Is It Safe To Go To Europe? A Round-Up Of What Customers Are Reading In Consumer Media

Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Steve Collis

It’s the question of the day, and consumer publications are all jumping in to answer it. “Should we go to Europe?” they are asking. And unanimously, they are answering, “yes, but be careful.”

Here’s a rundown of what the individual publications have written on the subject.

The New York Times
The New York Times offered up expert advice by Michelle Bernier-Toth, the managing director of the federal Office of Overseas Citizens Services, in an article titled “Is Europe Safe for Travelers? Yes, Experts Say, But Here Are Some Tips.” Their tips included:

1. Log travel plans with the State Department.

2. Know how to contact the American Embassy.

3. Find out how to contact local authorities in case of an emergency.

4. Those phone numbers are only useful for working phones.

5. Be vigilant when in public places and using mass transit.

6. Give a copy of your itinerary to family members or friends.

7. Understand the differences among travel insurance policies.

AFAR
A letter from the editor by AFAR this week outlined the parallels between the terror attacks of 9/11 and Brussels. “We should never deliberately put ourselves in harm’s way. But we must accept that there are no guarantees anywhere in the world, not these days. Risk is a part of travel, but we can’t give up on the world.”

Town & Country
In an article titled, “Is It Safe to Travel to Europe Now?” Leslie Overton, managing director of luxury tour operator Absolute Travel, offers many of the same safety tips: Take travel insurance. Register with the State Department. Make sure to carry a working cell phone. Be vigilant, but not terrified. And follow your gut.

Travel + Leisure
“Don’t let them win,” says a column by the editor of Travel + Leisure. Noting that the May issue, dedicated to Europe, went to press before the bombings, he says, “I wrote in that issue [annual May issue] about this enduring symbolic appeal of Europe, and I hope with all my heart that Tuesday’s events do not damage that. We also wrote about Europe’s complex and often inspiring response to the refugee crisis, a situation that is making it challenging for many of its leaders to hold fast to their values of acceptance and liberalism, and I hope with all my heart that Tuesday’s events do not tip the balance in the favor of closing both minds and borders.”