Smartraveller's red 'do not travel' rating is the sternest advisory the Australian government issues, and most travellers will never brush against one. But a recent first-person account from a writer who spent a month visiting family in Kuwait despite the warning (later downgraded to orange) is a useful reality check on what those ratings mean, and how to cope if a trip to a higher-risk destination is genuinely unavoidable.
The scale of the problem is bigger than you might think. Roughly a quarter of the world's countries now sit in Smartraveller's orange or red categories. For holidaymakers picking between a beach in Greece and a city break in Vietnam, that's easy to ignore. But for people with family, business or property in affected countries, treating the whole map as off-limits isn't realistic. The writer's point is blunt: would they recommend a 'do not travel' destination as a holiday? No. Would they go again to see family? Absolutely.
One key quirk for Australians: insurance. Standard travel insurance typically excludes destinations under a 'do not travel' advisory, and some policies also exclude 'reconsider your need to travel' zones, so it's Smartraveller's rating, not the UK's, that can determine whether you're covered. Some workarounds exist. Visitor e-visas for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait now bundle mandatory medical insurance. Specialist providers such as Hotspot Cover cover higher-risk travel, but usually only medical costs and repatriation, not lost luggage or delayed flights.
The practical advice is where the piece earns its keep. Keep your phone charged and on the network for emergency alerts, with both an international roaming SIM and a local SIM or eSIM in case one carrier fails. Hold a valid visa for a neighbouring country, plus your international driving permit, in case you need to leave by land. Keep the car fuelled, cash on hand in case banking systems go down, water and non-perishable food stocked, and a non-electric cooking option if you can. Choose accommodation sensibly: sturdy construction, few windows, not the top floor in areas with missile or drone risk, not the ground floor where riots or car bombings are a concern, and close to an evacuation stairwell.
Perhaps the most quietly reassuring tip: learn what the local air raid sirens mean. Tones differ by country, and distinguishing 'all clear' from 'danger now' meant the writer could act calmly when the sirens actually sounded, rather than panic.
The bottom line for travellers: read every relevant government advisory thoroughly (Australia, plus the UK, Canada, NZ and USA), notify the local Australian embassy if there is one, subscribe to Smartraveller's updates for that country, and stay in regular contact with people at home. The warnings exist for good reason, and nobody should book a holiday to a red zone. But if the trip is about family rather than sightseeing, preparation is what makes it survivable and worth doing.
