodations, packing, unpacking, etc. Having an organized travel system will relieve you of much of the stress of multi-destination travel. Though we still have a lot to learn, read on as we share but our travel tips on how to stay organized while traveling.

When we have the time, we try to combine trips, whether by booking travel in multiple destinations, or simply by taking an extended stay on each end of a cruise. On our safari to East Africa , we added a week’s beach break in Zanzibar . This was a great way to relax after a strenuous itinerary and a chance to see the storied island – a destination we would not have visited if we weren’t ‘in the area’. And now as we plan my bucket list trip to New Zealand, we realize that it makes sense to combine this with one of my husband’s bucket list destinations, Southeast Asia. It’ll be a long trip but better that than taking two trips with almost 24 hours of flight time from Boston.

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Key takeaways for staying organized on a long trip A Place for Everything and Everything In Its Place

• Organize travel documents: keep all important information together in a folder or document holder.
• Pack efficiently: make a packing list and use cubes or similar to keep pieces accessible.
• Choose a day bag or travel purse with built-in organization.
• Organize your room immediately upon arrival.
• Use apps and notebooks to keep track of the details.
• Anticipate your needs and know your limits.

Our favorite tips to stay organized when traveling:

Table of Contents

A Place for Everything, and Everything in Its Place

Mom was right . Designating a spot for everything is the easiest way to stay organized on a long or multi-stop trip. AND you’ll also be able to quickly ascertain if you’ve left something behind!

Keep travel documents organized while traveling

Before you start packing, gather all your important documents like passports, visas, medical information, hotel reservations, confirmation numbers, and contact information. These items are the most essential for the trip, so designate a spot for them. Some people like securing these documents in a travel document holder with RFID shielding, a slot for boarding pass, etc., but a colorful folder in your airline personal item might be enough for you. For an international cycling trip where I need to carry my passport and wallet, I wear a PacSafe hip belt/sling bag . My important documents are secure but out of the way while cycling, and its water-resistant fabric should give me some protection in the case of rain.

• Share the wealth – If you are traveling with a partner or friend, have copies of essential documents carried by both people. Redundancy makes sense when you’re looking for quick access to important information.

Share the wealth literally too! – divide cash between you and your companion and divide again within your own gear. 

• Take pictures of your passport, driver’s license, and credit cards and send these images to yourself in an email. Consider sending a copy to a trusted family member at home too.
• Convert paper documents to pdfs to store on the cloud (Google Drive), and on your phone.
• Keep notes on your itinerary, accommodation, and planned activities in a travel notebook .

Organize your packing for a multi-destination trip

Packing cubes!

Absolutely life-changing for a long, involved journey. We recommend lightweight colorful cubes like the Eagle Creek Specter line which comes in different sizes to organize your clothing efficiently. A good idea is to choose small packing cubes in different colors to make finding things extra easy. For underwear and workout wear, we pack in compression cubes. These have an extra zipper to flatten your things and thus take up less space in your luggage.

• We use one or two deep travel cubes as ‘dresser drawers’ – roll or fold your clothes into one or two cubes and pull the cubes out at your destination. Zip it back up when it’s time to leave. No need to unpack and repack. Tom Bihn makes mesh cubes that are easy to pack and allow visibility on the road, but you can get a set at a similar set of mesh packing cubes with Amazon Basics.
• Use separate cubes for specific destinations or environments – for example, on our African trip, I put a sundress, t-shirt, swimsuit, and a cover-up in a small bright blue cube for the beach part of our trip. I didn’t want to be sorting through beachy clothes when trying to get dressed for a 6 a.m. game drive. I put the bright blue cube deep inside my duffel until we arrived in Zanzibar. Out of sight, out of mind.
• On travel days carry a change of clothing in a small cube in your carry-on. It’s good to know you have options if you spill something mid-flight or if your luggage is lost or delayed. Include a swimsuit if you’re off on a cruise. Luggage is often delayed getting to your cruise cabin.
• Put flight day essential items into a separate small cube: inflatable pillow, cozy sweater, compression socks, etc. This cube can be packed out of the way during the trip.
• Consider a laundry bag packing cube where there is a divider that separates clean clothes from dirty laundry.

Packing clothing that stays fresh and serves multiple purposes will simplify your planning. For suggestions, read Travel Friendly Clothing for Women .

Organize your electronics, medications, and miscellaneous

Invest in a few more brightly colored bags or cubes for first aid supplies, chargers, cords, etc.

Tech Pouch / Cable Organizers

Pack a tech pouch, or technology travel case, to keep all your cords and electronic devices in one place. A good tech pouch can also be used for everyday travel basics like lip gloss, pens, notebooks, etc.

The challenge comes in finding a gear and cable organizer that makes it easy to return your stuff to its original spot. You won’t get much benefit from a tech organizer if you’re not using it efficiently. We’ve tried more than a few of these and find when getting off a plane, for example, it’s not optimal to have to wind up your cords and tuck them into tight elasticized sleeves. For that reason we now carry the Peak Design tech pouch which has ‘origami’ pockets rather than grids. Open the bag and drop your gear in. Easy Peasy!

Don’t forget to include a portable charger in your organizer. It’s your secret weapon for keeping your devices powered up, especially during long days away from your hotel.

Travel Tray

A travel tray is designed to sit on your bureau or bedside to catch all the daily essentials. Drop your keys (or key-card), loose change, etc., into the tray when you enter and you won’t be forever searching for lost items. We keep a set of charging cords in our travel trays at home. When we’re ready to travel, we add a few more essentials and we’re ready to go. These trays are great for bedside essentials – glasses, cell phone, lip balm, etc. It’s easy to spot the trays in our luggage if we need anything enroute and they cinch up when we’re ready to move on.

We love travel trays that close with a zipper or a cinch, but you might prefer to buy a simple travel tray to collect things in your cruise ship cabin or hotel room.

Medication Organizers

Fill a day-of-the-week pill organizer before you go, so you’ll have all your prescription needs organized. (This is also a great way to know what day of the week it is! Ha!) Be prepared for trip delays by adding in a few extra days’ worth of your medications. Note: take a photo of your prescription and/or prescription bottle labels and email it to yourself in case you need to verify the medication during immigration.

We carry a second, larger pill organizer with OTC medications that might be needed during the day – headache pills, antacids, etc.

As grandparents, we use locking pill organizers . It’s not a fail-safe system, so make sure to keep those containers out of sight of little ones.

Have a packing list

Having a packing list is a must. You can write it in your travel notebook or keep it on an app. However, you choose to do it, consider adding the value of each item and noting the location where it’s packed. (For example – swim cover-up, $10, in blue packing cube ) This will be useful when you’re confused on where you’ve put something. But it is essential if your luggage is lost and you need to list the contents and their value for insurance purposes.

If you’ve stayed with family, in a large Airbnb, or even a hotel room for a lengthy period, reset your packing list before leaving. Check things off as you pack to make sure you’ve left nothing behind. Despite best intentions, things do migrate if given the room…

How to Stay Organized During Traveling – Travel Days

If you’re taking a road trip in your own vehicle, you can skip this section. But if you’re traveling overseas, you know the stress of trying to know where everything is as you are touring! And if you’re on a very active adventure like an African safari, you are further challenged to be organized on daily game drives when your mind is everywhere but on organization!

Choose an organized travel bag

There are lots of great personal item bags out there to choose from. What works for you depends on how you like to carry a bag, and whether you like your storage ‘hidden’ or ‘visible’. (check out Clutterbug.me for a fun way to determine your organizational style) Though I love the look of a streamlined bag, I find I travel easier when I can see my storage pockets. My favorite pack has five exterior pockets. I really appreciate being able to grab exactly what I want without having to unzip the whole bag.

Find what bag you like, in a style that’s easy for you to carry, with the features you will use. Make sure there are slots for pens (you’ll be looking for one when you’re filling out forms at immigration!), and pockets for essentials like lip gloss, sunscreen, and tissues. Though I don’t always carry a laptop, I appreciate having a flat pocket to store my tablet, documents, and smaller electronics. Essential to have these things with you for security and to keep you occupied during the flight .

Whether you carry cross body travel purse or prefer a backpack is a personal preference, with your choice dictated by your planned activities. Many travel bags now offer security features, like RFID shielding and slash-proof panels. These do add to the overall weight of the bag so if that’s a factor for you, and you still want to defer thefts, purchase a lock or even a zip-tie or s-biner to secure the compartments.

My favorite security bag: The PacSafe camsafe V5 was the winner for gear and camera organization on our African safari. We bought this bag for the security features but are recommending it more for the organization and ease of carry. We’d learned our lesson after our last safari, where we struggled to keep our camera bags from rolling around the vehicle and ended up with multiple sets of cameras and binoculars hanging around our necks! The PacSafe hip belt bag has padded slots for binoculars, camera, a separate padded slot for a tablet or phone, and an outside zipped pocket for batteries, notebook, pencil, and personal gear. This all fit securely in the pack which then sat solidly on the floor of the land cruiser. Best part was with the top unzipped I could just reach down to retrieve things. Similar bag – Domke Shoulder/Belt Bag

Organizational inserts for bags

Inserts can be useful in making any travel bag organized, and for moving that organization between bags. These are particularly good for using in ‘black hole’ bags – backpacks and big duffel bags. There are several types of inserts that might work for you.

Choose a full organizer insert if you like to travel with a tote or similar. These inserts have pockets, pen slots, etc. and may even have a cushioned sleeve for your laptop or tablet. Best part is that they can be easily removed if you want to use your tote as a beach bag or shopping bag.

Tom Bihn makes Freudian Slips in many sizes. This is a more elegant insert with zippered and open pockets on two sides. These inserts work well for keeping documents, boarding passes, and other larger items organized.

Grid-It is a simple one panel insert with elastic straps – slide a phone, pen, notepad, charging cords, whatever, into the elastic and they’ll stay put. You’ll have to be diligent about putting things back in their designated for this system to work however.

Wear your gear in an organized jacket or vest

Fortunately for us, there are jackets and vest that do the job without the dork factor. We have several from the Scottevest line. My Standard Jacket looks like a regular khaki jacket and converts to a vest for warmer weather. But when we’re flying, I can fit my iPad, passport, kindle, keys, etc. into interior pockets for safekeeping. Likewise, Dave’s Pack Windbreaker is lightweight but with all the security features he needs.

Also great when you’re traveling with a restricted weight limit on luggage. We saved pounds of luggage weight when we carried our electronics on our person!

Organize your room immediately upon arrival

It takes 5 minutes, but once a habit, it’s an easy way to stay organized while traveling.

• Valuables in safe
• Travel Tray on bureau or bedside table
• Toiletries and medication in bathroom

Keeping the details and logistics organized on a long trip

Travel apps.

There are lots of apps to keep your travel itinerary etc. up to date. TripIt lets you monitor flights, save hotel bookings, and rental info. You can share access to this info with folks at home too.

Note: This is great for travel in your home country. When traveling overseas, you may not have international cell service or access to wi-fi to readily retrieve your travel details.

Notebooks and journals

When we travel we bring along notebooks and pens. Despite being a techie, I still enjoy using a planner and find a travel notebook a great benefit on the road. It can be as simple as a Field Notes book on a short trip, or as dedicated as a travel journal for a special adventure.

For our safari I prepared a small notebook ( Leuchtturm soft cover A6 ) before the trip. I added lots of important information before we left home – contact info, itinerary, common phrases in the local language – but designated other pages in the book for notes along the way. I had a page for people we met, a page for the animals seen, and a few fun pages of Instagram challenges etc. Most of the book was dedicated as a journal. This was great for being organized during the multi-destination trip, but is also a keepsake now that we’re home!  Read more suggestions on how you can create your own travel diary, or keep one online !

Other random travel tips for being organized on a multi-destination trip

Anticipate needs and issues..

Planning ahead of your trip can take a lot of stress out of the journey. If you’ll need to cross a city to get to a restaurant you’ve booked, look into this while you’re at home. Research how public transportation works, and how long it’ll take to get to the restaurant. While you’re looking, check out how much you should tip in this city. Googling is much easier at home!

Know your limits

This is easier the more you travel, but generally try to judge how much activity you can manage in a day. Plan down time into your schedule and add comforts from home to ease any aching muscles. For more suggestions read Guide to Staying Healthy While Traveling

Download photos as you go

(if possible) This will serve as a back-up, but will also give you feedback on any camera corrections you need to make. And looking over your photos is a great way to spend a long flight!

If you’re taking photos on your phone, you can easily download them onto flash drive or photo stick that plugs right into your phone. Try it before leaving home however so you don’t run into issues as you’re traveling.

Journal as you go

Travel memories are priceless but easily forgotten when you’re tired and stressed. I try to find 10 minutes each evening to quickly record the day’s activities. No worries about proofreading, spell checking, or anything. Just get thoughts down on paper or online. You will love reading this over when you’re home again.

Everything in Its Place – Make a habit of returning everything to where you found it.  

Remember, the easiest way to avoid unnecessary stress is to be prepared. Make a master list of everything you need to pack, including the following items: toiletry bag, water bottle, cable organizer/technology travel case, packing cubes in different sizes, and your favorite tips from past experiences.

By following these easy travel organization tips, you’ll make your long trip more enjoyable, efficient, and stress-free. Create a system that works for you and you can enjoy a wonderful holiday whether on a cruise ship, safari, or multi-city tour. Happy travels!

How do you keep yourself organized during long distance travel? And for those super travelers – how do you stay organized as a full time traveler? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

This post is part of our Travel 101 series of posts that will prepare you for your trip. If you’re just beginning to plan I’d suggest you start with the first in the series – Pack Light, Travel Easy .

Amy Tull and Team

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Amy, a writer on responsible bucket list travel, is your reliable source for insightful travel advice. With a career background in libraries, and a degree in biology and mathematics, Amy's approach to travel is rooted in meticulous research and planning, and her commitment to eco-conscious adventures.

Amy’s dedication to sustainable travel practices, including efficient packing techniques, ensures that every adventure leaves a positive impact on both the environment and the traveler's well-being. Trust Amy to guide you towards meaningful and eco-friendly travel, making the most of your retirement years.

A lifelong New England resident, Amy is also the source for insider tips on travel in the Northeastern U.S.

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17 thoughts on “ Easy Travel Organization Tips for a Long Trip (2024) ”

I love your blogs! You should be going into business. Sign us up to travel on a trip you plan!!! I’m serious! 💜 Joanne Harder

Sent from my iPhone

You’re on!

Those Grid-Its and Freudian Slips are so cool! I’d never seen those before.

I’m Sure there are lots of other similar organizers, but I really like the Freudian Slip. I can stash my iPad, kindle, paperwork, etc. in with no problem. It’s thicker than the grid it though so takes up more space.

Very helpful article that I need to take some pointers from! When we went on our Amazon vacation I needed to re-pack into a single backpack for that portion of the trip because we were leaving our large suitcases behind. I was using the packing cubes, but I guess it didn’t totally help. Long story short, I ended up losing track of a coat and a towel because I wasn’t organized! Well, I got to buy a beach towel as a souvenir, so it wasn’t a total loss!

We’ve all been there! The coat would be a problem, but the towel is now a great souvenir!

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Yes! This is so true. I have trouble staying organized during a trip despite my best efforts, so I’m pinning this for later to hopefully make my next trip (and those of others!) easier.

Thank you! It’s a constant battle for all of us!

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Lots of great information here. Our biggest tip would be to travel with carry on only. We did a cycling trip in Africa and were gone for a month with only carry on. So much less to get lost and disorganized. It’s not for everyone but definitely works for us.

That’s a great tip! We try to do this also but on our last trip we were only allowed a personal item on board, so we ended up having to check anyway. 🙁

Awesome tips here! Definitely going to take them on board and use them on my next trip

Thanks Kirstie! Anything you’d add?

Packing cubes are severely underrated. Really nice list. Although I prefer cord organizers to the travel tray especially if you have a heap of chargers that constantly get in the way of one another 🙂

Thanks! Yes, cord organizers probably are best for a lot of long cords. What organizer do you use? I’ve winnowed down my pile by getting some short cords that work with my tech.

I just love the way you explained everything.

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A traveler walks through Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport May 13, 2020. Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, like most carriers, now requires passengers to cover their faces to board planes.

• CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Is it safe to travel now? It depends.

Here are the best practices for getting on the road without endangering your health—or anyone else’s.

Although many restrictions are still in place, travel is slowly starting up again. People locked down for months want to stretch their legs, see something other than a screen, and boost the economy. Restaurants and some tourist attractions (Florida’s Universal Orlando Resort, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) are opening for local and domestic travel. A few countries (Greece, Italy) are starting to welcome international travelers.

But how can you safely explore a world of potentially deadly encounters with friendly people who might infect you (or who you might expose to the virus)? Is the airplane really a soaring petri dish? Is visiting a national park possible while social distancing? And if you choose a seemingly safer road trip, can you stop to use a public restroom?

A poll by National Geographic and Morning Consult finds that just 2 percent of 2,200 Americans said they’d jump on a plane now, and only another 8 percent would consider it later this summer. That’s wise with travel advisories still in place, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warnings against international travel and cautions about travel within the U.S. , and with many countries and states ( Maine , Hawaii ) still requiring 14 days of post-travel self-isolation regardless of symptoms.

As we recently report, travel planning is good for your mental health . Knowing more about real and perceived COVID-19 risks might help you feel better about getting out as roadblocks lift. Here are best practices for travelers.

Should I get on an airplane?

Challenge: Being crammed next to strangers in a flying metal tube

Best practice: It’s reassuring to know that “data to date suggest only rare possible occurrences of in-flight transmission” of COVID-19, says Dr. Lin H. Chen , associate professor at Harvard Medical School and director of Cambridge’s Travel Medicine Center at Mount Auburn . She explains that if everyone follows the World Health Organization’s guidelines , the risk of transmission aboard planes, and anywhere else, is significantly reduced.

A plastic drape covers an airline check-in counter at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on March 27, 2020. Barriers like this between workers and travelers are meant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Many people think they get sick on an airplane, but the reality is that the air quality on an airplane is actually really good—high amounts of clean outdoor air and all recirculated air passes through a HEPA filter,” says Joe Allen . An assistant professor and director of the Healthy Buildings Program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Allen explains that you’re more likely to pick up a bug standing in line at airport security, at the boarding gate, or on the subway.

Airports and airlines are trying to minimize the risks of contagions in their often-crowded environments. Intensive cleaning is now the norm; planes are now being fogged with electrostatic disinfectant that sticks to surfaces like seatbelts. Some airlines give you wipes and the Transportation Security Administration has upped the size of hand sanitizer bottles you can bring on board from 3.4 ounces to 12.

(Related: What’s the safest seat to claim on the plane?)

Face coverings are required to board most flights. Airlines are trying to seat people so they have more space. But that doesn’t necessarily mean middle seats are remaining empty, especially with reductions in numbers of flights. There’s no national U.S. policy yet, but several airlines are checking for fevers. They won’t let you fly with a temperature above 100.4℉ (though testing is far from foolproof).

Internationally, some destinations require proof of a negative COVID-19 test; other destinations test passengers on arrival. Many have mandatory 14-day quarantines, sometimes requiring you to submit a quarantine plan for approval, download an app, or get a tracking bracelet to ensure you follow the rules. Vaccination certification may eventually be needed for travel, but so far the science doesn’t support “immunity passports” or proof that a person has had COVID-19 and is, in theory, immune.

Should I head to a national park?

Challenge: Avoiding big crowds in the great outdoors

Best practice: “There are many health benefits to being outside in nature, and the risks are low and manageable,” says Allen. The key is keeping a six-foot distance. A good practice at a park is to pretend that other people are grizzly bears and stay away from them.

Check the National Park Service’s find-a-park website to see if the park is closed or partially closed (restrooms and food services, in particular), for limits on numbers of visitors, and other rules like mask-wearing. Avoid group activities that involve close contact and practice social distancing at camp sites. Joyce Sanchez , an infectious disease specialist and medical director of the Travel Health Clinic at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, reminds us that “summer is tick and mosquito season,” so don’t forget your bug spray and sunscreen (though perhaps a face-mask tan will become a badge of honor that you’re doing your part to protect others).

(Related: Learn how COVID closures are impacting the small town bordering Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.)

Should I rent a cottage by the sea?

Challenge : Assessing the safety of beaches and vacation rentals

Best practice: Like park trips, seaside vacations are great if you can stay away from others and obey beach closure rules. There’s no evidence you can catch COVID-19 from the water (it’s other people you should be concerned about). Remember to bring your two best beach friends: reef-safe sunscreen free of oxybenzone and hand sanitizer.

A woman sunbathes in a roped-off social-distancing zone on the beach in La Grande Motte in southern France.

Regarding rentals, ask whether properties are cleaned according to public health guidelines, such as the WHO’s accommodation sector advice . Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Initiative includes a 24- to 72-hour vacancy period between guests (though cleaners may visit during that window), but it’s likely unnecessary given evidence that the coronavirus floats in the air only up to three hours. Since it’s possible for the virus to live on surfaces for two or three days , you could give high-touch surfaces an extra clean. As Chen says, “good hand washing should overcome potentially contaminated touching.” If anxiety outweighs the benefits of a vacation, it’s a sign you’re not ready to venture out yet.

Should I stay in a hotel?

Challenge: Distancing safely and trusting housekeeping

Best practice: Hotels that take better care of their employees (by providing them with personal protective equipment and paid sick leave) are more likely to take better care of you. Check the website of any hotel you’re considering to determine how they’re responding to COVID-19. Many U.S. hotels are following the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s new Safe Stay guidelines .

Choose properties that base their protocols on science, rather than things that sound good but have little effect or take focus away from areas that really matter. Look for hotels that have installed plexiglass at reception and that require staff to wear masks, or where you can check-in online and use your phone as your room key.

(Related: Want to stay healthy on the road? Follow these germ-fighting tips.)

In Pristina, Kosovo, a worker in a protective suit sprays disinfectant in a hotel room to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Avoid elevators and, if able, “take the opportunity to exercise and use the stairs,” advises Sanchez. Room service may be safer than the restaurant. Go for a swim if the pool isn’t crowded: Standard pool cleaning kills viruses, so the pool is probably safe; it’s the people you need to worry about. While clean rooms are important, what’s more important is staying six feet away from others. And, of course, wash your hands when you arrive in your room and again before you leave.

Should I use a public restroom?

Challenge: Taking care of business in busy bathrooms

Best practice: Assume public restrooms “are not properly disinfected and treat surfaces as if they have live virus on them,” says Sanchez. That said, it’s often necessary to use. When you do, choose single-stall and well-ventilated bathrooms if you can, and keep your distance from others.

Chen says that “good hand hygiene is key after using a public bathroom,” meaning wash and dry your hands; if there’s no soap, use hand sanitizer. She adds “I am unaware of any data to show that flushing aerosolizes SARS-CoV-2 and transmits the virus.” Regardless, it’s always good practice to put the lid down before you flush .

What about people who don’t wear masks?

Challenge: Staying safe while respecting others’ boundaries

Best practice: Following all the new COVID-19 protocols takes some getting used to. It’s easy to revert to pre-pandemic habits in new situations, when we’re stressed, and when we’re trying to relax and have fun. Being as kind and understanding as possible helps minimize stress.

Setting a good example is the best way to encourage others. Jonathon Day , associate professor and graduate program director at Purdue’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management , says “safety when traveling (and when out and about in general) is a ‘co-creation.’”

“If it’s someone you know who is non-mask-wearing [or] non-social-distancing, it might be worth discussing the reasoning behind these measures,” says Chen. Remember that not everyone can wear a mask and that we’re all human and can forget the new norms. You could politely ask anyone who gets too close “would you mind giving us a bit more space, please?” but it might be easier just to move away from them. It’s likely not worth the risk, or the stress, to confront a stranger. If you can’t escape the situation, ask a store manager or flight attendant for help.

Remember that, with communicable diseases, “if everyone is responsible to themselves and community/society, then we would all be safer,” says Chen.

Know the safety basics

We’re still learning about COVID-19. But one consensus is that it seems to spread most easily by close contact between people. The CDC says that touching objects isn’t the main way of contracting it .

This means that whenever you’re away from home, the most important thing you can do is maintain a six-foot (or more) distance from people you don’t live with. Wearing a face covering also minimizes the chance you’ll pass a virus or other illness to others.

Other key prevention measures, outlined by the World Health Organization and other public health authorities: washing your hands well, avoiding touching your face, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, disinfecting frequently touched items like your phone, and staying home if you’re sick. Practicing these measures keeps you—and everyone else—safer, regardless of how far you roam. “COVID-19 has shown that we have shared responsibilities to reduce spread,” says Chen, who’s president of the International Society of Travel Medicine .

General considerations for travel

During a pandemic, going to the grocery store—let alone traveling to another city or country—requires new protocols. Follow policies about lockdown restrictions and mandatory quarantines, both at home and at your planned destination. The CDC provides links to the rules of each state’s and territory’s health departments . Many international borders remain closed to nonessential travel, and some countries also limit domestic travel between regions.

Examine your personal situation. Extra cautions are needed for anyone at elevated risk of contracting COVID-19 . Check post-travel quarantine rules, including your employer’s. Just as important as protecting you and your loved ones is shielding other people. You don’t want to bring the virus from your community, especially to places with low case numbers, or bring it home (the CDC tracks cases and deaths by state and county ). Consider whether the benefits of travel outweigh the risk that you might spread the virus.

When deciding where to go and how you’ll get there, scrutinize how easy it will be to stay away from other people. “Generally speaking, driving is going to be safer than flying commercially from an infection standpoint because you can control how you reach your destination—who is sharing the car with you, what measures are used for disinfecting surfaces, where you stop along the way, and when you return,” says Sanchez.

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Planning a Trip? Tips for Safe Travel this Summer

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Statistics show the country is experiencing the lowest number of COVID-19 daily cases in almost a year and many of you are now planning summer vacations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidelines for travel in the US and internationally, as well as for fully vaccinated people and those who are not.

TRAVEL IN US People who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States. Wearing a mask is required for everyone on planes, buses, trains and other public transportation.

• You should follow all state and local requirements for wearing masks and social distancing.
• After your trip, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
• You do NOT need to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months.

If you are not fully vaccinated and planning to travel:

• Get tested with a  viral test  1-3 days before your trip.
• While you are traveling wear a mask over your nose and mouth. 
• Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters from anyone who is not traveling with you.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
• After you travel get tested with a  viral test  3-5 days after travel  AND  stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
• If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s international travel recommendations for unvaccinated people.

The COVID-19 situation, including the spread of new or concerning variants, differs from country to country. All travelers need to pay close attention to the  conditions at their destination  before traveling.

• Before you travel, make sure you understand your destination’s requirements related to travel, mask wearing, testing, or quarantine, which may differ from U.S. requirements. If you don’t follow them, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States.
• Check the current  COVID-19 situation in your destination.
• When coming back to the US, all air passengers coming to the United States,  including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people ,  are required  to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.

TRIP PLANNED? TAKE TO THE HIGHWAY SAFELY Be well rested and alert, use your seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. If you plan on drinking alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink.

Other tips for a safe trip include:

• Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Use caution in work zones. There are lots of construction projects underway on the highways.
• Don’t follow other vehicles too closely.
• Make frequent stops along the way.
• Clean your vehicle’s lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, and during inclement weather.
• Don’t overdrive your headlights.
• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low. If you have car trouble, pull as far as possible off the highway.
• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.
• Let someone know where you are going, your route and when you expect to get there. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

Download the Red Cross Emergency app for customizable weather alerts. If you are traveling with your pet , the Red Cross has special advice to make your trip more enjoyable and a free Pet First Aid app with an animal hospital locator in case of an emergency.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org , or follow us on social media.

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What You Need to Know About the New “Safe Travels” Stamp

The world travel and tourism council’s seal of approval helps identify destinations and businesses that have adopted a new set of global safety and hygiene protocols..

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The World Travel and Tourism Council’s new Safe Travels stamp makes it easier for people to plan trips now.

Courtesy of World Travel & Tourism Council

It’s hard enough staying COVID-safe in our own neighborhoods these days, much less in a rapidly reopening world. After all, if you’re the kind of person who ends up wondering if your next-door neighbor wore (or should have worn) a mask when kindly baking you cookies, you’ll probably also worry about whether the bellhop at your hotel is required to use hand sanitizer before delivering your suitcase. Luckily the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), along with governments and health experts, has created a new set of “Safe Travels” global health and safety protocols and a corresponding stamp to help us all navigate the new normal more easily.

Even before borders started to reopen, travel companies around the world scrambled to draft safety protocols that would allow them to operate responsibly moving forward. But the WTTC quickly realized that it was hard to keep track of all those individual efforts. Additionally, the onus would be on the traveler to decide if a certain company is actually doing enough to keep guests safe.

So the WTTC set out to standardize safe travel, developing new global standards and a stamp that would help travelers recognize the businesses and destinations following best practices. For a destination to receive a Safe Travels stamp, it must ensure that its own safety guidelines align with the WTTC’s core requirements . Businesses must follow more specific protocols , which are divided up by different sectors of the travel industry and include:

• Hospitality
• Outdoor Shopping and Retail Establishments
• Tour Operators
• Convention Centers
• Attractions
• Short-Term Rentals
• Car Rentals

Each set of protocols takes into account current World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control guidelines and was developed with help from relevant industry leaders, such as Marriott, Virtuoso, the Expedia Group, Intrepid Travel, Airbnb, Emirates, United Airlines, and others. On its website, the WTTC stresses that these standards are living documents and will be updated as new information about COVID-19 becomes available.

The entire Safe Travels effort has received the backing of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) .

The protocols outline actions that travel industry players should take both behind the scenes (retraining staff, revising cleaning procedures, working with governments to provide financial relief through the sector) and when welcoming guests (mandating masks where required, monitoring guest numbers to facilitate social distancing, creating new signage to encourage guests to use safe hygiene practices). Once a company has implemented the new protocols, it is eligible for the bright green safety stamp , which it can display on its website. Approved destinations will help the WTTC award the stamp to smaller local companies.

According to the WTTC, protocols have been embraced by more than 1,200 companies and 80 destinations already. However, not all stamp holders actually use the logo on their site, so it’s not always easy for travelers to verify whether the tour operator they want to travel with or the hotel they’re planning on staying in is a WTTC Safe Travels company. But it’s always worth researching the health and safety policies of any company you’re traveling with, so if you don’t see the stamp, feel free to ask about it. The WTTC’s website also lists the destinations that have been approved so far, including Aruba, Barcelona, Egypt, Ontario, Jordan, Slovenia, Turkey, Vienna, and more.

It’s important to remember that the Safe Travel protocols don’t guarantee safety—the WTTC acknowledges as much—but they constitute a big step toward restoring travelers’ trust. “For the first time ever, the global private sector has rallied around Safe Travels protocols which will create consistency across the sector,” WTTC CEO and president Gloria Guevara said in a statement. “Implementation by governments around the world will restore much-needed confidence in order to restart the Travel & Tourism industry.”

>>Next: What to Expect if You Plan on Flying This Summer

The Best Travel Organizers for Every Type of Trip

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Packing for a trip requires organization. And there's no better way to keep toiletries, makeup, digital gear, jewelry, and other small travel essentials safe during transit than with the right bag. Whether you're headed on a two-week vacation or a short weekend getaway, durable travel bags, pouches, and cases will always come in handy. We've rounded up a comprehensive list of the best travel organizers for every type of traveler, whether you need a sturdy cosmetic case for makeup products or a smart tech kit for cords and chargers. Below, our tried-and-true travel organizers, from waterproof pouches to essential packing cubes.

Dopp kits for women

Dopp kits for men, makeup bags, packing cubes, jewelry cases, hanging toiletry bags, water-resistant pouches.

Every traveler needs a go-to Dopp kit that will keep small toiletries like contact solution, moisturizer, and sunscreen organized in one place. These roomy and reliable bags also ensure your clothes and other personal items will be protected against any accidental leaks while traveling. The best Dopp kits for women offer enough space for your essentials while still being compact enough to fit in an already-stuffed carry-on or weekender .

Read more : The Best Dopp Kits for Women

There are plenty of great Dopp kits for men on the market—Dagne Dover, Herschel, Rains, and Bagsmart make some of our favorite travel-friendly (and budget-friendly) bags. These options make skincare and grooming products easy to find and easy to pack in your suitcase. No matter where you're headed on your next getaway, a trusty Dopp kit is essential. (Any of these sleek bags would also make a great gift for the travel-loving man in your life, too.)

Read more : The Best Dopp Kits for Men

We've all been there: You're sitting in a small, cramped seat in economy hopelessly searching for your iPhone charger in your under-seat bag. The solution to never-ending bag searching and tangled cords: A smart tech organizer that keeps all of your digital gear neat and tidy. These organizers are a true game changer when it comes packing cords, portable chargers, AirPods, and any other tech essentials you're toting around.

Read more : The Best Travel Tech Organizers

I've ruined a few tote bags by throwing a lipstick or loose powder inside and hoping for the best. You can't always be gentle with your personal item or carry-on while in transit, so a durable cosmetic bag helps protect your makeup products and everything around it. If you want to make getting ready in a hotel bathroom even speedier, opt for a clear cosmetic case or the Lay-n-Go drawstring bag that makes finding all of your products easier than ever.

Read more : The Best Travel Makeup Bags

If you're not already using packing cubes, let this be your sign to start. Our editors swear by packing cubes to keep clothes organized and compressed—meaning you can fit a whole lot more in your suitcase with these. Packing cubes also help you separate clean clothes from dirty ones and help protect special items like dresses and suits from any spilled liquids in your carry-on. Paravel and Calpak make some of our favorite packing cubes, but we also love the more budget-friendly options you can find on Amazon from Bagail and Alameda.

Read more : The Best Packing Cubes

The last thing you need upon arriving to your destination is to find all of your necklaces and bracelets tangled. Or worse, discover that you lost a special (or expensive) piece of jewelry while in transit. A sturdy jewelry case ensures your favorite pieces will be safe and protected from being squashed or broken. And if you're in need of a thoughtful gift , a well-made and sleek jewelry case will be much appreciated.

Toiletries can quickly create a cluttered bathroom counter. The next time you stay at a hotel or Airbnb, consider placing a hanging toiletry bag on the back of the bathroom door. It will help you see all of your products at a glance and limits the need to unpack and repack at the end of your trip. Use these to store anything from skincare and beauty products to jewelry and hair tools .

Sometimes, you need a water-resistant pouch or an extra bag, just in case . Options like the Aloha Collection pouches and Baggu set can hold wet bathing suits, dirty clothes, or sand-filled beach items, making it safe to toss them back in your tote or backpack . These types of bags can also keep your phone and other electronics safe if you're lounging by the pool.

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Jnto official sns accounts, information about noto peninsula earthquake, guide for when you are feeling ill, covid-19: practical information, warnings and advisories, safe travel portal site, safety tips for travelers, major urban railways, other railways, national airlines and lccs, mandatory registration for unmanned aircraft, a message from kono taro, minister for consumer affairs and food safety, request for discontinuation of use of red mold rice materials by kobayashi pharmaceutical.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) provides useful information on weather warnings/advisories and latest news of transportation services during your stay in Japan.

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Follow @JapanSafeTravel    Log in to view the latest posts.

Weibo/微博 @安心访日JapanSafeTravel

Public transportation operation status in the hokuriku region and surrounding areas.

For the latest operation status, please check the information provided by each transportation operator.

[Shinkansen]

[Local trains]

• Noto Railway (Nanao Station – Anamizu Station)
• Noto Airport (Ishikawa Pref.)
• Komatsu Airport (Ishikawa Pref.)
• Niigata Airport (Niigata Pref.)
• Toyama Airport (Toyama Pref.)

Niigata Port (Niigata City, Niigata Pref.)  

Intercity buses

- Kanazawa- Nagoya/Takayama/Niigata/Toyama

Emergency Disaster Support： FREE over-the-phone interpreting service

（BRIDGE MULTILINGUAL SOLUTINS, inc.）

• Free interpreting service for non-Japanese speakers who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Noto region
• This service is available 24/7 in any language mainly in English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.

03-5366-6076 (From Japan only)

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Visit Kanazawa

Fukui Prefecture

Accommodations, sightseeing spots, tourist facilities, etc. in Fukui prefecture are operating and open for business as usual.

Please check the following websites before visiting just in case.

Enjoy Fukui

Tsuruga Guide

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Languages: English / 한국어 / 简体中文 / 繁體中文(臺灣) / 繁體中文(香港) / Tiếng Việt / Bahasa Indonesia

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) is Japan's only public broadcaster. NHK WORLD-JAPAN is NHK's international service delivering the latest information about Japan through TV, radio and the Internet.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Hokkaido Prefecture

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Is it safe to go there? What State Department travel advisories mean for your vacation

If you're planning an international trip, you're probably researching the safety of your destination.

The U.S. Department of State offers guidance based on the most up-to-date information about potential hazards that can disrupt travel or threaten personal safety. The department issues advisories that classify how safe a place is to travel on a given moment.

Each country has an advisory level from 1 to 4, from lowest risk to highest risk. The most dangerous places to visit, including areas affected by war and unrest, are classified under Level 4, which means "do not travel." Some countries, including Mexico, have different advisory levels for different regions.

Here's what the State Department travel advisories mean.

What are the travel advisory levels in the US?

The State Department classifies how safe a place is to travel by assigning an advisory level, from Level 1 to Level 4. Here's what the advisory levels mean:

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions. This indicates the least risky places to travel to, but the State Department cautions that "there is some risk in any international travel."

Level 2: Exercise increased caution. Travelers should be aware of higher safety and security risks in their destination, and that conditions can change at any time.

Level 3: Reconsider travel. Serious safety and security risks exist and conditions can change at any time. The State Department provides more specific guidance for travelers in Level 3 areas.

Level 4: Do not travel. Level 4 countries represent the highest risk of life-threatening danger and little to no ability for the U.S. government to assist when an emergency occurs. The State Department advises travelers to avoid Level 4 countries, that Americans in those countries leave as soon as it's safe to do so, and to write a will and leave DNA samples before travel in case of worst-case scenarios.

Some countries have varying advisory levels with different guidance based on the region. This includes Mexico, where most states are under advisories ranging from Level 2 to Level 4.

Is there a worldwide travel alert?

Yes. The State Department issued a worldwide caution for international travel in October 2023, which was updated in May 2024, because of the "potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests."

The worldwide caution was first issued shortly after the Israel-Hamas war began, and was updated to warn travelers of "increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events."

What countries are on high alert for travel?

Any country classified with a Level 4 advisory is considered high risk for travel, according to the State Department. High risk means local conditions are very hazardous and/or the U.S. government has little to no ability to help travelers in trouble.

What countries have a Level 4 travel warning?

As of May 2024, these countries and regions are under a Level 4 advisory, meaning do not travel:

• The Gaza Strip
• Afghanistan
• South Sudan
• Central African Republic
• Burkina Faso
• North Korea

Six states in Mexico have a Level 4 travel warning: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

What countries have a Level 3 travel warning?

As of May 2024, these countries and regions are under a Level 3 advisory, meaning reconsider travel:

• Israel and the West Bank
• Mainland China and Macau
• New Caledonia
• Saudi Arabia
• Papua New Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• El Salvador

What level of advisory is Mexico?

Mexico has 32 federal entities: 31 states and the capital, Mexico City. Six Mexican states have a Level 4 travel warning:

Seven states in Mexico have Level 3 advisories:

• Baja California

Travelers to Puerto Peñasco , the popular Sonora resort town also known as Rocky Point, should follow safety precautions that include only using Federal Highway 8 via the Lukeville Port of Entry and only driving during daylight hours .

Mexico City is under a Level 2 advisory.

Where should Americans not travel right now?

Travelers should be cautious if planning to travel anywhere with a Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisory from the State Department.

The department does not restrict people from traveling to Level 4 countries, except for North Korea. Americans can only visit North Korea for limited humanitarian purposes and must apply for a special passport that allows this travel.

Is it safe to travel to Europe right now? 

It depends where you're going. Destinations such as Greece, Hungary, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland are under Level 1 advisories, the State Department's lowest level. Exercise normal caution when you visit.

France , Germany and the United Kingdom, the three European countries with nonstop flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, are under Level 2 advisories because of the risk of terrorist attacks. The State Department advises travelers to be aware of their surroundings when in crowded public spaces and follow instructions from authorities.

Visitors to France should also be aware that pickpocketing and civil unrest are also possible in their travels, according to the State Department .

Is it safe for Americans to travel to China?

Most of China, which consists of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, is under a Level 3 advisory.

The State Department advises travelers to reconsider travel to mainland China because of arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans that ensnared travelers in recent years , and the risk of wrongful detentions. Travel to Macau should be reconsidered because of the U.S. government's limited ability to provide consular services there.

Hong Kong is under a Level 2 advisory because of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

How to check for travel advisory? 

Visit travel.state.gov for detailed advisories on the country or countries you plan to visit.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:  @salerno_phx .

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WTTC Members have identified security and travel facilitation as a top priority. According to WTTC’s 2019 data, the Travel & Tourism sector accounted for 10.3% of global GDP and supported the livelihoods of 330 million people in 2019, outpacing the growth of the global economy for nine consecutive years. As one of the fastest-growing industries in 2019, responsible for one in four new jobs created worldwide over the last five years, the slowdown of Travel & Tourism has had devastating ripple effects beyond the sector itself. The benefits of Travel & Tourism spread far beyond its direct impacts on GDP and employment. Indirect benefits apply throughout the supply chain and interlinkages to other industries, such as agriculture, retail, arts, and construction. Additionally, the Travel & Tourism sector is highly inclusive, employing and offering opportunities to people from all walks of life, including minorities, youth, and women. Increasing political risks and geopolitical instability require more stringent security checks and processes, putting pressure on often outdated systems which are already strained. WTTC’s work in this area demonstrates that improved visa facilitation and a safe & seamless traveller journey with the deployment of innovative technologies, such as biometrics, can continue to drive economic growth and job creation while addressing security concerns to ensure that travel is safe, secure, and seamless.

Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey

WTTC's global vision for the Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey is to enable a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end traveller journey encompassing both air and non-air traveller touchpoints. Seamless Traveller solutions enabled through biometrics, provide the mechanism to increase security while enhancing the traveller experience across the air and non-air touchpoints. Additionally, contactless biometric technology can assist in the prevention of pathogens’ transmission between passengers. These solutions will capitalize on several opportunities including improving the customer experience, creating a frictionless experience at touchpoints, improving security, health safety, and promoting commercial benefits to travel providers.

Global Guidelines for SSTJ: The adoption of innovative digital technologies to enable seamless travel

Our latest SSTJ report, in partnership with Oliver Wyman , and Pangiam as one of the advisors, brings a set of recommendations and best practices aiming to assist in the establishment of globally interoperable, technology agnostic, biometric-enabled solutions, which cover the end-to-end traveller journey from booking to trip completion.

A Global Effort: The Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies to Enable Seamless Travel

Why are these guidelines important for the sector?

“WTTC’s new report comes at a time when Travel & Tourism is struggling to stay afloat. We believe that the Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey will not only be paramount in aiding a swift recovery to the sector, but also in shaping the new normal of Travel & Tourism for years to come. This important initiative enables mobility and increases safety and security, while always putting the passenger at the very centre. WTTC congratulates ICAO for endorsing the specifications of the Digital Travel Credential (DTC) Type 1, bringing digital identity-based travel one step closer to reality. There is no doubt that international coordination is necessary, which is why our guidelines aim to bring clarity to a recovery process that has been disjointed and confused. We hope that this, along with our many other guidelines for Safe Travels, will help usher in further consumer confidence.”

Gloria Guevara

Past President & CEO, WTTC

“WTTC's Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey represents a unique opportunity for the travel industry to use biometric and digital identity technology to not only assist in the industry’s recovery from COVID-19, but break the silos which have historically existed across travel sectors. Allowing a traveller to use their biometrics and digital identity across all travel providers, regardless of sector, will reduce many common friction points. For travel providers, the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey will enable increases in efficiency and allow for a greater personalized customer experience. Most importantly, the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey creates a safer and healthier journey for all travellers and employees of the Travel and Tourism Industry.”

Scot Hornick

Partner Transportation and Travel, Oliver Wyman

“DFW Airport is committed to ensuring it is ‘Clean. Safe. Ready.” for everyone coming to our facilities. Providing that seamless, enhanced experience means innovative efforts to expand the use of biometric technology, smart restrooms that provide contactless service and heightened sanitization, and going the extra mile to become the first airport in the world to earn Star accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC). Our efforts align with the WTTC’s coordinated efforts and commitment to a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end journey for everyone.”

Sean Donohue

CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

“IBM is proud to be a proactive contributor to the Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey global initiative. Digital travel credentials such as identity, biometrics, and health certifications are a critical part of transforming and emerging even stronger from the devastating impacts from the pandemic. Travel & Tourism is a resilient sector and ensuring a rapid return to growth will be enabled by next-generation technologies.”

Dr. Dee K. Waddell

Global Managing Director Travel & Transportation, IBM

“MSC Cruises greatly welcomes this Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey initiative from WTTC. Leveraging technology to improve the movement of guests through the various stages of travel will make our industry more efficient, more secure, and more adaptable. Use of this type of technology will enhance the guest experience at MSC Cruises and enhance our operations. Where both things can be done simultaneously, that is a winning combination. We appreciate that WTTC has undertaken this project for the collective benefit of the travel community.”

Pierfrancesco Vago

Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises

“Clearly this pandemic has influenced the way we travel today and in the future. Limiting contact through technology and other changes to allow for a more efficient travel experience are more critical than ever. This report offers several recommendations for a safer, seamless journey. Biometric technology and digital identity solutions are a key part of the travel industry’s recovery and future.”

CEO, Denver International Airport

“The travel and tourism industry is currently facing an unprecedented challenge in restoring traveller confidence and maintaining its commitment to safety amidst a pandemic. WTTC’s report brings together the best practices from across the globe that demonstrate the value of robust investments in seamless travel and the benefits from security to facilitation to passenger experience.”

Kevin McAleenan

CEO, Pangiam

“Amadeus supports WTTC’s efforts to create a globally aligned approach in the implementation of biometrics in travel. We see the Global Guidelines for the Seamless Traveler Journey as an important milestone in paving the road to recovery and rethinking our industry. Multilateral collaboration is required to build a framework for contactless travel that considers the entire traveler journey from door to door making it safe and secure though advanced touchless technology. This SSTJ initiative helps to develop clear testing and tracing practices while leveraging contactless technologies enabling a touchless environment and faster processing, which are key in restarting travel safely.”

Luis Maroto

President & CEO, Amadeus IT Group

“SITA strongly supports the move towards biometric-enabled identity solutions that allows travelers to move securely and easily across every step in their journey while maintaining control of their identity in a fully ethical manner. This is an approach we have long advocated. The benefits of speed, safety and improved security are significant. With the additional benefit of limiting touch and maintaining distance, these digital identity solutions take on new relevance in the COVID era. As the air transport and hospitality industry, we now can make tremendous strides in implementing these solutions that have long been accepted by other industries such as the finance sector.”

Barbara Dalibard

“The Chicago Department of Aviation is committed to the highest standard of safety for the traveling public and our employees. The proposed Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey (SSTJ) system will assist us and our airline partners in our collective effort to provide a more efficient and secure travel experience with a touchless environment through technological advancement. Implementing these solutions will not only help the aviation industry alleviate the strain on fundamental infrastructure as demand recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic but will also promote health-conscious practices for both travelers and employees alike. As we join industry leaders at a critical moment where innovative digital solutions are being developed and applied to serve travelers across the globe, we are confident that these improvements will allow travelers to feel an unprecedented level of safety and security as they navigate our airports.”

Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation

“The pandemic has upended lives and livelihoods, and nowhere is that more apparent than the significant hit taken by the travel and tourism industry. Technology can and must revive travel safely and quickly. Airside strongly supports the use of biometrics and digital identities to enhance security, facilitate travel, and drive a contactless experience. Our platform and team stand ready to partner with the travel industry to deliver an open, interoperable and seamless experience that covers the traveler’s journey from booking to completion.”

CEO, Airside Mobile

“The roadmap provides directional guidance for those navigating the challenges of COVID, while delivering on the goals of a safe and seamless traveller experience. We encourage pilots for those just starting while travel volumes are lower and a move to broader implementations for those already at pilot stages to best position for a full recovery.”

Gordon Wilson

President & CEO, WorldReach Software

“CLEAR supports WTTC's tireless efforts to drive innovation and interoperability across the travel industry through the Seamless Traveler Journey Initiative. These latest 'Best Practices' recommendations highlight the importance of securely establishing a traveler's identity to enable a safer, more secure, and frictionless travel experience, which closely aligns with CLEAR's vision. We look forward to continued work with the WTTC to help the travel and tourism industry recover and sustainably grow.”

Caryn Seidman Becker

Chairman & CEO, CLEAR

“The need for touchless identity management and seamless passenger flow management is the new reality. As air travel dynamics have evolved under the covid-19 pandemic, the importance of a safe contactless passenger experience is paramount to the industry’s revival. We are very proud to have such iconic institutions on board to implement seamless automated and contactless passenger travel experiences across the world. We are confident that our partnerships will be a huge success as everyone is looking to maximize the potential that seamless technology has to offer. It will also allow Vision-Box to deliver the very best strategies that will be uniquely conceived, designed and built for the next generation of transformative identity management platforms.”

Miguel Leitmann

CEO, Vision-Box

“We at Critical Insights, applaud the WTTC for their leadership and guidance during these most challenging times of the pandemic as we seek to reopen the travel and tourism industry in a safe and secure way that delivers trust and confidence. We are pleased to have contributed to the development of their Global Guidelines for the Seamless Traveller Journey that has great importance as the sector considers new policies, processes and technologies to bring about the new norm. The customer expects protection, great service, efficiency and fun as they return to international travel, and the seamless journey – delivered as described by the STJ principles, can secure a positive future for all. We remain committed to advance both the digital and post-pandemic transformation of the STJ in partnership with the WTTC.”

Michael O’Connell

Founder & CEO, Critical Insights Consultancy

“As the tourism ecosystem, including the cruise industry, works to tackle the challenges posed by the global crisis and plans to reshape its future, it is clear that technological advancements and greater digitalization in the whole travel journey play a key role for a full recovery. In this sense, we welcome the work of the WTTC in producing thought leadership on this topic as well as promoting initiatives that can mark a further evolution in world travel and tourism.”

Michael Thamm

CEO, Costa Group & Carnival Asia

“Today, more than ever, it’s crucial for all businesses within the travel and tourism industry to collaborate with organizations such as the WTTC to implement global initiatives that align safety standards across all sectors, rebuild consumer confidence, and reactivate tourism.”

José Carlos Azcárraga

CEO, Grupo Posadas

“Tourism delivers prosperity and health to travelers and hosts. The COVID-19 crisis has halted that virtuous circle - putting hundreds of millions of families at risk. To recover, we must inspire confidence on the travel experience, as well as the destination. WTTC´s Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey initiative does exactly that. Using technology and improved processes, the SSTJ initiative will make traveling better, simpler, and safer for everyone.”

Hugo Desenzani

CEO, Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas

“We are delighted to be associated with WTTC and this excellent report. We at IBMATA believe that the COVID Pandemic provides an even greater impetus for Border Agencies and the travel sector to work together in harmony in order to deliver a safe and secure seamless traveller journey; and to stimulate much needed economic growth in the international travel sector. We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with WTTC on this important initiative.”

Chairman, IBMATA

Further SSTJ Reports

Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey Overview

Technology Providers Biometrics

Directrices globales para un viaje seguro y sin complicaciones

Technology Providers Testing & Tracing & Health

Testing & Tracing and Health Certificates

Biometrics Importance and Benefits

Discussion Paper: Data Facilitation - Privacy Perspective

Full Report: Cost Benefit Analysis

Summary Report: Cost Benefit Analysis

Discussion Paper: Data Facilitation for the Seamless Traveller Journey

Emerging Model Overview Findings Report

Situation Report

Mobile Payments in Travel & Tourism

Visa facilitation.

While millions of travellers cross borders every year without the need for traditional paper visas, millions more still find their travel plans restricted by complicated application processes and paperwork. Huge strides have been made in travel facilitation over the past decade, yet traditional visa policies remain an obstacle to both tourism and economic growth. This barrier can, however, become an opportunity for growth and job creation for destinations around the world through the implementation of progressive approaches to travel facilitation and new technologies to aid the implementation of new, more efficient visa policies. WTTC’s research highlights the benefits of visa facilitation in terms of increases in international arrivals as well as job creation.

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

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UNWTO and WHO: Travel Measures Should be Based on Risk Assessment

• All Regions
• 24 Feb 2022

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called for the lifting of travel bans as they do not provide added value and continue to contribute to economic and social stress. The two UN agencies agreed to collaborate on a global trust architecture for recovery of the travel sector.

Over recent days, a growing number of countries around the world have started easing their rules for international arrivals, including the easing of travel bans. These decisions are in line with WHO’s latest recommendations for safe international mobility, which highlight the ineffectiveness of blanket restrictions in controlling virus transmissions . Such a trend is also consistent with UNWTO’s repeated warnings of the great social, economic and development harm of restrictions.

Guided by UNWTO, global tourism has followed WHO advice from the very start of this crisis

UNWTO and WHO: a shared approach

In Geneva, the leaders of UNWTO and WHO agreed on the importance of easing or lifting travel bans. Blanket restrictions should be replaced with risk -based, evidence- informed, context-specific policies.

“Guided by UNWTO, global tourism has followed WHO advice from the very start of this crisis,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili. He underscored the need to “continue to do so, and to open up again, safely and responsibly, and allow tourism to deliver on its unique potential as a driver of recovery and growth”.

Risk and evidence-driven approach

According to the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on COVID-19, all measures applied to international travellers should be based on “ risk assessments - including testing, isolation and vaccinations ”. Furthermore, the financial burden of such measures should not be placed on travellers themselves.

“As countries ease travel restrictions, health must remain the key priority. By basing their decisions on evidence and a risk-based approach adapted to their specific context, countries can find the right balance between keeping people safe, protecting livelihoods and the economy, and keeping borders open”, said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Building a global trust architecture

The two UN agencies also stressed the need for clear and consistent rules relating to health and travel. There is a need for building a global trust architecture for societies and economies in the context of the pandemic, and there is a “real opportunity for tourism to contribute to that process, with UNWTO playing a critical role”, said Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

Properly managed, tourism has the potential to act as a force for development and opportunity, as highlighted in the sector’s enhanced relevance in the wider United Nations development agenda. Destinations around the world report increased tourist arrival numbers on the back of easing or removing restrictions. This trend offers the potential to kickstart economic recovery and put social development progress back on track.

Among the countries to have revised their travel restrictions is Switzerland, one of Europe’s leading destinations, which welcomed the UNWTO delegation at the beginning of a week of key meetings.

UNWTO and WHO

Zurab pololikashvili, dr tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, zurab pololikashvili, dr tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, related links.

• Download the news release in PDF
• “Blanket Travel Restrictions Don’t Work”: WHO and UNWTO
• Tourism Raises its Voice for Peace

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Re-ticketing: Part of Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter

Table of contents, what is re-ticketing.

Your family may have the option to stay with friends or family in other states outside of Massachusetts. Re-ticketing helps cover travel costs (plane tickets, bus tickets, or other related travel expenses) so your family can get to that state immediately. The state will book, arrange for, and pay for your travel.

How do I know if I am eligible for Re-ticketing?

To be eligible for re-ticketing, families must be in at least one of the following groups:

• Eligible for EA (meet all the eligibility criteria and have submitted all their required paperwork) 
• Presumptively eligible for EA (meet all the eligibility criteria but have not submitted their required paperwork)
• Not eligible for EA but are at risk of homelessness within 30 days and meet EA eligibility income guidelines

You can learn more about the EA eligibility criteria, including the income guidelines, at How to Apply for EA.

How do I access Re-ticketing?

If you are currently at one of the state’s temporary respite centers.

You can ask staff at the Temporary Respite Center to help you.

If you’re not currently at one of the state’s Temporary Respite Centers

You can talk to staff at the following locations:

• Logan Airport Terminal E, Door E107 at Arrivals, Monday - Friday 4pm-11pm, Saturday and Sunday 4-9 PM
• Quincy Family Welcome Center, Monday - Friday 9am-4pm

You can also reach out to your diversion provider. A diversion provider is an organization that supports families as they find housing.

If you do not remember who your assigned diversion provider is:

You can inquire by:

• Contacting your Homeless Coordinator (the person who helped complete your EA application) 
• Calling our hotline and speaking with one of our intake coordinators: 866-584-0653
• What is Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter?  
• HomeBASE  
• What’s next after becoming EA eligible: the Contact List and more 
• Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter - Length of Stay Policy  

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How Did Mpox Become a Global Emergency? What’s Next?

The virus is evolving, and the newest version spreads more often through heterosexual populations. Sweden reported the first case outside Africa.

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

Apoorva Mandavilli covered the 2022 mpox outbreak and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Faced once again with a rapidly spreading epidemic of mpox, the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared a global health emergency. The last time the W.H.O. made that call was in 2022, when the disease was still called monkeypox.

Ultimately the outbreak affected nearly 100,000 people worldwide, primarily gay and bisexual men, including more than 32,000 in the United States.

The W.H.O.’s decision this time was prompted by an escalating crisis of mpox concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It recently spread to a dozen other African countries. If it is not contained, the virus again may rampage all over the world, experts warned.

On Thursday, Sweden reported the first case of a deadlier form of mpox outside Africa , in a person who had traveled to the continent. “Occasional imported cases like the current one may continue to occur,” the country’s public health agency warned.

“There’s a need for concerted effort by all stakeholders, not only in Africa, but everywhere else,” Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian scientist and chair of the W.H.O.’s mpox emergency committee, said on Wednesday.

Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths, most of them among children under 15, indicating that the nature of the disease and its mode of spread may have changed.

Here’s what to know.

Is this the virus we saw in 2022?

This is a different version of the mpox virus.

Mpox is a close relative of the smallpox virus. There are two main types: Clade I, the version that is dominant in Congo, and Clade II, a form of which caused the 2022 global outbreak. (A clade is a genetically and clinically distinct group of viruses.)

Clade I mpox is generally thought to cause more severe illness and to have a much higher mortality rate, which is one reason the W.H.O. is sounding the alarm now. Officials hope to contain this outbreak before it spreads to other continents.

The infection may resemble an ordinary respiratory illness at first but later blooms into a raised rash in the mouth, hands, feet or genitals. The virus spreads mainly through close contact — directly with the skin or fluids of an infected person, or with contaminated bed linens and other items.

Scientists learned during the 2022 outbreak that mpox can spread even in the absence of symptoms. And the rash may be mistaken for other diseases such as measles or chickenpox, particularly in young children.

Who is getting infected this time?

In the 2022 outbreak, mpox spread globally mainly among gay and bisexual men. Behavioral changes in that community helped to contain the virus, and vaccination at the time, or now, will help protect them.

Until recently, most cases in Congo resulted from consumption of contaminated meat or close contact with infected animals and people. But last year, scientists discovered a new subtype of mpox, Clade Ib, which appears to spread from person to person primarily through heterosexual transmission .

Most cases have been observed in prostitutes, truckers and other transient workers.

“Sex is probably the primary driver, and then the secondary driver is close contact and households,” said Dr. Jay Varma, the chief medical officer at SIGA Technologies, which manufactures tecovirimat, a drug used to treat mpox infection.

As with many other infections, most people with healthy immune systems are unlikely to become severely ill with mpox. Those who have weakened immune systems, including those living with H.I.V., are at highest risk of severe illness and death .

Older adults, who are typically more susceptible to infections, may be at least somewhat protected by their childhood vaccinations for smallpox, which ended in the United States in 1972.

Most of the deaths in Congo have been in children under 15, perhaps because their health may already be compromised by poor medical care, malnutrition and the many other pathogens they face.

Has the outbreak spread to the United States or Europe?

Many countries worldwide, including the United States, have continued to see patients with Clade IIb mpox, the version that caused the 2022 outbreak.

So far this year, there have been about 1,657 cases of mpox in the United States, more than double the number at this time last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just one case of the more severe Clade I infection has been reported in Europe — in Sweden, in a person who had traveled to Africa. Other so-called “imported” cases seem likely. But experts tend to worry more about community transmission.

“I don’t think the risk right now for Americans is high at all, but what this is telling us is that we have to be vigilant,” said Dr. Trish Perl, an infectious disease physician at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

But previous epidemics, including of mpox, illustrate that an uncontrolled outbreak anywhere in the world may eventually turn up everywhere, Dr. Varma said. Since December, the C.D.C. has twice warned clinicians and the general public to remain alert for signs of mpox.

“I really think it’s only a matter of time before North America, Europe, etc., start to see cases,” he said, referring to the deadlier viral subtype. “Unless we invest in disease control everywhere, we’re going to remain always at risk.”

Will the vaccine still protect against mpox?

Two doses of the mpox vaccine Jynneos should protect against all versions of the virus, experts said.

Jynneos, made by Bavarian Nordic, was used in 2022 in the United States and Europe. The vaccine, initially developed against smallpox, should protect against mpox and all other members of that virus family, said Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious diseases physician at Emory University in Atlanta.

Several studies have shown that antibodies prompted by the Jynneos vaccine wane and may be undetectable within a year. But other research has found that two doses effectively prevent severe illness , Dr. Titanji said.

In the United States, however, fewer than one in four people for whom vaccination was recommended got two doses.

“People were less interested in coming back and getting that second dose, or even starting the course of their vaccination,” Dr. Titanji said. “Maybe we will see an increase in uptick in vaccination, and this will serve as a reminder for people to come in and get vaccinated.”

In 2022, the federal government provided the shots at no cost. Jynneos is now commercially available, and some insurance companies may cover the cost.

For some patients, the shots may prove too expensive , Dr. Perl said. If mpox cases were to escalate, the U.S. government may again make the shots available free of charge, according to a federal official with knowledge of the situation.

Is the U.S. prepared for another bout with mpox?

Yes and no.

Scientists learned a lot about the virus in 2022 and have identified vaccines and treatments. But they do not fully understand how the deadlier virus is spreading in Africa, especially among children, or who is most at risk.

“This is very, very crucial when you think about designing a response strategy,” Dr. Titanji said.

There are few resources allocated to fighting sexually transmitted infections in the United States, said David Harvey, the executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.

Officials have not solved the problems that hobbled the response in 2022, including poor uptake of the vaccine and “a shockingly underfunded S.T.I. public health system,” Mr. Harvey said.

“Today, we worry about an mpox outbreak,” he added. “We’re already dealing with syphilis, and tomorrow there will be another outbreak of an S.T.I.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of U.S. mpox cases so far in 2024. It is 1,657, not 740.

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Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter focused on science and global health. She was a part of the team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the pandemic. More about Apoorva Mandavilli