In TRAVELER’s July/August issue, Rick Newman, a senior editor at U.S. News and World Report, contemplates international travel risks. “There are few places you cannot travel to safely if you know how to look out for yourself,” he says. One of the easiest ways to get informed is to read up on the latest travel warnings issued by trustworthy Web sites. Here, our picks of credible sources to consult before you go, with pros and cons to consider along with each site’s advice.

U.S. State Department
What you’ll find: A thorough report from an official source on government-issued warnings for hundreds of international destinations worldwide. Pros: If there’s even an inkling of danger to travelers, you’ll know after clicking here. Many sites let the U.S. Department’s warnings dictate their reports, so the information is widely accepted as accurate. Cons: Warnings that are a bit overcautious, and can make situations sound more severe than they actually are. Occasionally reports can be outdated by up to two weeks.

Travelers’ Tales
What you’ll find: Advice given by travelers from around the globe on what to be wary of when venturing abroad. Pros: A community of travelers who can speak from experience and, helpful news reports are posted. Cons: Many places aren’t covered. Political situations also change quickly, and your destination may not be just as your advisee left it.

Travel Information and Advisory Reports by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
What you’ll find: Links to travel and safety resources, tailored to a Canadian audience. Pros: Telephone numbers to call for up-to-the-minute information. A rich variety of resources, including Web site and book recommendations, for details on such subjects as health hazards and petty crime precautions. Cons: It takes more than one click to get the information you need.

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
What you’ll find: What to know about potential heath-threatening conditions and vaccination requirements before traveling to hundreds of destinations worldwide. Pros: Content is thorough and reliable, and the CDC is considered the definitive source for travelers’ health information. Cons: News reports on outbreaks that may be outdated by two weeks.

ABC News: Dangerous Places
What you’ll find: Robert Pelton, author of Fielding’s The Most Dangerous Places, describes his trips to five of the most dangerous places. Pros: Warnings gleaned from firsthand experience. Cons: Not a source to consult for safety information worldwide—only Pelton’s top five made the cut.

Fielding’s DangerFinder
What you’ll find: An overview of 31 places—with articles that cite recent news reports—and information on weapons, diseases, terrorism, drugs, and more. Pros: In-depth information that details political unrest without being alarmist. Includes a guide that defines the term “dangerous place” and tells how to face a hazardous situation. Cons: Less comprehensive than other sites, more or less detailing places that have had a history of being dangerous.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
What you’ll find: Information on disasters worldwide. Pros: Current news reports particularly useful to travelers venturing to less-developed countries. Cons: Articles that have a PR slant—they report only on disasters involving Red Cross volunteers.

INCORE: Conflict Data Service
What you’ll find: Links to reports on wars worldwide, searchable by region. Pros: A number of credible sources, such as daily newspapers and government documents, bring you the full picture on what’s happening in the region where you’re going. Cons: Having to wade through multiple sources to find the information you seek.

—Compiled by Heather Morgan

Heather Morgan is a TRAVELER associate researcher and online editor.