Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through the link, I earn a small commission without any extra cost to you. This helps keep my content free, thank you!
You have your dream trip to Italy and Europe planned already but might be wondering, “should I cancel my trip to Italy” or “should I cancel my trip to Europe” or “should I cancel my trip to Mexico” altogether.
With everything going on in the world right now, it is a very valid question to ask.
Travel anxiety is real and very valid this year. Between unexpected air traffic issues, natural disasters and all the geopolitical events, flying abroad feels uncertain right now.
I understand that there are many of you who have been dreaming of that trip for years and some who have to travel due to necessity. As someone who took 28 flights in the past year alone, I know a thing or two dealing with “uncertain situations”.
On our last international trip, my flight got grounded due to “security threat” but I was able to find an alternative flight. Even in situations where the air traffic comms were down and most flights got cancelled, I was able to reach my destination without a glitch while others waited hours.
In this post I am going to share how to plan for international travel during uncertainty and my personal tips to make your travel as seamless as possible.
By using travel safety measures like using CFAR insurance, direct bookings, avoiding super crowded attractions, registering with the government and more, you can protect your travel plans and actually enjoy your trip.
Table of Contents
The Big Question: Should I Cancel My Trip To Italy Or Europe?
There are a lot of questions online right now about whether it is safe to travel. You see headlines about air traffic control issues, new entry requirements for Europe and the escalating geopolitical tensions that are shifting air routes.
It is a lot to take in. The pain of potentially losing thousands of dollars or getting stuck is a real concern for any traveler. These risks are not just theoretical; unpredictability is very real.
As someone who took 28 flights in the last year alone, I have dealt with massive communication outages and even a security threat during my last international trip in December. In both situations, I was immediately rebooked and managed my trip without any interruption.
It is up to your discretion whether to cancel your trip – I cannot decide that for you. However, European countries including Italy remain safe places to visit.
Unpredictability is a normal part of travel today. Unexpected weather or sudden disruptions can happen anywhere including your own hometown. If we wait for a time when everything is absolutely perfect, we will end up missing out on the world.
If your trip is in the summer, you can wait and see how situations unfold. And this is where my travel planning tips will save your thousands of dollars.
Having said that, you can take a few safety measures and precautions before you travel. First and foremost, I suggest you to check the latest travel advisories from the State Department or your local equivalent to understand the current situation. And obviously use common sense i.e. do not travel to countries where there is unrest currently.
And if you do decide to take that international trip, be smart about planning and follow travel safety measures and tips below.
How To Plan For Uncertainty While Traveling Abroad
If you decide to move forward with your travel plans, these are the exact steps I would follow to keep my travel flexible.
Build Flexibility Into Your Travel Plans
Unpredictability is the new normal for international travel. Make sure you are not locked into a rigid schedule that can fall apart at the first sign of trouble.
By building flexibility into every step like flexible bookings and cancellation policies, you keep control of your money and your time.
Book Hotels With Free Cancellation Policies
I have learned the hard way that “non-refundable” deals are rarely worth the risk when you have a kid or when travel is unpredictable. I now only book hotels that offer free cancellation up to 24 or 48 hours before check-in.
This is the reason I love using booking.com for most of my hotel bookings. Many hotels offer free cancellation up to 24 to 48 hours before check-in.
And rigid policies with no cancellation flexibility whatsoever is one of the reasons why I no longer book Airbnbs.
Book Direct With “Flex Fare”
Never use third-party booking sites for your flights. In this day and age, I can’t fathom why anyone would book through a third party. If a flight is grounded due to a communication outage or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, you would want to deal with the airline directly and not a third party.
When you book through a middleman, the airline often cannot help you and the third-party service is usually impossible to reach during a crisis. I’ve seen so many posts about people not getting any response from third party websites during recent cancellations in the Gulf.
Another important thing – Even though it is slightly expensive, I only book flex fares with refundable tickets. Spending an extra $100 or $200 for a flexible ticket is the best investment you can make.
If you need to shift your dates or cancel your flight entirely, you usually get a full refund or a travel credit instead of just losing the fare. I recently cancelled my Cathay Pacific flight in February and got a full refund for this very same reason.
Have Trip Insurance Including CFAR
Standard travel insurance is great for medical emergencies. But if you are looking at the news and decide you simply do not want to go anymore, standard policies will not pay out. This is where Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance is a game changer.
CFAR is an optional add-on that allows you to walk away from your trip for any reason at all, even if you just changed your mind. Yes, it is expensive but you typically get 50% to 80% of your non-refundable costs back. You usually have to buy it within 14-21 days of making your first trip deposit.
Some of the best “Cancel For Any Reason” Trip Insurance providers are Allianz Global, Faye, Travelex (Manulife and CAA for Canada). If you are looking for reliable CFAR coverage, these are a few providers I recommend checking out.
Pro Tip: Remember to always read the fine print. Most of these require you to insure 100% of your prepaid trip costs to qualify for the CFAR benefit.
Plan For Contingencies
These are some smart strategies I use to ensure I’m prepared for my travel.
Essential Tech Back-up
A few things I always have in hand in case of massive communication outages etc.
- I always travel with an eSIM already activated on my phone. Apps like Airalo make it incredibly easy to get local data the second you land.
- I also carry a power bank. One cannot always rely on finding a wall outlet in a crowded terminal.
- I always download offline Google Maps in new cities to make sure I know my way back to my hotel in case I lose service.
Know Your Rights
Several countries have policies in place where customers can get refund/compensation for cancelled/changed flights by airlines.
If you are going to Europe, you need to know about EU261. If an airline cancels your flight or delays you by more than three hours, you might be entitled to up to €600 in cash compensation.
This rule applies to flights departing the EU or arriving in the EU on a European carrier. If your travel plans are ruined by an airline mistake, do not just accept a basic meal voucher. You have rights reserved under this law to claim the full refund or compensation you are owed.
Airline Loyalty Advantage
When flights are canceled, airlines prioritize their loyal and elite members. Same goes with business class and first class customers.
I mentioned earlier that a massive communication outage grounded my flight to Spain. Hundreds of people were stuck at the gate waiting for answers.
Because I had airline loyalty status, me and my family were immediately rebooked on a different flight and even got upgraded on the next leg.
Pro Tip: If you travel often, pick one airline and stick with it. Having loyalty status is your ultimate advantage when a trip goes sideways.
Avoid Crowded Spots
If there is a time to go “off the beaten path”, it is now. Crowded tourist spots are much more vulnerable compared to less popular ones. If you can, go to less popular places.
I prefer to base my trips in smaller towns where the pace is slower. For example, you can avoid big cities like Rome, Milan but still visit the small towns of Tuscany or the coast of Puglia in Italy.
Always Have Cash In Hand
In many countries, cash is king. Always keep a mix of local currency and US dollars on hand.
Register With Your Government
This is optional and totally up to your discretion but with several countries, you can register with your home country’s embassy. For US citizens, this is the STEP program.
If a crisis happens while you are abroad, the embassy knows exactly where you are and how to reach you.
Book With A Luxury Travel Agent
If you can afford it, book your trip with a luxury travel agent.
If you do not want to deal with the stress of cancellations, you should book your trip with a luxury travel agent (not be confused with third party booking agencies).
A luxury travel advisor is your personal problem solver. They have direct contacts with hotel managers and airline representatives that regular travelers simply cannot access.
Using a Virtuoso travel advisor or service like Black Tomato is the ultimate way to reduce travel anxiety.
The unpredictability in the world right now is very real. Deciding whether you should cancel that dream trip to Italy or Europe is not an easy choice.
Although I can’t make that decision for you, I can give tips on how to plan your trip with safety measures in place.
Invest in Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance, book flexible fares and deal directly with the airlines to protect your money.
Have back ups, power banks, a solid Plan B with an eSIM and keep cash with you.
If you decide to take the trip, make smart choices and build flexibility into every single booking. When you know you can pivot or cancel without losing thousands of dollars, the travel anxiety lessens.
