Curacao (safe to travel to/current events)

Each person has their own risk tolerance. You have to decide based on the best information you have at your disposal in light of that tolerance. For myself that would include US State Department advisories (if you are a US citizen) among other factors.

Not one person in this forum can predict what will happen in that region. Situations can change at a moment's notice no matter where you go in the world. I myself would choose to buy good travel insurance that covers the types of situations you are concerned about.

Overthinking.

The ABC islands are routinely at the top of safe (crime-wise) destination lists in the Caribbean.

"Since early September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted seven strikes on boats in the Caribbean that were allegedly involved in drug trafficking. "

Low odds for tourists. Only one of the strikes looks like it may have been a fishing vessel mistake... so avoid fishing around there -- as our VP advised half-jokingly. And odds are also low that even if we go to war with Venezuela that Curacao would suffer collateral damage.

I wouldn't change plans. But if you want to think of some place else, consider Cleveland. The shores of Lake Erie are wide open in February!

Happy travels!!!

I think CL said it well.

Start with the State Department link provided. You will see that despite what is going on the region they still show a Level 1 which means the State Department thinks the risk is lower than Germany and France.

Do you think Venezuela really wants a war with the US?

Do you think that Venezuela wants to have a war that includes the Kingdom of the Netherland?

I am not saying yes or no to any of it, just things to think about. And if there are people like you having to consider these things maybe tourism is down and the prices will be better.

"Admiral Alvin Holsey, the commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), abruptly announced his early retirement in October 2025 amidst a dispute over these operations."

From Edgewater beach, there is great view of the terminal tower and the Cleveland skyline. Hotel prices are quite reasonable in February too!

Happy travels.

Good friends of me live on Curacao. They tell me that live goes on as normal there and tourism is anything but down. Quite the opposite actually.
I wouldn’t hesitate to go there, in fact I myself plan to visit the island in the next couple of months.

No comment on Curaçao (although I’ve heard good things about it and I think there is minimal risk there of war disruption) but David, Cleveland is one of the few larger US cities I haven’t visited and it is on my bucket list— art museum, Eastern European food, rock and roll hall of fame (I enjoyed the country music hall of fame in Nashville, so why not the Cleveland version?) and a national park, although admittedly, Cuyahoga doesn’t quite seem like an Ohio Yosemite.

Many people say Cleveland is the Curacao of the north coast of the US. (And by "many people" I mean really just me.)

The art museum is solid. The orchestra is top notch! We have a national forest-- good hardwoods. And most importantly, our rivers haven't caught on fire for decades.

(Between you and me, I'd go to Curacao in February over Cleveland even if there are some crazy blow- up- boats activities going around in the southern Caribbean!)

Happy travels.

My parents lived in Cleveland for a few years (dad in the Navy) and loved it. My visits to them were a lot of fun.

That being the case, I’m planning a week in Curacao (not Cleveland) this February and am not having any second thoughts.

Back in March 2024 we visited Curacao (and Bonaire and Aruba) and had a wonderful time. Felt safe the entire trip and did travel around the islands. Keep checking the US State Department website but I expect you'll be good to go. Enjoy!

We've visited the ABCs multiple times, and Curacao is my favourite of the 3. You would be hard pressed to find a day without at least one cruise ship in port, and we've found it very safe. Perhaps you should forgo taking any kind of boat trip, whether for fishing or snorkeling/diving. And how sad is it that someone would have to suggest that? One can only hope that the US aircraft or drones who are obliterating fishing boats can distinguish them from cruise ships, and they care enough not to fire their bombs or missiles so that they overfly the island. No one wants another shrapnel incident.

Thanks everyone for the helpful (and kind) responses. We'll continue to plan, look at booking travel insurance, etc and good chances we'll be there in February. And sometime we'll check out Cleveland too!