Taking a bit of a pause today from the bucket lists to talk about something that's on every potential European traveler's mind. That war in Ukraine. Today I speak a bit from experience. I once traveled around Eastern Europe in 1991 in January. I found myself dealing with the start of the first land war in the Persian Gulf and all the havoc that wreaked with travel in Europe. I also landed in the middle of an uprising in Lithuania. It was an exciting trip. So, that being said, I must say that after Covid-19 and now Putin's temper tantrum; I'm concerned about tourism in these areas.
Tourism, as a genre, generates over a trillion dollars every year. We humans, like to explore and we are amazed at the history, natural beauty, and luxury that is waiting for us around the world. We love adventure, activity, sports, and festivals. Whatever the reason, humans travel.
The past couple of years have put a lot of what we were once used to in travel at great risk. Now, we have one of the most publicized wars of this century to deal with. We all have questions. Will it become a world war? Will they use nuclear weapons at some point? How long will it last? What will Russia do next if they win, or even worse, if they lose? Everyone is waiting, nervously, for answers to those questions and more.
But, in the world of the determined traveler whose had tons of covid vaccines and stayed home for a couple of years, there's only one real question for the potential European traveler. How close can I get to that war and still be safe as a traveler? This question may not apply to tourists, but we travelers are asking it every day.
Eastern Europe has long since been one of my loves, as has Russia, but that's out. Right now, no one is so much as flying over Russian or Ukrainian Airspace. Belarus and Moldova are being avoided like the plague as well. And who could blame us? We want an adventure, not a death trip.
One of the obvious problems with being a lover of Eastern European travel is that it butts right up against the war zone. Hungary, Romania, and Poland are getting a bunch of refugees as well, and that makes things tricky for travelers. Refugees need someplace to go, and who are we, the travelers, to tell them that we need their potential space for our vacation? Not cool.
These are tricky times. Even the radiation detectors at Chernobyl have been turned on. Everyone is bracing for the worst. But, these countries have a significant reliance on travel for their economies, and they don't want to lose out on that. Especially with a bunch of Ukrainian refugees to take care of. Also, how many years can we travelers be expected to leave such a remarkable part of the world off of our bucket lists?
Reality is that you can travel to many of these areas. While Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Belarus, parts of Romania and Hungary are in the hot seat; many other Eastern European countries are making adjustments to protect travelers and keep their monies coming in from this industry.
Flying to countries such as Slovakia and Poland, amongst others is changing, but still happening. There are airlines that aren't making the trips, and there are airlines that we aren't supporting right now; taking a stand against Russia. Can you still fly to Warsaw? Yes. You can fly to Riga, Estonia if you wish. The people of the local areas are monitoring the conflict day and night to make certain that the areas foreign travelers visit are safe.
One thing that you might find when flying to Eastern Europe right now is a different flight pattern. This could also happen if you're flying to the Middle East or other Asian areas. Most long range cross continental flights go over the north pole. They normally fly over Russia, which encompasses 11 time zones, making it hard to miss. Now, airlines are planning different routes to avoid these air spaces and ensure patrons' safety. This may lead to higher ticket prices on top of the stupid fuel issues, and could make your flights longer. But, Emirates Airlines has been dealing with this kind of security issue for years, and their methods have been successful. Food for thought.
Had you planned to take a river or other cruise to the area? Well, Viking's Russian River Cruises are out, but that doesn't mean that all hope is lost for cruise enthusiasts. All cruise lines that operate in that area are still offering cruises. There may be substitutions for dangerous ports of call, but they are still making great cruises. You can still take that river cruise, just not in Russia. You can still take that Baltic cruise, just not to St. Petersburg or Murmansk. Check the current itineraries and consult one of the companies specialists before committing to anything, but don't just be scared and go to Disney World.
Most tour companies are making substitutions and carrying on. They've already lost too much time already to the pandemic. And remember, their employees and company owners will be right on those tours and cruises with you. They don't want to die, so I wouldn't worry too much about your personal safety. This is a great time to take a tour rather than go it on your own. Let the company keep up on where it's safe to go. That way, you can just enjoy the trip.
Eastern Europe is normally beautiful. What's happening in Ukraine is deplorable at best. I stand with Ukraine. I traveled to Kyiv and other parts of the country years ago. It is home to some beautiful places, and more importantly, some beautiful people. They have a rich history, and I sincerely hope that this war ends with Ukraine in tact. It would be such a catastrophic loss to see the beauty and people of that great country ruined.
Why do I advocate checking into travel as close as Poland or Estonia during a war in Ukraine? Well, every country needs their tourism and travel monies. Most countries attribute lots of monies coming into the countries every year to travel and tourism. I believe that it only expands the catastrophe to cause more financial hardship to nearby countries. There are wars all over the globe. War happens, but Poland shouldn't suffer because their neighbor got invaded. Recent studies show that most areas are safe for travel at this point. Always check the State Department website or MMGY. MMGY has a division that monitors travel safety around the world.
I would say with Eastern Europe to work with a tour company or a cruise company. Make sure that your airline is avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace. You should take precautions. I also probably wouldn't use this time to take a three week trip. With the constant change due to war, I say spend a week or so and see some great stuff, and then go home. But, there are some wonderful countries full of wonderful people who are suffering right now because they are in the neighborhood of the world's most media covered war. Don't write them off as destinations. Do your research, see what precautions you should take, make secure plans and enjoy!
https://travelmart.org/is-traveling-to-eastern-europe-still-safe-amid-russian-war-on-ukraine/
https://www.mmgyglobal.com/agencies/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/08/russia-ukraine-war-putin-news-live-updates/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/travel/ukraine-russia-travel-plans.html
https://www.afar.com/magazine/is-europe-safe-for-travel
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/european-travel-plans-russia-invasion-ukraine/
https://exploretraveler.com/war-in-europe-should-we-change-travel-plans/
https://www.europe-roadtrip.com/post/is-it-safe-to-travel-europe-during-the-ukraine-war
https://exploredeltastore.com/
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https://www.norwegian.com/us/flights/to-europe
https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-airlines-to-fly-to-europe-514326/
https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-destinations/europe-cruises/
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https://www.goaheadtours.com/about/travel-safety-security
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/eastern-europe
https://www.tourradar.com/i/eastern-europe-sightseeing
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