Summer is the time when the most Americans travel abroad. Some visit family and friends; others simply sightsee. Our neighbors Mexico and Canada are by far the most popular. The U.K. is a distinct third, while Germany, Italy and France are fairly close together in occupying spots 4-6. In all, the government tracks visitors to the top 38.

Some travelers like to go to more exotic and far - flung destinations, very few of which make it onto that list.

There's another travel list kept by the government. That's the State Department one of countries carrying a travel warning, recommending that Americans " avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country."

The three dozen countries currently on that list qualify because, as the government puts it, "long-term, protracted conditions ... make a country dangerous or unstable" or the U.S. government's "ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate."

There's a similar list, known as travel alerts, for short - term issues. That currently has three countries on it. 

We thought it would be interesting to see if there was much, if any, over-lap between the the government list of most-visited countries and the two travel advisories.

Click ahead to see the seven countries that did, along with the State Dept.'s reason for inclusion. You'll also see the number of U.S. and total foreign visitors the countries receive each year and their global ranking in each category.

By Albert Bozzo
Posted 16 May 2011

U.S Travelers: 19,452,000
All Travelers: 22,637,000

Travel warning : "Crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere. While most victims of violence are Mexican citizens associated with criminal activity, the security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens ...."

U.S Travelers: 1,515,000
All Travelers: 8,351,000

Travel alert: According to the State Dept., "while the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi plant remains serious and dynamic, the health and safety risks to areas beyond the 50 mile evacuation zone," including Tokyo, " are low and do not pose significant risks"

U.S. Travelers: 667,000
All Travelers: 2,572,000

Travel warning: For Jerusalem, the advisory cites "spontaneous or planned protests" that can turn into "violent clashes" and urges "caution at religious sites" on holy days and weekend. For the West Bank, travelers are told: "Demonstrations and violent incidents can occur without warning. Vehicles have also been the target of rocks, Molotov cocktails and gunfire..." Travel to the Gaza and southern Israel is strongly discouraged.

U.S. Travelers: 394.000
All Travelers: 3,139,000

Travel warning: "Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila."

U.S. Travelers: 545,000
All Travelers:  1,220,000

Travel warning: While security has "improved significantly", the State Dept. says "violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas as well as large cities."

U.S. Travlers: 273,000
All Travelers: 12,800,00

Travel alert: Though the U.S. government cites :"continuing improvements", it notes a nation-wide curfew remains in effect and the "possibility of sporadic unrest."