I’ve written before about how international travel isn’t what it once was. Each year, it seems to get more difficult, expensive, and restrictive.
It’s not just rising costs of flights, hotels, and visas. The real challenge is the growing number of global disruptions that can upend a trip without warning. At any given time, political instability, economic collapse, religious or ethnic tensions, or cultural unrest can make travel to entire regions uncertain or unsafe.
Today, my take is that roughly one-quarter of the world’s countries—about 25%—are essentially “red zones” or off limits for the average tourist. That means a quarter of the map is closed off due to wars, conflicts, government restrictions, or severe risks to safety and freedom of movement. And we are a cyber attack away from the closing of major airports around the world.
For travelers like us, this reality forces us to plan differently. We weigh more carefully where to go, how to get there, and what we may encounter once we arrive. It doesn’t mean we stop exploring—quite the opposite. It means we travel with a deeper awareness of the privilege, fragility, and unpredictability of global travel in today’s world.
Despite the challenges, we still believe it’s worth it. Because even in an era of red zones and restrictions, the rewards of discovery, cultural exchange, and shared adventure remain unmatched.
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