Dreaming of a trip to the Caribbean? Make sure you check the travel advisories before planning your vacation.

The U.S. Department of State issues Travel Advisories for every country to give travelers a sense of what to be aware of in their destination. There are four levels that are determined by factors such as crime, terrorism, disease, civil unrest, and natural disasters.

• Level 1 indicates the lowest level of risk.
• Level 2 recommends increased caution and possibly heightened risk.
• Level 3 means you should reconsider travel to the country, as there might be serious risks.
• Level 4 means that you should not travel to the country. 

“In countries under a level 4 travel advisory, there is a higher chance you may encounter life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may also not have the ability to assist you if you experience an emergency,” the USA.gov website states.

The Caribbean on the whole is a safe destination, with most countries falling under level 1. A few popular vacation spots are designated Level 2, while one country each is designated level 3 and level 4.

Level 1 countries in the Caribbean are: Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Curacao, Cayman Islands, Barbados, Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Grenada, British Virgin Islands, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Bonaire, and Dominica.

Level 2 countries are Cuba, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and The Bahamas. Both Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas had updates to their advisories recently, though their level indications have stayed the same.

Jamaica is set at level 3, and Haiti is at level 4. 

American travelers are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates and travel advisories about their travel destinations.