Help!! Leaving tomorrow for Greece
 

My wife and I are scheduled to leave for our 2 week honeymoon to Greece, Sunday night at 9PM. I have seen several people debating travel plans still weeks ahead, how would you feel about leaving tomorrow? How difficult will travel over seas be so soon? What if war breaks out next week? Any help??

Tough call, Keal. I'm assuming you live in the US. If it were me, I wouldn't go, not tomorrow, although I'm hoping things will calm down for my trip in 3 weeks. There are too many unknowns regarding what actions Bush will take and what the consequences of those actions will be. I guess you need to ask yourself if you will be able to enjoy yourself and relax if you leave tomorrow. If not, why go?

I understand your dilemna. My fiance and I were scheduled to leave this Tuesday the 18th for our much anticipated wedding in Florence Italy. After much consideraton--and plenty of tears--we decided the risk is too great. We do not feel comfortable bringing family and friends overseas during this time of such uncertainty. We feel that retaliation is imminent and we don't want to be stuck in Europe when it happens. <BR> <BR>Congratulations on your wedding! In my opinion, I would wait until the uncertainty subsides so you can truly enjoy your honeymoon. You deserve a special trip free of worry. That said, it's a very personal decision and I wish you the best whatever you decide. <BR> <BR>God Bless America! My thoughts and prayers to all those who are suffering at this time.

Keal, I should also mention on a personal note that you can still have a romantic honeymoon even if you don't go to Greece. I don't know where you live, but maybe you can rent a car and drive to a nice place in the mountains or something like that.

Cara and Vita. Thank you so much for your responses they will be very helpful in the tough choice of what to do. Cara our hearts go out to you. Several members of our wedding party and many guests could not attend our wedding. I hope there is some comfort in the thought that if you wait everyone will be able to attend and it will make the wedding so much more....thanks again..

Keal: I would first do the rational thing and check the State Department website for information on travel to Greece and let that be the basis of your decision, plus instinct..... <BR>Personally, my husband of 21 years and I would probably cancel the trip, even though we are pretty intrepid travelers and are probably about as nervous being here in the DC area as we might be anywhere in Europe, if only for the sake of our kids. But as newlyweds, you certainly wouldn't want to begin your new life together in a situation that might bode ill. <BR>Greece has some history of anti-Americanism, and I don't recall it being among the nations that has offered support, or even condolences, to the USA (though I haven't been glued to the TV and may have missed something). It's also very close to Turkey, which of course has a large Muslim population - and BEFORE ANYONE GETS ON MY CASE, let me say that Turkey is not among the nations that has a history of supporting the radical groups, but still, to be that close to a part of the world which is no doubt in turmoil of its own tonight would faze me. <BR>If you do decide to go, plan to get to the airport very early and expect procedures to be much, much stricter than in the past. <BR>Best of luck in your decision, and if you do cancel, be sure to find something else wonderful and memorable to do.

Keal, <BR> <BR>I agree with StCirq. I have a flight out to Italy on Thursday and am planning on going. Two years ago I went to Greece and Turkey during the Kosovo incident and did not have any problems. I feel very safe and welcome by the people in Italy. Like StCirq, I have not read anything that shows support from Greece at this time, nor have I seen anything to the contrary. <BR> <BR>We were worried about being stranded if a war breaks out, but have decided that they will do everything possible to get us back home quickly and safely. <BR> <BR>Just my thoughts, hope they help.

I should have mentioned that I did check the State Dept. Web site for travel warnings and there were no postings since Tuesday. <BR> <BR>Here's the site to check on travel warnings: <BR> <BR>http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html <BR> <BR>However, if there is military action, I think the dangers would not be country-specific but rather for travel in general in which case the State Dept.'s main page would probably be a better source: <BR> <BR>http://www.state.gov/ <BR> <BR>Here also is the site for the US Embassy in Greece: <BR> <BR>http://www.usembassy.gr/

Keal... <BR>Did you go?! Are you safe? I hope so. My husband and I are going to Greece on 9/27. I am sure hoping I can still get him to go. He is pretty apprehensive about being stuck there. I still really want to go.

I would love to be stuck in Greece. Can I go with you? There are worse things in life than being stuck in Greece. JG

John G... <BR>That is what I keep telling my husband. That is one place I wouldnt mind being stuck.

Hello-I just returned from Greece on Sunday after being there during the attack in NY-although I felt very safe while I was there and there is incredible American solidarity abroad, I must tell you that it is scary being abroad while this is going on. My husband and I were lucky to be scheduled on the first flight out of Greece since the attack (last Sunday) but there are many people stuck there who are scrambling to find a way home (because so many flights were cancelled there is tremendous backlog and Delta had not had any flights out at least as of last Sunday and Olympic only has a few a day)-I know that Greece is beautiful and the attitude could be that it is just an extended vacation but if something happens while you are away it is scary-hope that is helpful.

Greece did offer support to US and condemn terrisom. Look at the New Bulletin in their embassy wetsite <BR> <BR>http://www.greekembassy.org/press/newsflash/index.html <BR> <BR>Just browsing through the titles can give you a pretty good idea. <BR> <BR>My husband and I are going to Greece for our 6th anniversary. I am determined not to let the terrists get the better of me. <BR>