War in Ukraine

If your trip is going to be entirely in France, the Ukraine situation isn't likely to disrupt things for you. If you were going to Poland, the Baltics, or other countries of eastern Europe there might be more reason for concern. Of course, nobody really knows what will be happening in May.

Just do a search in the gray bar at top of page for 'Ukraine" and filter for 6 months and you will see all the answers- speculation that pretty well covers what anyone can guess about future.

I leave in 3 1/2 weeks for Europe. I will be in Finland and Estonia, both bordering Russia, at the end of April. As of now, I'm not concerned. Should Russia show movement towards either of those countries, I'll reconsider my plans.

But unless there is a war between Russia and Nato, I'm going to enjoy my trip.

This is fourth or fifth post asking the same question over the past few days. The response of most posters is still travel. I am going to France in May and June. The only thing that will stop me is if there is a diesel shortage so I can’t fill my car up at the pumps.

I am also going to France at the same time, for the same duration. I am not even considering cancelling at this point.

Thank you everyone. I have rearranged things so that we're not driving from Bayeux to Sarlat, we will take the train, due to the possible cost of gas by the time we travel. We will train to Bordeaux and pick up the car there, rather than driving the whole way. I also feel that if things escalate and the war spreads to NATO countries, I would consider canceling, but otherwise we should enjoy our trip. My husband is catastrophising, and is worried about nuclear plants in Ukraine being damaged and having a Chernobyl like emergency where radiation is spreading across Europe. Of course, if that happened before the trip, we would cancel, but he's worried about it happening when we are there. I told him any decision to cancel would have to be made much closer to our departure date. I'm the one who loves traveling and planned the trip. He's not a big traveler and I think he'd be pleased if the trip was canceled for almost any reason. I told him he doesn't have to go! I can take our daughters (17 and 13) and we'll be fine. But he doesn't really like that idea with the war going on.

MaryC, I'm writing you a private message about family dynamics w/r/t travel.

I am very concerned about what crazy putin will do. But I think I will feel that way no matter where I am. I don't feel safe just because I am in the US.

I travel in a week. My main concern is a nuclear fallout - from Chernobyl disturbance or deployed nuclear weapons - or biological weapons. Until recently these risks seem remote. They are on my mind now. I have until departure to decide what we are going to do about our trip. I'd definitely be, if my travel dates are out in the summer, making sure all my reservations have generous cancel dates (up to check in time for hotels say). For my upcoming trip, we already accrued some costs we won't be able to get refunds on. Our flights were booked with airline credits we accrued from our canceled 2020 trips (and that spurred us to plan this upcoming trip because the credits were expiring end of March this year). I did cancel a reservation at a splurge restaurant because it seems wrong to be decadent at this time. In any case, for my family and I, safety and wellness comes first. So, we'll see.

Thanks jaczxy. Most of my reservations are fully cancellable at least up to a few days before arrival. I always make sure of that. Hoping for the best. Hope you have a great trip, please report back on how everything went!

We are leaving for Europe in early May and returning July 4. I have lots of concerns that Putin will not stop at Ukraine but we just don't know what will happen. I've been working on the travel arrangements for quite some while and because of the uncertainty of COVID I've tried to book things that could be refundable. However, I've now started booking air and train tickets within Europe and they won't be refundable. However, if NATO gets pulled in, losing some money will be the least of my worries.

I don't understand the hand-wringing over traveling when there is a war somewhere in the world. There are always wars, conflicts, and general human suffering somewhere on this globe.

That's true Fast Eddie, but it's been a while since there's been a war this close to France.

Thank you Gail

Gail, thank you. Good article. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-europe-now-due-to-war-in-ukraine-experts-say-it-is/

Sometimes the same question needs to be asked several times to draw out the best responses.

Something to bear in mind is that conditions rarely escalate so fast that one can’t get out of the way. The stakes of involving NATO countries, let alone one that doesn’t border Ukraine or Russia, are so high that there would be enough warning to get back home.

As for a nuclear plant disaster, that would affect Russia as much as anybody else, so it’s in everybody’s interest to make sure it doesn’t happen.

It’s a tragic situation. We are going in late April. I almost feel patriotic to show support for a united and free Europe by going.

carolina_yankee

I almost feel patriotic to show support for a united and free Europe
by going.

What a great attitude!

I almost feel patriotic to show support for a united and free Europe
by going.

Almost? Don't feel "almost" there has not been an event in our lifetime (if you you are younger than 90) as important to Europe, the US and the World. Crimea is a modern Sudetenland, I dont know why we would have expected a different outcome; and I fear the end result will be the same. slava svobodi

https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

James,

I appreciate the sentiment, but just FYI: WWII ended less than 77 years ago. There are many people still alive that lived through that.

PharmerPhil Okay, I discounted children. But we can say anyone younger than 77 if that makes you feel better. Although there is a better chance of this one reaching our mainland than in WWII, so the point remains. Out of respect for the Webmaster and as a way to show some appreciation to the webmaster for even letting us have this discussion I will leave it at that.

Maybe I have different perspective. My mother is 93, still alive, and certainly remembers WWII well—plus the loss of her brother in the Pacific theater. She mentions him on a regular basis. And I have personally met, and stay in touch with many WWII-Europe veterans when I go to Normandy on most D-day anniversaries. It is sad that these first-hand memories will soon fade away, but thankfully they haven't yet. The situation in The Ukraine is certainly tragic, and I truly hope it doesn't escalate to the WWII proportions. But as they say, "those who ignore history..." Still, as to the OP, I wouldn't yet hesitate to go to Western Europe this year, and in fact, look forward to my trip to Normandy early June for the 78th anniversary of D-Day.

My only trip planned right now calls for being back in Paris and France by July, only a definite French trip so far, with the horrendous war in the Ukraine in mind.

The trip planning has through gone some changes, depending on circumstances relative to the Corona variants and the news.

I agree with jaczxy. It cannot be allowed such a catastrophe as Chornobyl. I've studied this incident for ten years and written some papers about it on this website, read them if you are interested. War is the worse thing people can do on the planet. I hope it will be stopped soon.

We returned from Paris yesterday, and Saturday we saw a peaceful demonstration near the Republique statue in support of the Ukraine people and again Russian aggression. Police were present but stood away from the rally. We did not feel threatened by the people with the flags and shouting although we did not get too close.