I noticed that level 4 also mentions civil unrest/terrorism. We made the tough decision tonight to cancel our 3 week trip to Aix and Paris. Scheduled to leave September 1. I appreciate everyone’s input. The 78 year old solo traveler was very encouraging. Best to all whatever you do.
That terrorism threat has been around since even before Osama Bin Laden and 911 just like here in the USA. The same for civil unrest. However the US State Department has to make the younger generation traveler aware of life in the real world.
It says “do not travel” because of COVID-19: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html.
The next sentence says “exercise increased caution” and if you look to the right is gives the definitions of the four levels:
1 exercise normal precautions
2 exercise increased caution
3 reconsider travel
4 do not travel.
Let's put it this way.....if the U.S. State Department gave its own country a Level reading it would be: Level 4 due not travel due to Covid. Our rates are higher than France.
The mention of terrorism is the standard boilerplate language that was developed and adopted when the tiered alert system was first developed. Remember it was all about terrorism back then. They don't get to tinker that easily with language that was approved no matter how much sense it would make.
If you are fully vaccinated and have applied for the pass sanitaire, there is really no reason right now to cancel travel this year.
I would feel safer traveling in France than in some of the Covid hotspots in the USA.
Tocard - I live in Florida and head to France in less than 4 weeks. It will be a relief!