Worst Places To Travel For Americans

Once upon a time, Americans were widely accepted and wanted everywhere they went. The idea of talking about the worst places to travel basically relied on showing which had the least pleasurable accommodations or the fewest English speaking people in the world. Back then, the world was a more peaceful place, filled with exotic sights and fun locals to meet.

That time is long gone, and nowadays, Americans have to worry about travel safety when they decide to go abroad. In fact, safety is a major problem these days.

Though these places may have, at one point, been a welcoming tourist destination, today they have become the worst places to travel for Americans - at least, according to the experts who track customer safety.

Somalia (The Entire Country)

For the past 20 years, Somalia has basically been in a constant state of anarchy. War is the norm, people die in the streets, and even finding things like food and clean water can be a major task in and of itself. As a result, almost any travel expert you talk to will advise against trying to be a tourist in Somalia.

Moreover, after having the losses of multiple Americans who dared go to Mogadishu, the Somali government now requires all tourists to hire state-approved body guards before they even set foot outside the airport. Even with body guards, there's still a strong chance that tourists could fall victim to crime, human trafficking, and more should they go here.

This country is regularly listed among the worst places to go, safety-wise. Is it any surprise, though? Somali nationals can go to almost any country and claim refugee status because the country has become that terrible to be in.

Afghanistan (The Whole Country)

Though there are parts of Afghanistan that are deemed safe to travel, ever since the US had declared an unofficial war on this country, locals have not exactly been kind to tourists here. Much of the country has war-ravaged ruins dotting the countryside, and the quality of life is absolutely abysmal here.

Kabul, once one of the more beautiful cities in the Middle East, is now in shambles due to the recent wars. With major terrorist-sparked attacks occasionally still happening in Afghanistan, it's just best to not book your trip here.

The nightmarish lifestyle people live here makes it top lists of worst places to travel for Americans, and also as a tourist of any nationality.

Syria (The Whole Country)

This country is a literal warzone, and it's currently the homeplace of one of the most vicious, evil organizations ever to make history: ISIS. The fact is that you would have to be a bit unstable in order to think that visiting places in this country is a good idea.

As of right now, millions of its own citizens are fleeing the country due to terrorist attacks, US bombings, Russian troop presence, and more. Anti-American sentiment is very high, and if you go here, the US may not even allow you to come back to your own country.

Moreover, this country currently has the worst travel problems in the world thanks to the fact that there is so much political turmoil. Most airlines will not fly here anymore due to safety concerns. Yeah, there's a reason why this place is on the list.

Venezuela (The Whole Country)

This South American country was once considered a gem among tourist destinations thanks to its lush rainforests and friendly people. However, as major news sources have shown, there's currently a huge revolt going on in Venezuela's streets.

Locals are attacking police, police are murdering locals, and food is currently nowhere to be found. As a result, desperation is taking hold, and there is reason to believe that American tourists may end up being targeted for robbery and extortion if they come here.

Though things may get better eventually, as of right now, this is listed as one of the worst places to visit as a tourist destination.

Honduras (The Whole Country)

Travel enthusiasts will be able to tell you that Honduras does have a couple of good resorts that are generally safe - however, that's where it all ends. The US Embassy put out a travel advisory because of the fact that the murder rates throughout the country are skyrocketing due to a number of gang wars, drug cartel invasions, and more.

Kidnapping American tourists for ransom does happen here, as does tourist killings for money. Coming here is basically saying that you're willing to put your own life into your hands. Body guard services for tourists do exist for this reason - but nothing says that they may not actually be working for cartels, anyway.

El Salvador (The Whole Country)

Once considered an amazing tourist destination for people who love nature, Latin culture, and more. However, the current situation of the country makes it less than appealing - especially for Americans.

Due to the rise of the MS-13 gang and the Barrio 18 gang, El Salvador's crime rate has shot through the roof. Mass killings of both nationals and tourists have happened, as have kidnappings for ransom. Robberies are the norm, and frankly it's just best if you avoid this former tourist destination.

Saudi Arabia (The Whole Country, Minus Mecca)

Saudi Arabia does not like tourists - American or otherwise. Technically, the country doesn't even issue out tourist visas. Moreover, Saudi Arabia is known for having extreme anti-Western views, with many members of Al Qaeda and ISIS having stayed in areas here.

The only exception to this otherwise-inhospitable country is Mecca, which is considered to be a mandatory religious pilgrimage for Muslims. Even so, the US Embassy has a very strong warning against going here due to the high levels of violence committed against American nationals visiting the country - even if they are here for the umrah.

Democratic Republic Of The Congo (The Whole Country)

In many lists involving the worst travel destinations in the world, the entire country of Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks in the top five. The reasons why are varied, but include heavy political instability, ebola outbreaks, tourist killings, and of course, kidnappings that involved tourists becoming victims of human trafficking.

If you end up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, do not be surprised if you can't rely on the police for help. This region is known for having an extremely corrupt police force - and you may have to bribe them to just save your life. In terms of all-around danger, this is a country that definitely earned its place on the list of worst places to travel to for Americans, or for those from any country of origin.

Bangkok, Thailand

Once known as "the Land of Smiles," Thailand seems to be a victim of its own tourist success. Because of the massive influx of tourists, many Thai locals are beginning to feel "invaded" by tourists from other countries - and even show resentment for it quite openly at times.

Bangkok in particular has been very badly hit by the tourist influx, and it has sparked a huge crime wave. This once-safe city has become a human trafficking, robbery, and crime hotspot, with most crime happening directed towards tourists.

Underground black markets have sold women, body parts, and even children to foreigners here - and that's a huge part of the reason why many Thai locals no longer want Americans to travel here. Partly due to the anti-Western sentiment going on here, an alarming number of tourist deaths have gone unreported here.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh, isn't one of the worst places to travel as a whole. People here are friendly, luxury is affordable, and there's just a ton to do around the country. However, the city of Dhaka is generally not the kind of place tourists think of when they want to visit cities.

Dhaka is one of the poorest cities in one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. This insanely densely populated city has a huge human trafficking problem, terrible pollution, and a soaring HIV rate. Finding food and water that will not cause you to be sick here will be difficult - and as such, this is one of the cities that definitely makes it on our list.

Pyongyang, North Korea

Truthfully, going to North Korea at all is probably a horrible idea to begin with. This country's infamously high rate of anti-American sentiment has made it innately hostile and closed off towards Western visitors. That being said, North Korea does allow tourists from America to visit places in the country - almost all of them in the country's capital city of Pyongyang.

Considering the current climate, and considering that North Korea is on the brink of war with the US, it may be a good idea to avoid this country. After all, this country has been known to kill American tourists for the slightest infractions against the state - real or imagined.

In terms of political insanity, North Korea tops the list of the worst places to travel for Americans, simply because they can be victims of state-sponsored violence and kidnapping.