Kingston, Jamaica, travel warning

You might want to rethink that Memorial Day weekend trip to Jamaica -- the U.S. State Department has issued an advisory warning Americans to avoid travel to the Kingston area because of escalating violence, shootings and general unrest there.

A notice on the State Department website explains:

Jamaican Defense Forces are engaged in an operation to arrest an alleged drug and weapons trafficker.  Access to the Norman Manley International Airport has been blocked on an intermittent basis by gun battles between criminal elements and police.

Some flights have been canceled, but policies will vary so call your airline if you already have tickets. JetBlue, for instance, "will waive fees and fare increases for customers traveling in/out of Kingston's Manley International Airport through Thursday, May 27  who wish to postpone their travel.  Customers with travel booked on or before Monday, May 24, may rebook for new flights that depart anytime through Wednesday, June 2," according to a notice posted on the airline's website.

MORE: Read the full advisory