Summer Vacation in Europe? Maybe Next Year.

                            by David Parmer / Tokyo

Is summer 2016 the time for a romantic trip to Paris? Or should you consider going next year? Summer travel is traditionally hectic with crowds of tourists, long lines and unexpected delays. Add to this the heightened threat of terrorism, and it becomes a real toss up. In the last year we have had terrorist events in Paris, Brussels, and Nice to name a few. Turkey, too, has had its share of bombings.

On May 31, 2016 the US government issued a travel alert for Europe in the summer of 2016, stating that US citizens could be targets of terrorism. The government cautioned travellers to be cautious at:

• Major events
• Tourist sites
• Restaurants
• Commercial centers
• Transportation

The US government cautions travellers to remain alert and be aware of local conditions. There are some places in Europe that are considered safe, for example, Iceland and Malta. Worldwide, according to the Mail Online, the Bahamas, Fiji and Japan are safe destinations.

So, what do you think? If you had the time and money, would you travel to Europe this summer, or would you choose some safer place in the world, or would you simply stay home. Please log in and give us your thoughts on this question.

US Governemt travel alert for Europe, Summer 2016

Photo: Ernest Morales via flickr