New traveler to Europe-will travel given current events be ok

Some costs may be a little higher due to some tug-of-war about oil, but there are no other negative effects on you being in Europe. The real violence is taking place in Ukraine and Russia. Enjoy the birthday celebration trip.

When are you going? What is your risk tolerance? Do you have travel insurance? Are your reservations refundable? Where are you going? How are you getting around? All of those things matter in the decision process. No one here (or perhaps anywhere) knows what will happen today, tomorrow, or in 30 days. Not the reassurance you were hoping for, but it ultimately comes down to a calculus very personal to you and your situation.

Everyone has their own level of comfort in troubled times.
My own view is that there is not a problem from a security viewpoint, but I am seriously worried about there not being enough jet fuel by the end of May to get me to and from Budapest.

What feedback do all of you have about traveling to Europe

You are much, much more likely to be seriously injured or worse if you choose to stay at home. Have you seen how deadly domestic kitchens, gardens, bathrooms and short local car journeys are?

Hi there and welcome to the Forum! You will probably get many different types of answers, as someone else said, we all have our own risk tolerances. I would suggest reading this post - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/possible-jet-fuel-shortages.

If that doesn't help, suggest you move your thread to "General Europe". Please add where you're traveling, and how you're getting around. Good luck with your travels! And in answer to your question, personally we've made no changes to our travel plans so we're hoping for the best.

We were on holiday in Italy on 9/11. There was far more fear and uncertainty about the future than now. Planes were grounded, telephone lines were overloaded and we could not ring our relatives back home, or ones who had the ill fortune to be on holiday in New York City at the time). We found ourselves in the Piazza in Florence (with the faux statue of David), standing packed together with a crowd of fellow tourists from all over, but largely Americans. There was a hastily-erected stage whereupon a Catholic priest, Jewish rabbi and Muslim imam stood shoulder to shoulder affirming their solidarity with America, then together sang a song in Hebrew which they said was the Jewish call-to-worship. It was a poignant affirmation that politicians and the media who profit from hate- and fear-mongering, and the rabble-rousers they entice do not represent the vast majority of citizens of the world.

It's now been a quarter-century since we arrived home safely and got on with our lives for the next quarter century. If I were you I'd just go enjoy your 70th!

We are traveling in August to Great Britain (London, Wales and Liverpool) then to salzburg, then to Germany ( Munich, Nuremberg and Frankfort (with a stopover in Rotherburg de ob Tauber (see Rick Steves comments about how he loves that place) then to Lucerne and finishing in Paris. So it's about a month of travel. Thanks to all your responses to me. I appreciate it. We do have travel insurance as far as risk tolerance...is concerned would say I am not insanely risky , I am a planner and have tried to look at travel contingencies but I am also not risk adverse either. It's good to know some of your thoughts about these things

August is still a ways away. it sounds like you're well prepared. Similar to another poster above, I was in Europe on September 11th. We spent an extra week there before finding a flight home. Different times, but we had a safe trip.

I have thoughts I can't verbalize here on this forum, but let's just say my frustration is real. Your husband turns 70 once. You have a great opportunity to travel. Things happen out of our control, but the idea that a small group of not-so-great human beings (being polite) is leading to angst about this--how much are you going to let that control your decisions? I know what the answer is for me. The answer for you and your family is up to you, but personally, I would move forward, have travel insurance, and keep my plans unless it becomes impossible closer to the month. All the best!

We are traveling in August to Great Britain

So for context there are 65 million of us living on this island. We are all of us not currently in an orderly queue to board a flight to Canada (yes, some are, because they are on a trip to Canada).

So it probably isn’t considered too risky to be here?

If I were you, I would take the trip you have planned for.

I consider myself well-traveled as in many trips to many places over the years.
My only worry is the huge increase in prices this year for airfares, preventing me from buying flights yet for the Autumn.
I’m going in June to the EU to a wedding, and not worried about security.
I am thinking about booking a few extra days accommodation, in case I get stranded due to lack of jet fuel to get home at the end of my trip.

I’m so tired of all the absolutely needless upheaval caused by a few to so many.

There are several threads on this topic with some great advice posted. I would try to find them and read what others have written.

you're covering a lot of ground. Glad you have stamina.

It sounds like a trip by train? Is that right?

I don't see that as a road trip or any need for internal flights. What did you have in mind?

At this time I am reading that international flights on major airlines to/from US/Europe will not be affected by the fuel shortage. There may likely be cancellations of flights within Europe. If you are travelling by train you have less reason to worry. Enjoy the celebration.

The one thing I would check is what exactly your Travel insurance does and doesn’t cover.
If something happens that isn’t covered, do you have a back up plan? do you have the funds to cover additional expenses which might be quite high?

It’s not about panicking or overly worrying, it’s about being prepared.

I just have to clarify....I am not in fear of Europeans, its the implications of cancellations and rerouting ...I am disabled and I really have to plan every little detail as we are hauling my wheelchair with us. I saw a comment that maybe thought I was implying issues I may have had about the Europe and the Europeans and all it has to offer...it was more so our own impetuous for lack of a four letter word I might use of our own government....but again thanks to all of you for replying it is very very helpful all your perspectives.

nigel, hope I have the stamina..--LOL---..within Europe there is one other flight and that is between Manchester (closest airport to Liverpool that flies to Salzburg) and Salzburg Austria. From there it's trains and two car trips. One in Great Britain (after being in London) and the other for a short duration in Germany.

Happy birthday to your husband! Sounds like a lovely trip.

While, yes, there is some risk that some flights may run into fuel rationing and hence consolidations/cancellations, it's really hard to nail down how much risk there really is. I would go and just be ready for bumps in the road-- be it weather, cancelled flights or whatnot-- but I see you have some reasons to be extra careful so I understand your concerns.

My guess-- that is all it is-- is that the fuel thing will not be a big issue for you. (But each passing week without it being resolved of course is worrisome. I saw this joke: They should change the name to "Strait of Schrödinger". It's both open and closed at the same time.)

But what does it mean if jet fuel really gets crimped? I think it means some cancelled flights, most flights filled to capacity, some inconveniences. In the meantime, you'll hopefully still be having a blast. You'll be able to get places-- but flexibility may be needed. Hopefully, it is resolved-- really resolved-- this upcoming week.

Anyway, good luck!

Happy travels.

Who knows what it is going to be like in August?

I would keep my eye on current events which I think you are doing.

Everything is moving so fast and no one knows what tomorrow is going to bring.

I am an older woman, in fact I am old, who is going solo to Paris in two weeks. I have mobility issues but can get around.

First we had the TSA problem which has only been momentarily resolved. I was so relieved but now we have the possible fuel shortages.

What's next?????

Oh, it's so frustrating.

We are going to Belgium and Rwanda in June. At this point, we aren't changing our plans. Mind you, the only plans that are cancellable are our flights and our accommodations in Belgium. Our safari, treks, and accommodations in Rwanda are paid for and non-cancellable. We don't have travel insurance (except for medical), because it is ridiculously expensive at our age, and they tend not to cover anything that might cause us to need to cancel, anyway.

But we also aren't getting any younger, and this particular trip is one we want to do while we are still marginally capable of it. We don't want to postpone it. So, here we are. Sigh.

As others have said, only you can decide on your level or risk tolerance. However, your trip is still some time away, and as long as your reservations are cancellable, you might want to just wait and see, but maybe start thinking about options to celebrate closer to home, just in case.

I should have said in my earlier post that from keeping up with current events, I have heard or read that as things stand right now, fuel shortages should not affect plane travel until about the beginning of June.

That is as of right now.

And that will affect your travels but better to know in advance. You do not want to get somewhere and not be able to get back.