Don't stop travelling

By JEANNETTE HYDE

With the rush to the shops for gas masks and some people even registering for nuclear bunkers, it seems to me there's never been a better time to travel. The events of September 11 may mean air travel feels daunting, but if you think travelling isn't a good idea, here are a few reasons to change your mind:

* You're never again going to be lavished with the time, attention, expertise and good deals available. I rang a ski operator this week to check some information. Masses of useful, informative, expert knowledge came gushing down the phone. I wasn't even put on hold. Make the most of this while it lasts!

* Mayor Rudy Giuliani says the best thing you can do to help New York is to go there and spend your money. Eat in restaurants, stay in hotels. If tourism collapses, the city will have big job losses to add to its grief.

* Consider a trip to New England. During the autumn, as the leaves fall from the trees in many beautiful shades of brown, it is normally impossible to find a romantic log cabin. This year the choice is all yours.

* Keep the travel industry alive by keeping on the move, otherwise there won't be choice and good prices next year because so many companies will have gone to the wall. Support the low-cost airlines and charter carriers in particular. Many countries may give state aid to their national carriers. If that happens, the likes of EasyJet, Ryanair, Buzz and Go will find it even harder to survive. These firms have opened up whole corners of Europe that were time-consuming and expensive to reach before.

* Book a holiday cottage or hotel in Britain. They need the business after foot and mouth disease, and you're likely to get an extremely warm welcome. Consult the recently published Which? Hotel Guide 2002 for the latest in restaurants and stylish places to stay.

* Try not to write off journeys to all Muslim countries because of a handful of terrorists. The people you meet on the ground often have as little sympathy with the ideas of Osama bin Laden as you and I do. Countries such as Egypt, Turkey and Morocco depend on our visits. Many families will suffer immense hardship if we no longer spend our money there.

* If there is no demand, tour operators and airlines will pull out of some countries. Travel will rise in price and again become the domain of the rich.

* If we all stop travelling, we'll all suffer - from the farmers who supply hotels with fresh vegetables to the cocoa pickers who supply the chocolate that goes on your hotel pillow.

Any conflict could drag on for years. Surely you are going to need a holiday at some point.