Popular Louisiana Vacation Destination Deemed 'Off-limits'

Louisiana travelers who were planning to travel south for the winter may need to reconsider their options. That was after the United States Department of State Updated travel advisories and warnings for Louisiana's most popular international travel and recreation destination.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Facebook

The threat of widespread and routine violent crime certainly doesn't sound like a relaxing vacation, does it? To make matters worse, many areas listed in the State Department's recent update travel advisories are for places that many of us have heard are “safe because of the tourism industry.”

I think all of us who travel do so with a healthy dose of caution and concern. No matter where you travel, you always have to be vigilant for bad guys who might steal your wallet or phone. This is happening in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and almost every other major city in Louisiana and across the country.

But these aren't the petty crimes the State Department is warning about. These are life-threatening crimes, such as assault and sexual assault. To top it all off, authorities there appear limited in what they can or will do to stem the tide of violence.

Which destinations are affected by the “Do not travel” advisory?

Unfortunately for many sun-seeking holidaymakers, the the destination in question is Mexico. To be clear, not all regions of Mexico fall under the No Travel Notice from the State Department. There are two states, Campeche and Yucatan, that only have a Level 1 advisory. Level 1 means “exercise normal caution.” A do not travel advisory is considered a Level 4.

It's worth noting that Quintana Roo, the Mexican state where Cancun is located, is at Level 2 and travelers are encouraged to “exercise increased caution” due to crime. So, vacationers who have Cancun as a cruise destination can still travel there, but be extra careful when doing so.

In my experience, when traveling to areas where crime is rampant, I have to take some precautions to protect myself. Stay awarein other words, if you go to Senor Frogs and get sprayed, you're an easy target. leave your jewelryand this includes wedding rings and engagement rings on board the ship if you are on a cruise.

I would also advise you to stay in a group If you can, there is safety in numbers. And I would also like carry my cash and credit cards to a hard-to-reach place Sure, it might mean digging through your pants for a credit card, but the consequences of having a card stolen in a foreign country far outweigh that inconvenience.

THE Al.com website The Department of State has a comprehensive, easy-to-read list of all advisories and warnings for Mexico. You can view that list here. If you'd like to see the State Department's full list of countries and destinations that have issued travel advisories, visit you can find it here.

Travel is meant to be fun, relaxing, educational, and entertaining. It is not meant to be a struggle for your life and possessions at every turn. Travel smart and safe, and remember that some places are best seen from a distance.