My wife and I are scheduled to take a three-week vacation to Europe mid-September 2026. We are traveling to Prague, towns along the Main and Rhine rivers in Germany, with brief stops in Luxembourg and Reims, and a then on to Paris for three days before taking the EuroStar to London for a week-long stay. We’ve been planning this trip for over eights months and we’re now wrestling with the idea of not going due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East. We checked with the US State Department, and all of our travel destinations are currently designated as a Level 2 security risk.
Does anyone have any advice or recommendations regarding our safety concerns? We welcome any and all feedback.
Thank you.
Bill
Portland, OR
Posted by
San Diego, California
6908 posts
If this was my trip, I would go. There's a lot of geography between your destinations and the Mideast. In addition, 6-7 months is a lifetime in this news cycle.
But then again, we went to Switzerland August, 2121, coming out of the pandemic, seven flight cancelations, not to mention required Covid testing and threats of quarantine.
Only you can decide your comfort with risk, but at this point, I would go. Good luck and safe travels!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13340 posts
France / Germany/ UK have been at Level 2 since May 2025
Czechia is Level 1 as of Jan 2026
https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html
What will things will be like in Sept? A) The Iran thing is over and everything is mostly 'normal' B) Oil is so expensive you cannot afford the flights C) your guess is as good as anyone else.
Based on what is known at this point, I would go.
Posted by
Singapore
1151 posts
Only you can say whether you feel safe traveling, and feeling safe - as well as being safe - is important when you're on holiday.
Your proposed trip is Germany, Luxembourg, France and the UK. None are anywhere near the Middle East, and you wont be traveling through or over the region.
My view is there's always a risk of something. As of now, there's no reason to be concerned about Western Europe.
I'm flying to Istanbul next week, and London in May, coming from Singapore. As of now I have not changed my plans.
But as I said you feeling safe is important.
Posted by
San Francisco
40 posts
I would go ahead and plan the trip, but make sure all tickets are fully refundable.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4223 posts
I love Europe and have spent nearly two and a half years there on my trips since 2010 . Frankly, I don't think you will be any safer here than over there . I would go . As a matter of fact, I will be going back ( France , Germany , and Austria ) for five weeks this coming Autumn . I would usually go for ten weeks , but I will miss my new granddaughter for that length of time ,being in the twilight of my years.
Posted by
Penzance
99 posts
Your biggest risk factor will be the drive to your departure airport.
For context the UK Government has a similar risk rating for the USA.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3890 posts
Hi Bill, While I understand why you would be concerned about travelling during these uncertain times— keep in mind you are planning to go to Europe. You are not planning to go to the Middle East, so I don’t see how you would be affected by what is happening in the Middle East.
The U.S. State Department advisories these days are no longer the reliable source of information they once were. Many consider State Department advisories something to be critically scrutinized when they indicate you might be unsafe in a particular country. It’s often pointed out that gun policies in the U.S. make the U.S. less safe to travel in than most of the countries in Europe. The irony is that statistics might support the argument that it may actually be safer to be in Europe!
So. I agree with the others who have encouraged you to keep your plans for September. Do it now. Because, as the words of the famous song go: “I may never pass this way again.”
Posted by
Singapore
1151 posts
The problem with government advisories is that they are very general in nature, and your level of risk is going to vary a lot depending on where in the country you're going, and what you're doing. I travel there UK and Europe 4-5 times a year, and am no more concerned about my safety than I am at home.
You're not wrong to be asking these questions, but I hope the answers above will give you some confidence.
Posted by
TX
3382 posts
Bill
No one can predict what tomorrow will bring let alone six months away.
I would say go but be certain to book everything with free cancellation just in case your plans change suddenly.
As for air, pay for tickets that allow you to get your money back just in case your plans change suddenly.
And buy insurance!
Also have a Plan B and a Plan C.
I am going to Paris in May and not even considering changing my plans at least for now,
As of today, I am hearing that the airports are a mess because of the partial government shutdown. Some person have had to stand in line for five hours. One person said something about 10 hours. Planes have been missed
But surely this will be over by the time I leave in May. Surely!
Posted by
London, England
345 posts
As I said on the earlier thread, there is a risk of revenge terrorism in Europe because of the attacks in the Middle East, but I don't think it's any higher than it is in the USA.
Also be cautious about anything you see from random social media accounts - there are a lot of bad actors hyping wild or exaggerated claims of crime and terrorism in European cities for ideological reasons, both in North America and Europe itself.