For years, Smartraveller has been my first destination when planning any overseas trip.
asserted
Smartraveller → plan → trip
Its advice is thorough, frequently updated, and always appreciated.
asserted
advice → update → ?
But for the first time, I’ve had to disregard its most severe advice, “do not travel”, to spend a month visiting family in Kuwait – and I’m glad I did.
asserted
I → have → Kuwait
Smartraveller’s warnings can be quite conservative, but we’ve now reached the stage where almost a quarter of the world’s countries sit within its heightened “stay home” classifications (orange and red).
asserted
quarter → reach → classifications
Sticking to the green and yellow destinations may be wise on regular holidays, but isn’t always realistic.
uncertain
Sticking → stick → holidays
Avoiding higher-risk destinations could keep families apart for months – or even years – and impede some business trips and routine airport transits.
uncertain
Avoiding → avoid → trips
As for the “do not travel” countries, different destinations carry different risks.
asserted
destinations → travel → risks
But here are some broad safety steps you can take in these regions.
asserted
you → take → regions
Even if you disregard the “do not travel” warning, still read Smartraveller’s advice thoroughly.
asserted
you → disregard → advice
You might observe that warning levels for the same country can differ between sources.
uncertain
levels → observe → sources
For instance, Australia elevated Kuwait to a red zone in July 2026 (back to the orange “reconsider your need to travel” level, as of Friday), whereas the UK had already transitioned Kuwait to green.
asserted
UK → elevate → green
But it’s usually Australia’s warning levels that dictate whether standard travel insurance is valid for Australian citizens.
asserted
insurance → ’ → citizens
“Do not travel” destinations are generally excluded by standard policies, and some insurers may not cover “reconsider your need to travel” areas, either (check with your insurer).
uncertain
insurers → travel → insurer
Some higher-risk destinations provide mandatory medical insurance as part of your visitor e-visa.
asserted
destinations → provide → visa
For instance, visitor e-visas for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait now include this.
asserted
visas → include → this
Australia also has reciprocal healthcare agreements with 11 other countries.
asserted
Australia → have → countries
While these aren’t in Smartraveller’s current high-risk zones, it’s still helpful to know in case your normal insurance takes issue with a visit to a riskier destination as part of the same journey.
asserted
insurance → ’ → journey
Some specialist insurers, like Hotspot Cover, focus on higher-risk travels and transits, but typically limit coverage to medical expenses and repatriation – not delayed flights, lost luggage and the like.
Travelling with your driver’s licence and a valid international driving permit keeps options open in case airports close and you need to cross a land border to depart.
asserted
you → focus → border
Holding a valid visa for a neighbouring country also makes this easier.
asserted
this → hold → country
If you have a car, regularly charge up or fill the tank – even when you’re not nearing empty.
asserted
you → have → tank
This enables you to drive even if power outages impact your ability to recharge or to pump fuel.
asserted
outages → enable → fuel
Other preparations depend on local risks.
asserted
preparations → depend → risks
You may prefer to keep a low profile by staying with family or friends – rather than a chain hotel in the CBD, frequented by foreigners – or in a quiet residential area.
uncertain
You → prefer → area
These can be exposed to the impacts of car bombings and riots.
asserted
These → expose → bombings
Ultimately, for those with family overseas, the intense preparations and precautions feel worth it when the result is being able to spend time together.
asserted
result → feel → time
Prioritise accommodation of sturdy brick or concrete construction with few windows (not wall-to-wall glass), near an evacuation stairwell, and that has an internal, windowless room for shelter.
asserted
that → prioritise → shelter
Memorise the meaning of air raid sirens used at your destination, which can differ between countries.
asserted
which → memorise → countries
I found it oddly reassuring to learn that one tone means “relax, it’s fine” – and to distinguish between “caution, trouble might be coming” and “alert, there’s active danger”.
uncertain
trouble → find → coming
By committing the siren tones to memory, I didn’t panic when hearing them for real.
asserted
I → commit → them
Instead, I calmly took the action I’d rehearsed, and later, went on with my day.
asserted
I → take → day
Keep your smartphone charged, powered on and connected to the cellular network to receive any emergency alerts.
asserted
smartphone → keep → alerts
Have both an international roaming SIM and a local SIM (or eSIM), in case one network becomes overloaded or unavailable.
asserted
network → have → SIM
Ensure your TV has all available news channels tuned and bookmarked.
asserted
channels → ensure → ?
This can take a while in the Middle East as satellites carry thousands of Arabic channels, although multiple English news channels are tucked among the mix.
asserted
channels → take → mix
Even if you’d normally collect credit card points (guilty…), keep some cash available to cover essential purchases if banking systems are impacted by power outages or communications failures.
asserted
systems → collect → outages
If there’s an Australian embassy at your destination, consider reaching out via email to advise that you’ll be in the area, and subscribe to Smartraveller’s email updates for that location, too.
asserted
you → ’ → location
Ultimately, for those with family overseas, the intense preparations and precautions feel worth it when the result is being able to spend time together.
asserted
result → feel → time
Would I recommend a “do not travel” destination for a holiday?
asserted
I → recommend → holiday
But would I make the same trip again, under the same circumstances, if it meant spending time with family?
asserted
it → make → family
The Aporia
