Travel advisors are facing an influx of client inquiries regarding trips to Europe amid ongoing unrest and protests in several cities. Concerns about whether to proceed with planned vacations, alter itineraries, or stay home altogether have made navigating travel arrangements more complex.
Ilana Schattauer, an administrator at Life Well Cruised, recently experienced this firsthand during a press trip aboard the Costa Toscana on October 18. Despite knowing about planned protests in Marseille, she chose not to cancel her trip, assuming the cruise line would ensure passenger safety. While the cruise included stops in Barcelona, Sardinia, Genoa, Naples, and Rome, excursions in Marseille were ultimately canceled, and passengers were warned against disembarking.
Schattauer opted to skip the visit to Aix-en-Provence, emphasizing her hope that the current unrest, which seems more intense than in the past, will subside before her next Mediterranean cruise next spring. “It’s part of European culture to have strikes and protests,” she remarked.
Travel advisors across the board report a spike in client concerns. They are responding by providing reassurances, consulting local contacts, and rearranging travel plans. The situation has been compounded by other factors such as low water levels on European rivers and rising airfares.
Jeanne Polocheck from Well Traveled Texan shared her experience with a group planning a Thanksgiving trip to Paris. She consulted local contacts for real-time information, providing reassurance that their trip could still proceed as planned. Similarly, Robin Isquith addressed concerns of clients scheduled to sail from Paris with Tauck next May, explaining that itinerary changes could be made if necessary.
For some travelers, however, anxiety has prompted immediate cancellations. Grace Yee from Pineapple 7 reported that her clients in Florence chose to end their vacation after receiving U.S. State Department alerts and observing heightened security measures in the area. Other travel advisors such as Kim Kellar have noted that clients are leaning towards more structured travel plans in light of current events.
Travelers are also reconsidering their European destinations. Some potential clients have expressed hesitations about trips to Paris, leading to cancellations and changes in plans. Amber Betts of Esteem Journeys LLC indicated that cancellations were affecting holiday bookings, with one couple backing out of a river cruise scheduled for Christmas.
Though some clients are canceling trips, others remain unperturbed. Stamie Turner of Her Dream Vacation reported only a single cancellation among travelers on her upcoming Christmas Markets tour. She believes that experienced travelers are better equipped to adapt to changing circumstances.
For those exploring alternatives, travel advisors are seeing increased interest in destinations outside Europe, including requests for travel to South Korea and South America. Rebecca Alesia of SmartFlyer noted that while Europe will always be a favored destination, the current uncertainty is encouraging clients to consider different options.
As travel advisors continue to manage the evolving landscape, their role remains critical in helping clients navigate uncertainty, whether that results in proceeding with plans, adjusting itineraries, or discovering new travel destinations.
