Should you change your European travel plans in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine?
Each day, it seems that the residual coronavirus restrictions slink deeper into the rearview mirror.
But Earth can’t seem to retain a sense of harmony for long — tragic headlines concerning the war between Russia and Ukraine now drench our newspapers and social media feeds. Can U.S. citizens carry on with travel as normal? And if we can, should we?
This isn’t a tone-deaf subject; few sensible people consider themselves “inconvenienced” by the war in Ukraine. We’d prefer a resolution to war over an international holiday. But the issue is that many would-be travelers have already booked European trips in light of evaporating COVID restrictions — and they’re now (understandably) hesitant to follow through with their plans.
Whether you’re currently booked for a trip to Europe or you’re thinking of booking, there are a handful of rational inferences we can draw from the conflict between Europe and the Kremlin.
Fewer travelers (probably)
There are many, many travelers who feel the same as you; reluctant to book travel across the Atlantic because of the implications of war.
Several good things come from fewer travelers. You’ll find cheaper flight and hotel prices, and likely more award availability. TPG regularly publishes flight deals to Europe. Just a few days ago, we found round-trip economy flights from several U.S. cities to Spain starting at $356 or 32,000 Delta miles. We do not expect sales like these to diminish any time soon.
Additionally, fewer tourists often means a more moving experience. There’s something beautiful about having a stunning attraction almost entirely to yourself.
Unadulterated sights
Coronavirus restrictions have kept mass tourism at bay for years. Stunning natural wonders which had previously been screaming for respite from heavy foot traffic have been able to recover and regenerate.
You’ve probably heard stories of Thailand’s famous Maya Bay indefinitely closed in 2018. It was so beautiful that it was drawing overwhelming crowds, and its fragile ecosystem was being destroyed. Maya Bay has recently reopened — and its circumstance is a microcosm of many beautiful areas around the world.
Retribution on Europe from Putin?
The war in Eastern Europe isn’t really only between Ukraine and Russia. The vast majority of the planet has shown support for Ukraine — with several countries supplying the Ukrainian underdog with weapons.
As Germany swears to bolster its military efficacy in response to a volatile Putin, more of Europe than just Ukraine may find themselves in the crosshairs of the Russian Bear. That’s something to consider before emptying your credit card rewards (or bank account) on a bucket list trip to Europe.
Monitor national travel advisories
Odds are you’re not traveling to Russia or Ukraine. Those regions have never been on the tourism top 10 list.
However, as Greg Pearson, chief executive of risk management company FocusPoint International, told The Washington Post, anyone with travel to a country even bordering Ukraine may want to postpone their trip.
It’s wise to stay on top of travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State. This is an efficient way to quickly assess the political and civil temperature of your desired country.
Tips for booking European travel
Booking award travel is usually more flexible than booking with cash
Whether you’re booking airfare or hotels, award travel is almost always more forgiving when your plans change.
For example, when you book a hotel with points, you can often cancel your hotel a couple days before arrival and instantly receive your points back into your account. This is wildly more flexible than booking a prepaid hotel rate — and booking a flexible cash rate with similar change/cancellation policies to an award stay costs a lot more.
Also, if you book an award flight, you can usually cancel the trip and have your airline miles redeposited to your account for no fee. Had you purchased your flight with cash, the best you may get upon cancellation (unless you booked an exorbitantly-priced fully refundable flight) is flight credit for a future trip.
Capital One Travel Portal’s cancel-for-any-reason coverage
The Capital One Travel Portal will soon roll out cancel-for-any-reason coverage as an option when booking airfare. For a small fee at checkout, you can buy the ability to cancel your flight and get 80% of the cost back.
Related: Everything you need to know about cancel for any reason trip protection
Consider third-party travel insurance
Most travel credit cards come with travel insurance that often includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance and emergency evacuations insurance for when disaster strikes. However, they almost always exclude war. If you book a trip to a volatile area, you’re tempting fate — perhaps more so than just financially.
You may find a solution in a third-party insurance agency, however. For example, World Nomads has been known to offer evacuation coverage for transportation expenses resulting from civil or political unrest in the country you visit. Also, any change in U.S. travel advisories will not void your policy.
Related: Best travel insurance policies and providers
Bottom line
It’s understandable — U.S. citizens have cabin fever from years of coronavirus restrictions. But in light of the active war between Russia and Ukraine, is now the right time to visit Europe?
That’s ultimately up to you. At the moment, however, travel to most of Europe seems completely safe. You’d be wise, however, to book refundable travel and stay away from countries bordering Ukraine.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.