Micheline - didnt you say you were planning your trip for a year? Didnt you notice you planned it during a holiday?

We leave on Aug. 24th for Venice, as planned.

Holiday = vacation.

I had made the decision a couple of months ago I would put off going to Italy this September due to various reasons. I hadn't made any reservations

If I had made reservations I would have gone..but since I hadn't I am happy that I am waiting until next spring..hopefully things will be settled down by than. And if not, well I will make my decision at that point.

It has nothing to do with being "scared" to travel. But flying has become such a hassle that I am truly glad I am not flying to Italy within the next month.

My next trip is by train to Montreal so there is no question of canceling that one! After that in September it is Brazil and there is far too much invested to consider canceling.

The real question is how many are willing to book a trip to the UK, particularly one that involves Heathrow. My answer for now is no. For me the fear is the hassle factor caused by the security measures and the resulting chaos, not being blown out of the sky. Given a cost-benefit analysis my reasoning may not be rational but it's how I feel. I do have confidence that Heathrow will be sorted out and fit to use by the time that I by the time I am due to return to London which will be some time next year.

LoveItaly, I will trow a coin for you alla Fontana Di Trevi at the end of this month.

This stuff will be going on for our lifetimes. Might as well admit it and keep on traveling! We are headed to Egypt in November and working on Europe trip for next summer. If you cancel, they win and that is what they want.

Do not let the idiots win!

Kismetchimera, mille grazie bella!!

I can't wait for my trip to London. No way am I cancelling this holiday!

Three trips to London for work in the next two weeks. Its like someone said in a previous statement-I probably have a better chance of something happening on the way to the airport! I do know that both of my kids are upset where I am flying to this month-hopefully, back to my beloved Rome next month????

The only way I will cancel my trip to London then Paris midSept. is if it is cancelled for me by govt. issuing a ban on travel to London....I think it will be safer now than pre-event. We traveled to UK in Oct. after the 9/11 incident and had a wonderful trip.

We're still going to Europe in a few days. But we'll definitely pack differently. I'll put everything in my luggage and just hope they don't lose my suitcase and expensive camera, etc. I usually carry expensive and hard to replace things with me on the plane, but it's not worth the hassle now.
-Christine

nope...we leave for business in Florida tomorrow ... (great timing on this one!) and so I'll see what's up as to US Domestic flights..
In October from Philly to Paris and back. Just going to pack differently.

Good for everyone for staying with their original travel plans. School is starting in 2 weeks, so I don't have anything booked right now, but a family member does and is trying to decide what to do. The trip involves going through Heathrow. I think the question for her is the "is it worth the aggravation right now."
Thanks for the positive responses and Happy Travels!

Starrsville, I have always wondered what terrorists "won" if you canceled your trip. Last I heard terrorists do not make money from the tourist economy.

Again, those who say that there is not a greater fear level from all these incidents really are not thinking because all of us have had our feelings of personal security affected whether we admit it or not.

No way!. Very much looking forward to my trip in Sept. Just glad we are not routing thru London though. May still be too chaotic then.

FauxSteMarie,
The terrorists win by impacting people's lives thru fear, terror, making you change your life negatively.
They impact a country's/countries' economy, esp those very dependent on tourism.

Well, tourism and people's perception of their safety have been affected. By your definition the tourists have already "won"--presumably if their goal was victory over tourists.

Why don't the terrorists just declare victory because some people canceled trips and stop killing people? The answer is that they don't give a damn about your trip.

Again, no one has to travel because people on message boards make the "stand up to terriorists and get on that plane with a stip upper lip just to give them the finger" argument. That is nonsense. People are afraid, more afraid than before 911, and it does impact the way we live. To say that you are basically just going to soldier on ignoring the terrorists is nuts.

Just my opinion. Mind you, I am not canceling any trips, but I certainly understand if some people decide to cancel trips. No one has to go, nibblette, just because you say so. People make those decisions based on their own more rational perceptions of their own well being than the one you hold.

No one should ignore the reality of the situation. Such "Terrorists Win if You Cancel Your Trip" argument are, in my opinion, dumb, dumber and dumbest.

Oh, Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. FauxSteMarie doesn't "get it"! Why am I NOT surprised?

Honey chile, there is absolutely no way I'm going to waste anytime trying to explain it to you. I wasted WAY too much time the other day. Fodorites agreed on a 20 to 1 ratio. Yet, you continued to address additional questions to me - not to any other Fodorites on the thread.

Imagine my LOL when I open up USAToday the next day and the cover story was on the very same topic that FSM just could not grasp. I smiled throughout the day, wondering if you were barraging USAToday with sarcastic emails trying to state your point over and over and over again.

I could care less if you ever understand, comprehend or even agree with the concept. Please stay happily confused about the concept. And, happy planning!

We fly to NYC (JFK) and then JFK to CDG on 9/11. We fly back 10 days later from Venice.

I'm not wild about flying on a good day, but I can't reschedule this trip; it's go then or don't go at all. As to the risk, I could sit in my chair all day and get blood clots.

Even before 911, flying was a royal pain. It has, of course, understandably become more of royal pain.

It is, however, usually worth it once you get there.