U.S. warns travelers to ‘exercise increased caution’ at popular European hotspot

If you’re planning a trip to France, there are certain things you might want to take note of before you arrive at your destination.

The U.S. State Department

updated its travel advisory to France

, advising travelers to take extra precautions due to terrorism and civil unrest.

Here’s what you need to know if you plan on traveling to France.

What does the latest travel advisory to France mean to you?

The agency gave a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory to France because of risks of terrorism and civil unrest in the country.

The advisory states that terrorists may attack with “little to no warning” in highly populated locations, including tourist destinations, religious sites, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls and local government facilities.

This includes hotels, clubs and restaurants, as well.

Peaceful protests and strikes also occur often throughout France. Tourists should be aware, as they “can disrupt transportation services and may turn violent or cause property damage on rare occasions” while “police may respond with water cannons and tear gas.”

Meanwhile, pickpocketing and phone thefts are common crimes in crowded areas, like airport, subways and train car, tourist attractions and train stations.

What is the highest travel advisory?

There are

four levels of travel advisory

, Level 1 through Level 4.

When planning a vacation, you should

check the current travel advisory

for that destination. So, which level is the most concerning?

• 
  
  Level 1
  
  :
  
  Exercise Normal Precautions
  
  – This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.
  
• 
  
  Level 2
  
  :
  
  Exercise Increased Caution
  
  – There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.
  
• 
  
  Level 3
  
  :
  
  Reconsider Travel
  
  – There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.
  
• 
  
  Level 4
  
  :
  
  Do Not Travel
  
  – This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.
  

What should travelers to France do in light of this travel advisory?

Travelers to France should stay alert in tourist locations to pickpocketing and demonstrations, follow instructions from local authorities and monitor local media.

Travelers should also stay in safe places and “shelter in place,” if they can’t leave an area where a protest or demonstration is happening

The State Department also suggests to enroll in the

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

to get alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency and purchase travel insurance.

You can also remain aware of terrorism risks in the country by checking

France’s Security Report

and prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations using the

Traveler’s Checklist

.

The State Department also advises that travelers purchase travel insurance before you fly to France.

You can find more information and advice related to this

travel advisory here

.

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