The Friday Letter · October 23, 2026
If you’re going abroad for the holidays, this week is about the part nobody posts: the advisories, the strikes, the shots, and the scams. Five things to do before you go, and why.
The big picture
The State Department’s Worldwide Caution is still in effect. Its July 22 alert asks Americans everywhere to exercise increased caution, and to reconsider travel to and through the Middle East. If your route connects through the Gulf, confirm the flight with your airline before you leave.
1. Know the level for where you’re going
- Level 1, normal precautions: Japan, Portugal, Greece, Iceland, Austria, Switzerland, and Canada.
- Level 2, increased caution: France, Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. Level 2 isn’t “don’t go.” Most of Western Europe is there. France’s advisory was updated Oct. 20 after riots there; avoid demonstrations.
- Level 3, reconsider travel: Colombia.
- Mexico is rated state by state. Quintana Roo (Cancún, Tulum) and Mexico City are Level 2, Yucatán is Level 1, Jalisco is Level 3, and Guerrero, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Colima, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas are Level 4, do not travel.
2. Enroll in STEP
The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is free. It sends you alerts from the embassy where you’re going, and it helps them reach you or your family in an emergency. Save the help line too: 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S., +1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
3. Check the health notices
The CDC says every international traveler should be fully vaccinated against measles, with two doses of MMR, at least two weeks before the trip. Its current travel notices include yellow fever in Colombia and dengue in Costa Rica, Cuba, and Vietnam. Bring prescriptions in their original bottles.
4. Check your dates against the strikes
- Spain: Ouigo high-speed train strikes all day Fri., Oct. 30 and Mon., Nov. 2, then mornings and evenings Nov. 6, Nov. 9, Dec. 4, and Dec. 8. A nationwide general strike is called for Wed., Nov. 11; the flight impact isn’t known yet.
- France: a nationwide strike is called for Thu., Nov. 5, and the four main rail unions have joined it, so TGV, Intercités, and regional trains may be affected.
- Italy: a nationwide air traffic control strike Sat., Nov. 21, 1 to 5 p.m., then 24-hour strikes at Milan Malpensa and Venice airports on Sun., Nov. 22, and Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino ground staff on Mon., Dec. 14. Strike rules protect flights from 7 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., so pick those if you can.
- Strikes get added and called off all the time. Keep a backup train or flight in mind, and book refundable when you can.
5. Book and pay the safe way
U.S. travel scam losses rose from $99 million in 2021 to $297 million in 2025. The FTC’s advice: scroll past the paid ads or type the company’s site yourself, and walk away from anyone who will only take a wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or crypto. Pay by credit card, and if you booked through a third-party site, call the hotel to confirm they have you.
In the crowds
Christmas markets and holiday city centers are crowded, festive, and exactly where pickpockets work. Crossbody bag, zipped, worn in front. Phone in an inside pocket. Buddy system after dark, with a meeting spot if you get separated. And if a stranger insists on buying you a drink, leave.
One piece of advice
Do the boring ten minutes now: look up the level, enroll in STEP, check your shots. Then go enjoy it.
From Go Well: Chapter Eleven is the safety chapter, with the 30-minute safety setup, the Safety Traffic Light, and a cut-out emergency card. The Kindle edition is $4.99 on pre-order: amazon.com/dp/B0HMYBRHWL. Paperback and hardcover come out Nov. 30. Pre-order and I’ll send you a free printable Summer Trip Planner: leah.travel/gowell.
Leah
Advisory levels, health notices, and strike dates as of Oct. 22, 2026. All of it can change, so check the official pages before you go.
Sources
- State Department, Worldwide Caution (July 22, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/global-events/worldwide-caution.html
- State Department, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/smart-traveler-enrollment-program.html
- State Department, travel advisories: travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html
- State Department, Mexico advisory (May 29, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/mexico.html
- CDC, measles and travel: cdc.gov/measles/travel/index.html
- CDC, travel health notices: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
- Flightright, Europe flight strikes, October and November 2026: myflyright.com/blog/europe-flight-strikes-october-and-november-2026/
- FTN News, Ouigo train strikes in Spain: ftnnews.com/travel-news/rail/ouigo-train-strike-spain-october-december-2026/
- AirportStrikes.eu, Italy ENAV strike, Nov. 21: airportstrikes.eu/strike/8ed18329-6ee2-4cdb-ac7a-78195aad49cc
- Italy Ministry of Transport, official strike register: scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi
- Connexion France, Nov. 5 strike: connexionfrance.com/news/french-rail-unions-join-growing-november-5-strike/822438
- FTC, how to avoid a travel scam: consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/06/how-avoid-travel-scam-summer
- Yahoo News (Locals Insider), holiday travel scam losses: travel.yahoo.com/advice/safety/articles/holiday-travelers-warned-travel-scams-234426729.html
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