The government issued a travel advisory for my destination. Should I cancel?
Read the advisory level, not the headline. Level 1–2 (exercise normal or increased caution) usually does not justify cancellation and rarely triggers insurance refunds. Level 3–4 (reconsider travel / do not travel) often triggers insurance cover and airline flexibility.
Advisory levels follow a global convention: US State Department uses 1–4, UK FCDO uses green/amber/red, Germany's Auswärtiges Amt uses similar tiers. Level 3+ typically activates travel insurance's 'travel warning' clause and unlocks airline waivers. Below that, cancellation is at your own cost. Check the specific region called out (advisories are often border-adjacent, not country-wide) and the reason (security, epidemic, natural disaster). Register with your embassy's traveller programme even if you go.
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Last verified 2026-07-29.