We’re planning a trip to Italy first week of May, and last week a few European friends of ours were shocked we were choosing to come to Europe with the current situation in Ukraine. They asked why would you come to Europe now? Just wait till later. All Europeans are in high alert, etc
Any thoughts from people who have traveled to Italy or other areas recently? How was the feel? Would it be best to postpone? Any actual Europeans on here who want to share opinions?
I guess it depends on where your friends live? What are they seeing at their location to make them say that? ARe they in an area that is taking in a lot of refugees?
I'm not an actual European resident but I am planning to go forward with my trip to France in 10 days. I think by May the situation will be different even than now. I'm more worried about continued issues with Covid than issues with the war in Ukraine. And I don't mean that I am not sensitive to the plight of the folks! Just mean it doesn't impact my travel.
A few days ago we traveled Boston to Paris to Nice by Air France and then drove to the La Spezia area. We've been to supermarkets and today we went to a well attended street fair. There is absolutely no noticeable difference from our previous trips except that the Italian TV news programs are covering the war situation / refugees somewhat more thoroughly than the US news. Gasoline is even at a not dissimilar price (1.78 Euro/liter) since the government lowered the price a few days ago.
Adding as well; Rick's own tours, including those to Eastern Europe, are full on for this season aside from those which included stops in Russia (St Petersburg). I believe there was one Best Of Europe tour (which didn't include Russia) that was cancelled but only because they didn't have enough people signing on. The organization wouldn't take people to places which they thought were unsafe enough to be of concern, right?
We leave in 3 weeks
We have no intention of postponing AGAIN lol
I’m with Pam, COVID more of a concern although I’ll feel safer there than here
I’m in line for my second booster right now
I leave Thursday. And my trip with includes Finland and Estonia. Both border Russia. I'm not worried.
Hmmm. I live in Europe (in France), and I am not on high alert.
Tell your friends I canceled my trip to Alaska given the proximity to Russia. Sarah Palin is also considering moving to San Francisco for the same reason.
The number of Ukraine refugees in Italy so far is very very small (75,000). If you consider that there were already 270,000 Ukrainian immigrants living in Italy before the invasion it is likely most the refugees are relatives and friends of those immigrants. Therefore you won’t see any refugees encampments anywhere.
At this point, we are not planning to cancel our May trip to Croatia, which is closer to the war zone than Italy.
We're leaving in two days for a month spread between Rome, Cortona and Spello. Luckily, we both have had our second Covid boosters. So, we're off ...
Roberto, I laughed out loud.
"I’m with Pam, COVID more of a concern although I’ll feel safer there than here"
Yes! This! Living in Cleopatra-territory (land of de-nile) I felt much better in Europe in October and expect to feel the same this time.
And yes, also agree with TravelMom...laughing at Roberto's remark.
Cleopatra-territory (land of de-nile)
lol
Pam - Cleopatra country . . . LOL!! I love that and it's so true. I'm going to use that!
Thank you all for the swift response! The Europeans we know who had a strong reaction live in different areas: Austria, Switzerland, Sweden.
My husband is the one who got spooked by their strong reactions so really I posted this to get others’ feedback, reassurance, and you guys delivered! Haha thank you!
@kelsey.joyce, I'm glad the comments helped you. You should, however, be aware that most of us are very eager to travel so that will color our answers, lol.
@Barbara...help yourself! I only wish I were clever enough for that to be my original quip!
Pam and Roberto! 🤣😂🤣
Kim is in the north, and I have the same answer for the south of France. It's as busy as ever. No high alerts. My biggest problem is getting the linens washed and the fridge stocked between all the visitors, both French and American.
Just returned from Italy and saw nor felt any effect. Almost felt a little guilty enjoying the trip while war was not far away. But like others here, I was SO READY for this trip, only a State Department declaration would have caused me any hesitation. Also as others have noted, I felt MUCH SAFER in Italy from Covid than in my own state of de-nile. How refreshing it was to see everyone in FFP2 masks, vaccination proofs in hand. Wow.
I live in Austria. I am not on high alert - not even close. What a ridiculous thing for your friends to say.
I'm nearing the end of 3 weeks in Italy, Venice, Florence, Umbria, Tuscany and finally Rome. Except for newpaper headlines (it's hard to miss Putin in big letters), Ukraine doesn't even come up in conversation unless you take the time to talk with someone seriously and then it's the general reactions that we all have at seeing the news. I did have a conversation with someone who said Italy's problem is mainly in Sicily - where it's pretty bad - and predates the Ukrainian war. . . . African and Middle Eastern refugees.
Thank you all for the swift response! The Europeans we know who had a
strong reaction live in different areas: Austria, Switzerland, Sweden.
I live in Sweden, and I'm not shocked that you are planning a trip. I'm not on high alert and I haven't met anyone who is, life goes on more or less as normal. The only difference I've noticed (apart from the news) is that there are Ukranian flags here and there. Even my neighbour the retired Air Force officer was his usual self last week,
(Bonus points to you for knowing that Sweden and Switzerland are different places!)
