View a large map (in a new window) of all current reports of the swine flu.

Tours are changing their stops. Most major airlines are allowing you to change your travel plans without fees. Each have different dates and rules, and some have already changed them more than once, so you will have to check with your airline. There is no sense in me posting the details of each airline because it will probably be wrong by the time you read this.

The Cruise lines say they are still stopping in Mexico ports but working closely with health officials. Personally, when I consider the confined space of people on a ship, I think they should pass on stopping in Mexico this week at least and wait and see how things go day by day. Insurance most likely does not cover swine flu if you cancel. What do you think?

The most common question I am getting: Do I cancel my plans to Mexico next month or months from now?

Most advice out there says to wait, keep checking, etc. Between the drug war, economy and now a virus, I say just change your plans and move on. It’s not worth worrying about your vacation or wedding all the time. There are lots of great places out there that can use your business.

For warnings on both violence and the flu in Mexico, please read the following:

http://www.allstays.com/Features/mexico-travel-warnings/

The day has finally come. Considering how many lousy countries that US citizens are allowed to visit, the ban on Cuba has seemed pretty silly in recent years.

On April 13th, 2009, the United States and President Obama lifted the restrictions on travel and is allowing Americans with family on the island to make trips to Cuba. Family members can also now easily send money to family in Cuba.

At the same time, mail packages to Cuba can now include items such as clothes, personal hygiene products, and other personals.

Additionally, the Obama administration also will begin issuing licenses to allow telecommunication companies to provide cell and television services to Cuba. People in the US can even pay for those services for others in Cuba such as family and friends.

The boom to the economies of both countries will be noticeable. Here at AllStays, I wasn’t allowed to do certain things in regards to Cuba. I still tried to provide information as much as I could without making money off it like it was prohibited. I will now be greatly expanding my information on Cuba.

And I’ll be looking forward to maybe getting to Cuba before tourism changes it and really takes over.

To start, you should think long and hard about visiting any country in which tourist kidnapping has been common in the past few years. A small list of these countries includes Mexico, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt, and India among others. This is not to say that you should definitely stay away, but you need to be very careful about planning a trip to any of these locations.

Once you arrive at your destination it is time to take note of what is going on around you. Do you feel comfortable with your surroundings? Is there anything that seems out of place? Remember, everything is not going to be the same as it is in your home country. That being said, you still need to proceed with extreme caution. And yet at the same time, it is important to act like you know where you are and what you are doing. I’ve practiced this for years in my international travels. I walk with a purpose while looking around for what I need to know. When I do stop to look at signs, maps or guide books, I do it discreetly. Act like you are talking on your cell phone while looking around and reading signs. Stop and fiddle with your bag while you glance around. Anything so you are not just standing there like a lost puppy screaming “take me”. And if I have to unfold a map…well, do it discreetly as possible and try folding it in different ways so it’s not as large and obvious.

If you are in a country that is known for tourist kidnappings you need to stick with a guide or stay within a resort at all times. By venturing out on your own you are putting yourself at risk.

With tourist kidnappings becoming more and more common, make sure you are careful about where you travel and how you act upon arriving at your destination.

In this piece, I will provide some additional information by the numbers:

90

90% percent of the cocaine in the United States goes through Mexico.

$10 Billion

The drug cartels make 10 billion dollars in profits from the United State buying their drugs. If you were them, would you give this up easily? Probably not. It would be nice if we could find a way to tax this and get some revenue from it instead of just losses. Unfortunately, it is human nature to create it’s own problems and wind up in vicious cycles. US citizens buy the drugs that in turn creates a violent mess. It would be better if the drug cartels would kidnap their own customers and solve two problems at once but that isn’t likely.

2,000 Guns

2,000 weapons a day are crossing the border from the US to Mexico. Those same weapons are then, reportedly but controversially, used in at least 95% of the killings, perhaps against US citizens. We build a product and then it is smuggled across the border to be used against us or the Mexico authorities. It appears we on the US side need to do a better job of slowing this down. If you are pro gun and say it doesn’t matter, ask yourself why you are paying more for ammunition if and when you can actually find it on a shelf. It is affecting us. The sheer volume of guns and bullets going off near the border increases the price you will pay for guns and ammo in Texas or Michigan or wherever.

6,000

Over six thousand people were killed by the drug cartels in 2008 and that number is on a far faster pace in the first few months of 2009.

1600

How many people died in just one town just across the border from El Paso, Texas. And that town is Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

900

The death total just across the border from San Diego, California is nearing the thousand mark in Tijuana. The parties and drinks aren’t so cheap if you pay with your life.

368

The number of people kidnapped by the drug cartels in Phoenix, Arizona within the United States. Unfortunately it’s not the end customers using the drugs. Phoenix is a funnel for bad elements from Mexico. San Diego has seen a decline since the border wall was going up. Traffic will continue to move to wherever it is easier to cross. Each time I have driven more remote highways in southern Arizona, I have seen people running across the road far ahead of me. It happens all the time.

1 out of 35,000

This is the number of US residents that fatally overdose on drugs that could have and are likely to have come from Mexico.

1 out of 19,369

The number of Mexicans that die in this drug war.

And then I stop and remember. At least we have food. We have roads. We have options for education. We can find clean water. We can drive gas guzzlers so that millions of people weren’t repressed, deprived and murdered for nothing. We could choose to just start ignoring the stock market and insurance companies to build things again to sell and trade with each other in our own towns. We could go back to doing real hold-in-your-hand things like the way the country was built upon. Many countries don’t have any of these things outside of the mansion of a lone individual who rules with violence, repression and fear.

I won’t be getting any more holiday cards from their tourism boards but here is my list of the worst countries, their dictator leader and why they are still propped up. Many of these countries could be interesting places to visit if it were ever possible to do so safely. In some of them, your safety depends on your gender or the color of your skin.

Sudan, Omar al-Bashir

We hear occasional references to Darfur and the war crimes committed here. Millions of people driven from their homes with countless of them murdered, raped and tortured. Celebrities talk about it and politicians use it in campaigns until they are elected.

But instead we give them lots of money. An amount with eight zeroes behind it. The world has to have it’s gum arabic or acacia for the magic syrup in soda pop and candy. This same product is used in inks, glues, polish and more. Yummy. What would Coke, Pepsi, gummies and M & M’s candies do without it? (What would I do without Coke and M & M’s?) What would we do without water color paints and lithographs? This gum acacia product also comes from Somalia, which is another less than stellar example of conflicts and rights issues.

Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe

In power since 1980, this regime fosters violence, rapes, disease and poverty. A held election was fake and lead to the murders of opposition so it was rather pointless. The US gets a good deal on imports of nickel and ferrochromium, which is a corrosion-resistant alloy of chrome and iron, for stainless steel so we don’t mind.

Kim Jong-Il, North Korea

In power since 1994, Kim Jong-Il could be in poor health is not very visible these days. His regime puts on a poor man’s Disney theme park in a sense that false building fronts make things look better than they are. People are repressed and along with children are imprisoned in work camps. The world doesn’t seem to care too much about what is happening here as long they don’t have weapons or rigid marching formations that endanger Japan or South Korea.

Burma, Than Shwe

In power since 1992, this military regime will take advantage of a natural disaster like the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and leave millions homeless and over a hundred thousand dead. They do nothing and resist aid from other countries.

Iran, Sayyid Ali Khamenei

In power since 1989, this regime resists all opposition with violence and arrests of anyone it doesn’t like or disagrees with at that moment. From women to journalists to minorities and children, all are denied rights and abused. The world’s youngest death penalty exists here, killing children as young as nine years old. The US makes a ton of money off Iran selling it corn and pharmaceutical products. And we all know how big the drug lobby is in politics. With mostly just talk, the US will probably only really act if it decides the war machine is more profitable than the drug machine.

Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah

Oil. Yes! Women’s rights. No! Women can not work, marry, learn, leave their house, travel or speak without permission from a guardian male. Accused rights. No! Defendants have no rights and usually can’t even question witnesses or accusers. Oil. Yes!

As long as there is oil dependence, nothing will be done here about anything. And it’s tentacles spread out. No one really wants to find Osama Bin Laden because of the royal family connections.

China, Hu Jintao

China put on a great Olympics show. You almost couldn’t see all the repression and rights restrictions behind it.

Go to the Port of Chinangeles, also known as the Port of Los Angeles, sometime and look out over all the shipping containers. You can do this before departing on a cruise from there as well. China nearly owns the future United States of Walamerichinamart. It is more likely they will be repressing us in the future than anything changing with their rights record.

Libya, Muammar al-Qaddafi

Oil. Yes! In power since 1969 with torture about as common as any of our national pastimes. Yes! Billions and billions of dollars of oil. Yes!

So it appears from this list that if the US reduced oil consumption, drank less sugar water, stopped buying cheap crap at Wal-Mart and actually made it’s own products like it once did, all these guys would be out of their mansions and serving us as repressed staff on our next cruise to the Bahamas.

Now the kidnap capital of the world, Mexico has become a dangerous place to travel. Although authorities are doing the right thing and trying to get drug traffic under control, it is creating a horrific war zone in many parts of the country. And this means you could be caught in the crossfire. Dozens of U.S. citizens, for example, have just disappeared there recently. And most governments have bigger problems these days so you can’t expect anyone to rush in and save you. It is up to you to save yourself before anything happens. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the first 8 weeks of this year. We hear various non-Mexico news stories from the USA and other countries about a few people killed here and there, they become big stories when 10 people die somewhere, but over a thousand in a few weeks? That’s a war. And most of this is in Mexico border states because it’s related to drug trafficking. Mexico relies on tourism from the United States and Canada so this is not a story they want plastered all over. At this point you seem to be fairly safe at crossings around Yuma, Arizona and the highway going down to Rocky Point. The highest death totals are in Mexico near borders across from San Diego, CA and El Paso, TX.

In a counter to this, we have seen a few big name travel companies say troubles are “highly exaggerated” but you have to remember something: All those companies are selling you a trip there. I’m not selling you a trip or a cruise to Mexico. I only provide information at AllStays.com and want you to make your own judgment call. Be informed and don’t go just by someone selling you something.

From the U.S. Government on Feb. 20, 2009 for travel in Mexico.

This Travel Alert updates security information for U.S. citizens traveling and living in Mexico. It supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 15, 2008, and expires on August 20, 2009.

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including thousands who cross the land border every day for study, tourism or business), violence in the country has increased recently. It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

Crime and Violence Throughout Mexico
The greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these cases remain unresolved. U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crimes should notify Mexican officials and the nearest American consulate or the Embassy as soon as possible, and should consider returning to the United States.

U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (”cuota”) roads, which generally are more secure. Occasionally, the U.S. Embassy and consulates advise their employees as well as private U.S. citizens to avoid certain areas, abstain from driving on certain roads because of dangerous conditions or criminal activity, or recommend driving during daylight hours only. When warranted, U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to or within parts of Mexico without prior approval from their supervisors. When this happens, the Embassy or the affected consulate will alert the local U.S. citizen Warden network and post the information on their respective websites, indicating the nature of the concern and the expected time period for which the restriction will remain in place. U.S. citizen visitors are encouraged to stay in the well-known tourist areas of the cities. Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and should check with their cellular provider prior to departure to confirm that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks. Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items.

Violence Along the U.S. – Mexico Border
Mexican drug cartels are engaged in an increasingly violent conflict – both among themselves and with Mexican security services – for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. In order to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades. Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico but most recently in northern Mexico, including Tijuana, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. The U.S. Mission in Mexico currently restricts non-essential travel to the state of Durango and all parts of the state of Coahuila south of Mexican Highways 25 and 22 and the Alamos River for U.S. government employees assigned to Mexico. This restriction was implemented in light of the recent increase in assaults, murders, and kidnappings in those two states. The situation in northern Mexico remains fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements cannot be predicted.

A number of areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in the rates of many types of crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts, and carjackings have all increased over the last year across Mexico generally, with notable spikes in Tijuana and northern Baja California. Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues. Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana.

The situation in Ciudad Juarez is of special concern. Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008. Additionally, this city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts and 1,650 carjackings in 2008. U.S. citizens should pay close attention to their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated locations during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to news reports. A recent series of muggings near the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez targeted applicants for U.S. visas. Visa and other service seekers visiting the Consulate are encouraged to make arrangements to pay for those services using a non-cash method.

U.S. citizens are urged to be alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region. Criminals are armed with a wide array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles. While most crime victims are Mexican citizens, the uncertain security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens as well. U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are urged to contact the consular section of the nearest U.S. consulate or Embassy for advice and assistance. Contact information is provided at the end of this message.

Demonstrations and Large Public Gatherings
Demonstrations occur frequently throughout Mexico and usually are peaceful. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate to violence unexpectedly. Violent demonstrations have resulted in deaths, including that of an American citizen in Oaxaca in 2006. In 2008, a Mexican Independence Day celebration was the target of a violent attack. During demonstrations or law enforcement operations, U.S. citizens are advised to remain in their homes or hotels, avoid large crowds, and avoid the downtown and surrounding areas. Since the timing and routes of scheduled marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, U.S. citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments and exercise extreme caution while within the vicinity of protests. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation. U.S. citizens are therefore advised to avoid participating in demonstrations or other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities. As is always the case in any large gathering, U.S. citizens should remain alert to their surroundings.

You can view the same official report here

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.

For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The Embassy’s internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.

Consulates:

Ciudad Juarez: Paseo de la Victoria 3650, tel. (52)(656) 227-3000. http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov.
Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100. http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/.
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500. http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov.
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402. http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov.
Merida: Calle 60 no. 338 k, telephone (52)(999) 942-5700. http://merida.usconsulate.gov.
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 047-3100. http://monterrey.usconsulate.gov.
Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150. http://nogales.usconsulate.gov.
Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512. http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/.
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400. http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/service.html.

Consular Agencies:

Acapulco: Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 – local 14, telephone (52)(744) 484-0300 or (52)(744) 469-0556.
Cabo San Lucas: Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (52)(624) 143-3566.
Cancún: Plaza Caracol two, second level, no. 320-323, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5, Zona Hotelera, telephone (52)(998) 883-0272.
Ciudad Acuña: Ocampo # 305, col. Centro, telephone (52)(877) 772-8661
Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juárez between Melgar and 5th ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9, telephone (52)(987) 872-4574.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa, telephone (52)(755) 553-2100.
Mazatlán: Hotel Playa Mazatlán, Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (52)(669) 916-5889.
Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcalá no. 407, interior 20, telephone (52)(951) 514-3054 (52)(951) 516-2853.
Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., Tel. (878) 782-5586.
Playa del Carmen: “The Palapa,” Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20, telephone (52)(984) 873-0303.
Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (52)(322) 222-0069.
Reynosa: Calle Monterrey #390, Esq. Sinaloa, Colonia Rodríguez, telephone: (52)(899) 923 – 9331
San Luis Potosí: Edificio “Las Terrazas”, Avenida Venustiano Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco, telephone: (52)(444) 811-7802/7803.
San Miguel de Allende: Dr. Hernandez Macias #72, telephone (52)(415) 152-2357 or (52)(415) 152-0068.

March 25th Update: I will keep this updated as it is finally becoming a bigger story and actually being talked about on CNN. The fact that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Mexico is probably helping the coverage for now. My website here is getting attacked from someone in Mexico since I wrote this while large corporate travel websites are emailing out deals on travel to Mexico. I’m not a corporation and I’m not a politician so I say don’t go. At this current high point of escalation, I’d have to say just don’t go to Mexico. If things keep escalating soon in words and increased military support as President Obama is suggesting, American tourists will become a much bigger kidnapping target and in a large number. The drug cartels are killing thousands of Mexico police as they try to crack down so they would likely switch to tourists as the US gets involved. The Mexico drug cartel is a $10 billion business and ironically that is mostly with the US. They won’t retreat.

March 30 Update: The actual murder numbers are declining where there is a new strong presence of military and police. This is not sustainable of course because the drug battle will just move to another location. I posted some interesting numbers and statistics on Mexico violence here.

SWINE FLU

View a large map (in a new window) of all current reports of the swine flu.

As if Mexico didn’t have enough problems already hurting their tourism industry. Here is another. The regular average flu kills about 36,000 people a year and we hear little about it in comparison to these swine flu numbers right now. Normally it’s the elderly and children. The swine flu has infected younger healthy people. And all hype aside, this could be deadly to the world. Early US cases of the swine flu in New York, South Carolina and Kansas all have confirmed connections with travelers to Mexico, specifically popular resort area of Cancun. So right now, it is pretty obvious that it started in Mexico but now is spreading. Major airlines are allowing you to change your travel plans without penalty but exact dates and policies do vary.

From the U.S. Government on April 27, 2009

Current Situation

As of April 27, 2009, the Government of Mexico has reported 18 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. Investigation is continuing to clarify the spread and severity of the disease in Mexico. Suspect clinical cases have been reported in 19 of the country’s 32 states. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sent experts to Mexico to work with health authorities. CDC has confirmed that seven of 14 respiratory specimens sent to CDC by the Mexican National Influenza Center are positive for swine influenza virus and are similar to the swine influenza viruses recently identified in the United States.

On April 25, the WHO Director-General declared this event a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the rules of the International Health Regulations. CDC and state public and animal health authorities are currently investigating 20 cases of swine flu in humans in California, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, and New York City. Some of the U.S. cases have been linked to travel to Mexico. At this time, only two of the 20 cases in the U.S. have been hospitalized and all have recovered, but deaths are reported to have occurred in Mexico. CDC is concerned that continued travel by U.S. travelers to Mexico presents a serious risk for further outbreaks of swine flu in the United States.

CDC Recommendations

At this time, CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.

Please check this site frequently for updates.

If you must travel to an area that has reported cases of swine flu:

Stay Informed

• Check updates from the:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  • Secretaria de Salud,
  • World Health Organization
• Monitor announcements from Mexico’s Ministry of Health and local government including information about affected areas, as not all areas are equally affected.
• Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations.
• Be aware that Mexico is checking all exiting airline passengers for signs of swine flu.  Exit screening may cause significant delays at airports.

Prepare for your trip before you leave

Antiviral Medications:  Travelers from the United States going to Mexico who are at high risk of severe illness from influenza (for example persons with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, and the elderly, see www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/index.htm) are recommended to take antiviral medications for prevention of swine influenza during travel. The recommended antiviral drugs for swine influenza are oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza®). Both are prescription drugs that fight against swine flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in the body. These drugs can prevent infection if taken as a preventative. Talk to your doctor about correct indications for using influenza antiviral medications. Always seek medical care if you are severely ill.

Antiviral chemoprophylaxis, or taking medicine to prevent flu viruses from reproducing in the body, (pre-exposure or post-exposure) is recommended for the following people:

• Household close contacts who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly) of a confirmed or suspected case.
• School-aged children who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions) who had close contact (face-to-face) with a confirmed or suspected case.
• Travelers to Mexico who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly).
• Border workers (Mexico) who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly).
• Health care workers or public health workers who had unprotected close contact with an ill confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection during the ill person’s infectious period.

Antiviral chemoprophylaxis can be considered for the following:

• Any health care worker who is at high risk for complications of influenza (for example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly) who is working in an area with confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases, and who is caring for patients with any acute febrile respiratory illness.
• Persons who are not at high risk but who are travelers to Mexico or first responders or border workers who are working in areas with confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Further information about CDC’s recommendations for antiviral use during the swine flu outbreak can be found at the following websites:

• Healthcare professionals
  • http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm
• General public
  • http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/antiviral_swine.htm

For all travelers, CDC recommends the following steps to help you stay healthy:

• Be sure you are up-to-date with all your routine vaccinations, including a seasonal influenza vaccine. The seasonal vaccine is not expected to offer protection against swine flu viruses, but it can protect against seasonal influenza viruses which may still be circulating in Mexico and the Southern Hemisphere.
• Pack a travel health kit that contains basic first aid and medical supplies. See Pack Smart in Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel for a list of what to include in your travel health kit.
• Identify the health-care resources in the area(s) you will be visiting.
• Check if your health insurance plan will cover you abroad.  Consider purchasing additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in case you become sick.  For more information, see Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad from the U.S. Department of State.
• Remember that U.S. embassies, consulates and military facilities do not have the legal authority, capability, and resources to evacuate or to give medications, vaccines or medical care to private U.S. citizens overseas.

During your visit to an area affected by swine flu

Monitor the local situation

• Pay attention to announcements from the local government
• Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and prevention recommendations

Practice healthy habits to help stop the spread of swine flu

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.  This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading.
  • Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a wastebasket.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.)
• It is important to follow the advice of local health and government authorities.  You may be asked to restrict your movement and stay in your home to contain the spread of swine flu.

Seek medical care if you feel sick

• If you are ill with fever and other symptoms of swine flu such as cough and sore throat, see a doctor, especially if you think you may have had contact with someone with swine flu or severe respiratory illness in the past 7 days before becoming ill.
• If you need to find local medical care, a U.S. consular officer can help you locate medical services and will inform your family or friends in the United States of your illness.  To contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the country where you are visiting, call the Overseas Citizens Services at:
  • 1-888-407-4747 if calling from the U.S. or Canada,
  • 00 1 202-501-4444 if calling from overseas, or
  • Find your local US Embassy at Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions.
• Do not travel while you are sick, except to get local medical care.
• Try to limit contact with others as much as possible.  By limiting your contact with other people, you can help prevent the spread of swine flu.
• For more information about what to do if you become sick while you are traveling outside the United States, visit Your Survival Guide for Safe and Healthy Travel.

After your return from an area that has reported cases of swine flu:

• Closely monitor your health for 7 days.
• If you become ill with fever and other symptoms of swine flu like cough and sore throat and possibly vomiting and diarrhea during this period, call your doctor or clinic for an appointment right away. Your doctor may test you for influenza and decide whether influenza antiviral treatment is indicated.
• When you make the appointment, tell the doctor the following:
  • Your symptoms,
  • Where you traveled, and
  • If you have had close contact with a person infected with swine flu.
• Avoid leaving your home while sick except to get local medical care, or as instructed by your doctor. Do not go to work or school while you are ill. If you must leave your home (for example, to seek medical care) wear a surgical mask to keep from spreading your illness to others.
• Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away used tissues in a trash can.
• Wash your hands with soap and water often and especially after you cough or sneeze.  If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with other people as much as possible
• Wear a surgical mask if you are in contact with other people

Status of Entry and Exit Screening in the United States and Mexico

Mexico Exit Screening

Swine flu screening has been instituted at airports and land borders for travelers departing Mexico, according to Mexican health authorities. Passengers showing symptoms of swine influenza will be asked to submit voluntarily to physical examination and further evaluation, if needed.

United States

At this time, the United States is not conducting enhanced entry screening of passengers arriving from Mexico, nor is the United States conducting exit screening of passengers departing for Mexico.

The Department of Homeland Security will provide Travel Health Alert Notices to US travelers going to and coming from Mexico at all airports, seaports, and land border crossings. These notices provide advice to travelers on how to reduce their risk of getting sick, the symptoms of swine flu, and what to do if the traveler becomes sick.

CDC will provide all ill passengers and their contacts arriving from Mexico with Travel Health Alert Notices. These notices provide advice information regarding seeking health advice from a physician and how to prevent illness in persons who have been exposed but who are not ill.

Additional Information

If you have specific questions about the swine influenza cases see http://www.cdc.gov/contact/ or call 1-800-232-4636, which is 1-800-CDC-INFO.

To learn more about travel health, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.

For the swine Influenza situation in Mexico, visit:

• Secretaria de Salud: Secretary of Health, Mexico  [Web page in Spanish]
• World Health Organization: Influenza-Like Illness in the United States and Mexico
• Pan American Health Organization

For the swine Influenza situation in the United States, visit:

• For information on antivirals
  • http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm (for healthcare professionals)
  • http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/antiviral_swine.htm (for the public)
• For information on swine flu in the United States, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/swine

Swine flu travel health updates will be posted on http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/ as information becomes available.

Some commercial companies offer to arrange caretaker jobs for you. This is when you use your rv and park at someone’s home, farm or business. You stay in your own rv and watch over things. You may get paid or you may just work it out for a free place to stay, maybe with electricity. That all depends on if you have any chores to do. If I’m feeding horses and cleaning out stalls for hours, I’d probably want a little compensation.

The scam comes in with the companies that promise good pay and charge you a fee. You should never pay a fee (or not much of one anyway) for the job. The person needing a caretaker should be paying them a listing fee or commission. If you are ripped off, make sure you file complaints with the publication. Let us know here at Allstays about any scams you encounter and we’ll publicize it.

Don’t get personal

Anything that reveals your name or hometown gives an advantage to a con artist. It makes it easier for them to bluff their way into your confidence. They know your home state but that’s all they need to know.

Home is sweet to you but sweeter to crooks

Don’t put “Home Sweet Home” type stickers on your RV. Or anything else that indicates you live full time in your RV. This tends to announce that you have more stuff with you. More valuable stuff.

Support can support a motive

I love the idea of plastering “Powered by the Sun” on a AllStays RV. But this advertises that I have solar panels, and other nice things that go with it like a charger, inverter and extra batteries. Your personal support of certain hobbies can lead to criminal assumptions whether they are right or wrong. Don’t indicate you are a video game champion, a gem collector or anything that could make someone else think you got some good pawn shop sellers.

Be careful with clubs

On the one hand, you may think that it will scare someone away from your RV. But like many things, what scares one varmint away attracts the eye of the law. NRA and gun club stickers can provide a legal reason for police, in some places, to search your RV at any time. You are providing the reason. You would be better to have a sticker that supports police or military.

Branded for you or branded for (unwanted) attention?

Sometimes we fix up our cars, trucks and even RVs with very nice extras. Those extras sometimes include or offer a way to brag about it. Should we put a high end stereo sticker on our vehicle announcing it? Should we advertise expensive accessories or suspension upgrades? A specific example is RVs that are based on the Dodge Sprinter chassis. These have a Mercedes engine. Owners have many options to re-brand the RV to make it scream “Mercedes” but do they really want to? It all depends on the attitude you want to project and the added risks you want to take with more attention. It may also depend on the type of RVing you do and locations that you go. But sooner or later, you’ll probably be in some uncomfortable locations. In a large storage lot, your RV is always an uncomfortable target.

Can you think of any other things to avoid that you see on other RVs in the campgrounds?

More tips related to RV travel with guns

Is your RV a vehicle or a residence?
What to know about traffic stops while carrying
Places to avoid in your RV while carrying
Carrying through restricted states in your RV

Here are our individual state breakdowns. Please feel free to discuss and add your experiences. We will update these pages as things change.

Alabama Gun Laws Travel Guide
Alaska Gun Laws Travel Guide
Arizona Gun Laws Travel Guide
Arkansas Gun Laws Travel Guide
California Gun Laws Travel Guide
Colorado Gun Laws Travel Guide
Connecticut Gun Laws Travel Guide
Delaware Gun Laws Travel Guide
Florida Gun Laws Travel Guide
Georgia Gun Laws Travel Guide
Hawaii Gun Laws Travel Guide
Idaho Gun Laws Travel Guide
Illinois Gun Laws Travel Guide
Indiana Gun Laws Travel Guide
Iowa Gun Laws Travel Guide
Kansas Gun Laws Travel Guide
Kentucky Gun Laws Travel Guide
Louisiana Gun Laws Travel Guide
Maine Gun Laws Travel Guide
Maryland Gun Laws Travel Guide
Massachusetts Gun Laws Travel Guide
Michigan Gun Laws Travel Guide
Minnesota Gun Laws Travel Guide
Mississippi Gun Laws Travel Guide
Missouri Gun Laws Travel Guide
Montana Gun Laws Travel Guide
Nebraska Gun Laws Travel Guide
Nevada Gun Laws Travel Guide
New Hampshire Gun Laws Travel Guide
New Jersey Gun Laws Travel Guide
New Mexico Gun Laws Travel Guide
New York Gun Laws Travel Guide
North Carolina Gun Laws Travel Guide
North Dakota Gun Laws Travel Guide
Ohio Gun Laws Travel Guide
Oklahoma Gun Laws Travel Guide
Oregon Gun Laws Travel Guide
Pennsylvania Gun Laws Travel Guide
Rhode Island Gun Laws Travel Guide
South Carolina Gun Laws Travel Guide
South Dakota Gun Laws Travel Guide
Tennessee Gun Laws Travel Guide
Texas Gun Laws Travel Guide
Utah Gun Laws Travel Guide
Vermont Gun Laws Travel Guide
Virginia Gun Laws Travel Guide
Washington Gun Laws Travel Guide
West Virginia Gun Laws Travel Guide
Wisconsin Gun Laws Travel Guide
Wyoming Gun Laws Travel Guide

Do you have any experiences that you care to share with other travelers?

Wyoming Gun Law Travel Guide Basics

Ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license necessary

Consistency of laws: uniform throughout state

Self-defense: castle doctrine

Open carry: unrestricted

Concealed carry: shall issue state, permits accepted from some other states

Vehicle carry handguns: loaded in plain view or in cases anywhere in vehicle, concealed only with permit
Vehicle carry long guns: loaded in plain view or in cases anywhere in vehicle, never to be concealed

Official source information
Wyoming Statutes 6-8
Wyoming Statutes
Wyoming Legislature
Wyoming State Home Page

Do you have any experiences in Wyoming that you care to share with other travelers?