Has anyone else got a much looked forward to holiday abroad booked for some point over the next few months? Hubby and I are booked to fly from Newcastle, via Heathrow to Johannesburg on 8th May. We are then to be on Safari at a private game reserve beside Kruger National Park. We have been counting down the days. We now feel in a bit of a quandary in the light of Covid-19. We are both over 60. I have asthma, hubby has diabetes. We are both scientists of different kinds by profession and we don’t buy the argument put forward by some that this virus is nothing special to worry about, since it is especially highly contagious and the mortality is high (relative to other viruses) for older people with respiratory conditions, cardiovascular conditions and diabetes. For that reason, we are avoiding crowds and plan to keep mainly to ourselves until the virus begins to settle out. I am not really too concerned about contracting it in the African bush, but am a bit concerned about airports and being on an aircraft (in business class, so fewer people) for 12 hours. It’s hard to judge where this will be up to by May, but I’d have to cancel the safari lodge by the end of March in order to lose 20%, rather than 50% of the full cost of the stay.
I would love to hear how others with booked trips are dealing with this issue.
Hi flossieflyby. I had an email from AllClear saying that if isolated abroad cover would be extended for 30days. Insurance as always seems to always have a wriggle out clause and much seems to depend on Government travel advice. Fine if not in vulnerable groups!
We are due to go on a cruise leaving Easter Sunday for 14 nights. Yes I know cruise ships are a hot bed of germs anyway but it’s something we enjoy. We booked last year after three years of illness, followed by a bereavement and then a house move. The dog is booked into the best kennels in the area, also booked a year in advance and we were looking forward to it. Now not so sure but up to now the cruise company ( p and o) are still saying to go but take 14 days extra meds just in case! Decisions decisions !
Oh yes. Do come. Bush trips/safaris are so interesting and relaxed and worth it.
I hope for all of us that the virus flattens out by May. Looking at the map of WHO very little of Africa so far is affected. And here at the southern tip - nothing yet.
We have booked to go to Normany on the children's Easter break. I have zero immune system due to RA, OA and Fibromyalgia, OH has high blood pressure and one of our 15 year old twins has asthma - the other is just freaking out about everything! Travelling from Plymouth by ferry, coming back via Portsmouth.
We have travel insurance but, for now, are being guided by the ferry company and where we're staying.
Other than taking sensible precautions, I don't really see what else we can do.
We are due to fly to Barbados on 28th of this month. We are on a P&O cruise around the Caribbean & then sail back to Southampton with a stop in Portugal on the way home. Some of the islands have recently refused to allow cruise passengers to disembark. P&O have placed restrictions on passengers who have recently visited areas of concern or who have had contact with anyone with the virus. The problem however is that you may not be aware of having come into contact with it & now the UK has it, we should be considered an area of infection! P&O have advised that passengers take an extra 14 days of medication with them, that covers the quarantine period! If we pull out we stand to lose a lot of money but I am concerned. Being stuck on a cruise ship, potentially unable to dock at islands we are due to visit and confined to cabins in the event of an outbreak does not really fill me with joy.
We've got a holiday booked to Scandinavia in May. I haven't heard anything about it having reached Denmark, Norway etc. but who knows what can happen in the next couple of months. We don't only need to think about us catching something there, I'm wondering if the countries we are visiting will want us to go in case we bring it with us and infect them.
We are both fit and have no health issue although we are over 70. If it's cancelled I wonder if it could be postponed to later in the year or perhaps next year.
Can I ask if anyone would this week book a holiday abroad for June?( Spain) . My friend is thinking of doing so and I said if it were me I would wait and see what happens with this virus. Her and her sister both are over 60 and have asthma.
We were in a group of six ladies having coffee and they all said they would book a holiday this week and not be put of by virus, except me but I have more series health conditions. Am I being paranoid?
I haven’t got any holidays booked, but I have got tickets to go to the Tutankhamen Exhibition and the Van Gogh Exhibition in London, as well as tickets to a local music venue later this month. Whilst it doesn’t bother me about going, I do wonder if these will be closed for a while. We’ll just have to wait and see.
We were due to go away next week on a fly/cruise trip, but the worry would spoil the holiday so we’ve cancelled.
Simply meant you would not be reimbursed if you decided not to travel.
My hubby & I are due to fly to Tenerife in 3 weeks, to stay with my cousin who lives in Golf del Sur. I suffer with Polymyalgia, & hubby COPD. This holiday was to celebrate our Golden wedding anniversary. Had been counting down the days to our visit to cousin, & sunshine, but obviously in a dilemma now! Yesterday received a text from TUI airlines, telling us that we have been changed to another airline, but our flight date, & times remain the same. We are basically playing it by ear, & just trying to patiently wait & listen to whatever we are advised. Lots of hand washing, antibacterial wash downs, & lots of praying! Good luck to you all x
Stella - I know from experience never to argue with a scientist (my daughter is much more knowledgeable than I am) but I am concerned with the stats.
The percentages about how contagious it is are based on the numbers of reported cases, not on how many people have been infected.
BBC R4 More or Less 31 Jan looked at some stats comparing it with other infections
Oops I posted too soon
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000drn4 is the link
Incidentally globally approx 500 000 people die every year from ordinary flu. WHO say it may be as high as 650 000
We lived for many years in SA and visited the Kruger Park and some private game reserves during that time and afterwards. It would be such a shame to miss the opportunity of having a wonderful holiday for the small likelihood of contracting the virus. As other posters have said, despite your ailments, there are far more who die of other problems each year. The game reserves are fantastic - go for your trip and enjoy it!
Well we're only booked for uk hols this time (Butlins in april!) & Haven in summer! But i do have holiday cover if they shut any parks/holiday camps down,i would surmise all you with hols booked will have insurance cover of some kind,so if theres a complete ban on hotels/flights etc. i would imagine you'l be covered?? I'm not bothered for me but am in a quandary if i cancel just for sake of it ill be letting down my 6yr old granddaughter as she's never been on hols with me before- and never been to Butlins- whereas we have(myself& 2 sons,21&16) but she's so excited bless her! Obviously if it became a huge epidemic in uk I'd have to rethink,so we're not at risk, but for now ill wait & see i think.(glad I'd not booked abroad this time though)
@Stell14,
We had three trips booked for may!june,July,and yesterday decided to cancel all of them,today feel less stressful,calmer,
Getting on with life,
Disappointed yes but once hopefully this virus calms down and we get back to”normal” we can book again,although two trips did not refund one did
From all of this we have peace of mind
Big decisions for people to make,but hopefully you will make right one for you,good luck.
May is a couple of months away so wait and see - we're due to go to Asia in a couple of weeks and so far the advice is to carry on. If it changes we should get refunds but if we cancel now we might lose all monies.
We are going on a coach trip via ferry to the Black Forest early April with overnight stay en route in Belgium both ways. No travel restrictions as yet so rather than lose £2000 we’ll probably still go. Just won’t enjoy it as much as I would have done. Also flying to Denmark to visit family the week after we return but staying in their house which is quite remote but still concerned as we are both in our 70’s and my husband is diabetic
I’m amazed people are considering going on holiday to Italy. I was in Venice airport for 5 hours on 6 th January and got very ill, with bad chest and high temperature. On hindsight it sounds like it was Hong Kong flu but I wouldn’t rule out other things. It took me an intense regime of endless hot tea , vit c, d+k2, immun boost, iron supplement and Paracetamol every time my temp went up and antibiotics, and 4 weeks to get over it. I self isolated ( can’t bear idea of giving anyone anything ) . Now I’m fit as a fiddle. But Italy ..no thanks.
We were planning a 10 day visit to France over Easter but as we are both asthmatic we have decided to delay our trip. We had not booked yet though.
I’m due to go to Gran Canaria next Fri.....as things stand I’m assuming unless advised differently by either the travel company or the Government......I’ll be on that plane going to the sun....?
We are booked to go to the Peleponese mid June and nothing (bar serious illness or airline collapse) will stop us getting there. So looking forward to seeing our favourite part of the world. Hopefully all the fuss and panic will be over by then. Just heard the Chief Medical Officer say that with Spring/summer on the horizon the risk will dissipate.
I decided a couple of weeks ago to bite the bullet and go on my first holiday without the Bodach. The wording on my travel insurance is a bit ambiguous, and I got fed up being ‘ in a queue’ to ask for clarification, so I’ll try again later.
Booked for Lake Comp in northern Italy in mid May. Paid in full. Fortunately it's an escorted your and we've had a letter confirming full refund if it is cancelled. At present it flies into Milan and includes a day trip to Milan. They may change the itinary if it goes ahead. We are both diabetic and I have minor COPD.
......Lake Como
.......escorted tour
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