Hi all -
I know we (on this forum) will all continue to travel this summer, but will others? Will Europe be totally slammed by the lack of travelers??

My travel agent friend says Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and domestic vacation time is down - but European travel is next to nothing, really really down. What are all of you picking up on your radar?

Must be some people going becuase I couldn't get FF tickets.

Instead we will go this summer to the Canadian Rockies and try aqain for FF tickets in the fall to Europe.

The weaker dollar won't be a "deal breaker" . As for terrorism....I am probably more of a target in the Washington, DC area than I would be in Italy.

Just in this morning's paper here...Orlando is expecting larger than normal crowds this spring...good thing , too..it's been bad!

I don't know about others but I'm booked for UK and France and nothing or nobody is stopping me!

Just a few days ago, I read that travel to Europe from the US would be up significantly this year compared to last. Granted that was before 3/11.

Ealing_calling,

I planned a trip to Paris in Feb., and made a point to fly a foreign airline for a sense of saftey (even if it is illusionary), and I still remian concerned. My family is from Germany, and I have several friends who have traveled to western Europe lately that report the anti-American sentiment is high. I hope we will have as much fun and joy as our last trip to Paris, in 6/01, three months before that infamous Sept. day, however, I expect it to be different. With Spain's recent tragedy, other countries supporting us have become frontline targets. So, in short, I will continue to travel, but with much greater anxiety.

For this June we chose to fly USAir instead of Air France because of all the canceled flights they were having. Hope that is still a good move.

We will have 1 week in Germany and 1 week in Strasbourg France. We debated over train or car rental and decided on the train. Since June is still a few months away we may change our minds if we feel uncomfortable about it. I'm sort of going on the fact that Germany and France did not support us so there should be little danger. We will have to accept whatever hostility we may encounter as not a personal affront.

Does anyone have thoughts on the train issue in Germany?

I must admit--and this applies to travel here in the States,too--that although I usually prefer to use public transportation, if I have to make any trips in the near future for which I would normally take the train, I will probably drive.

Of course, the next tactic could be blwoing up bridges or tunnels. We never know what lies ahead when we leave the house in the morning, do we? So scarey, so sad.

Same as Dick, people must be going because I had trouble getting FF tickets in September to France. did eventually get them for the dates, but had to play with the times.

I do not live my life scared,am taking wife and 2 kids to dubai(wild wadi water park) at easter. We will travel in europe this summer, destination not yet determined.

Am I deterred? NO.

No, but the world's ecomomy is on a downslide, and al quaida has become emboldened and could strike at targets which could topple governments. This is a very serious threat IMO, I will go, but I am VERY concerned. Just heard experts saying that they expect more traffic FROM Europe than TO Europe with possibly a May airfare sale. Also, the stock market correction will effect some people IMO. Not a good news day at all! Judy

I'm not deterred. I traveled to Italy about 3 weeks after the 9/11 attacks, have been to France and Spain and Scotland since, and am returning to Italy in May.

Have encountered absolutely no "anti-American sentiment" whatsoever, with the possible exception of some bits of graffiti here and there. Feel safer just about anywhere in Europe than in the big US city in which I live.

I wish the dollar were stronger, but until it gets completely impossible for me financially, I'll continue to travel to Europe. I am staying in more modest lodgings this time than I have for my past couple of Italy trips, and I doubt it will impact my enjoyment in the least.

And as others noted above, I had to work to use my FF miles. My return trip routing still leaves much to be desired, and if someone else would like to cancel their trip so that I may use their seat on better flights, I'd be very grateful!

I'm going to London and Paris and May and feel the same way...nothing is going to stop me. I canceled out last year because of the war in Iraq and regretted it.

We can't live in fear.

Yes, my Mileage Plus phone calls have been really long, getting those SFO/LHR flights . . .

Tourism affects so many aspects of a country's economy. So though I always long-haul on American carriers, I'm thinking of all the little businesses - services, retail, all the family-run shops I'd go to while on vacation - that will be hurting with even fewer US and Japanese travelers on the ground . . .

I understand why the Spanish populace voted they way they did. I'm just hoping that the 'lesson learned' by the terror network is *not* that terror doesn't just strike fear into the public, *but also* that an attack could change an electorate's point of view.

Is it now our patriotic duty to travel?

Since we flew to England a week after our government launched the attack against Iraq, I'd say we're not easily deterred. We will be touring later this summer and fall. That does not mean we will not be viligent, and I admit to some apprehension but will continue to travel.

For the person concerned about German trains, you have very little to worry about. The Germans have long provided excellent security measures. Much better at it than we Americans, even now.

Hi ealing
>I'm just hoping that the 'lesson learned' by the terror network is *not* that terror doesn't just strike fear into the public, *but also* that an attack could change an electorate's point of view.<

Would you please explain? It sounds as if you are saying that terrorist attacks work.

Hi Cherie,

When are you going? I found a flight for knoxville/rome for $902 connecting in Atlanta.

See http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm

Please forgive the previous post --- computer glitch.

Hey Ira,

yep, reading the international press online today, the vibe is that the forces behind terror are probably congratulating themselves at influencing a democratic election (and in a staunch allied country - up 'til this point) . . .

and if they can deter travelers, then yep - they've also succeeded . . .
: [

I am an owner of a small travel agency, about $2.5 million per year. Our business to France, Italy and Spain this year is signficantly higher by 100s of percentage points over last year in spite of the dollar exchange rates that has raised hotel rates by 30% and more. None of our couples to date has cancelled any of their trips due to the 3/11 atrocity. Need some help! Does anyone know of a chat site for Spanish travel only?
Thanks for any assistance.