Minnesotans Advised to NOT Travel to These 19 Destinations

Going on an epic vacation is incredibly exciting. The thrill begins with picking a destination, buying tickets, and booking a hotel. Packing your bags and traveling to the airport adds to the fun, and all of this happens before you even reach your destination.

If you're planning a trip this summer, be aware that the U.S. Department of State has advised against visiting 19 specific destinations. They've issued a Level 4 advisory, which is the most serious warning they can give. Learn more below.

The U.S. Department of State issues travel advisories to keep you safe and in some cases to prevent you from being killed. That's not an exaggeration either. The 19 locations listed below received the highest level of advisory.

A Level 4 travel advisory means "Do Not Travel" to these countries because of serious and potentially life-threatening risks.

In local travel news, Pest Gnome has released its annual list of the 500 worst cities for bed bugs, and eight cities in Minnesota made the list.

No matter where you travel, you should always check for these blood-sucking pests. Start by checking the bed sheets for signs like blood spots, tiny pale yellow eggs or eggshells, and small black bedbug droppings that look like tiny dots. These annoying pests can also hide in chairs, couch seams, between cushions, and in curtain folds.

Minneapolis ranked the highest in Minnesota, coming in at number 24. Seven other cities in the North Star State also made the list. See the full list below.