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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think we should cancel our holiday to Tunisia?

282 replies

googlenut · 26/06/2015 22:26

So holiday booked to Sousse with Thomas Cooke. Member of the party include two 84 year olds and a child with autism. Not due to go to the end July but reckon we should just persuade TC to refund or reallocate to different country.

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 26/06/2015 22:42

I don't know, to be honest.

If the country often has problems like this (I don't know the answer to that) then I would cancel.

If it's an isolated incident, I wouldn't. I mean, I doubt people were getting refunds or cancelling their holidays to the UK after 7/7 or to the New York after 9/11.

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/06/2015 22:42

what kind of holiday could we have after all that? TBF it's scary but this kind of thing can happen. DH and I had a lovely holiday in Morocco then a while later the restaurant we frequented was bombed, killing locals and tourists. Some of the locals were probably the fabulous staff that waited on us. Sad

It can happen anywhere, including London. I doubt it will happen again in Tunisia in the near future.

Only1scoop · 26/06/2015 22:42

Yes change your destination.

googlenut · 26/06/2015 22:43

Have been freaked by stories of people running for safety from beach - I have two 84 year olds in the party, one with limited mobility

OP posts:
Only1scoop · 26/06/2015 22:44

I wouldn't even entertain going.

Speak to Tcx tmrw

EllaBella1 · 26/06/2015 22:45

This isn't isolated in Tunisia. There was the attack in Tunis in March. Again at a museum in the capital city. The terror group said they would hit tourists next which is what they have done. I would double check your travel insurance as they might need to increase premiums etc if you do go..

stealthsquiggle · 26/06/2015 22:45

Worth contacting Thomas Cook, but if they are unwilling to make the change then I would wait and see what the FCO say. Perceived wisdom today seemed to be that they will probably advise against travel to Tunisia.

thelittlebooktroll · 26/06/2015 22:50

This is the second attack in Tunisia this year isn't it? I am surprised people still go there. I wouldn't holiday in Egypt either.

VeryVeryDarkGrey · 26/06/2015 22:51

Theres no way i would be going to tunisia at all but i would definitely be cancelling any planned holiday. No it probably wont happen again but why would you take the risk?

AnneEyhtMeyer · 26/06/2015 22:56

The FCO are always very very reluctant to advise against all travel, it rarely happens, so it very hard to get a refund or change to a holiday booking.

We have lost a deposit before now, but it was worth it because I just wouldn't have felt comfortable. We are just about to change another holiday booking, and will have to pay a hefty admin fee, but I don't care.

From now on we are only booking holidays in western countries. Sad because we've had lovely holidays previously in Egypt, Turkey etc, but I just don't want to risk it now. I'd rather have fewer holidays in more expensive destinations.

QuintShhhhhh · 26/06/2015 22:58

There was political unrest in Tunisia already at the beginning of the year, my sister (who lives in the canaries and gets all news from the region) advised me against going there when I was considering going for half term.

chantico · 26/06/2015 23:05

Thomas Cook and others are offering changes for those due to leave in the next couple of weeks, and are likely to review once more is known.

But, many places (including UK) are on high alert for terrorism. And any crowded place might attract an attack. And the low tech attacks, where people get hold of weapons then just strike a busy place must surely be extremely hard to counter.

geezpeace · 26/06/2015 23:06

would you be excited about going on holiday now? would you have that lovely feeling knowing you can kick back with your feet up and relax amd enjoy some sunshine? my 4yo DS wouldn't care, but I would not be able to relax for a minute. There would be a dark cloud over me on tje flight over, wondering if we'll be ok. I have read that the next 3 fridays - the holy day, are high risk until ramadan is over. which could be nonsense but I just wouldn't tale that risk and I'm sad to say will never even consider going there for a very very long time, if ever. but I feel for the locals who need us tourists Sad

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/06/2015 23:06

From now on we are only booking holidays in western countries. Like the UK, with its decades of bombs, the US, with its massive crime rate, mass shootings and civil unrest, Canada, with its two recent attacks, France with their shootings, and just today, Lyon. Norway is probably safest. But who wants to go there? Switzerland? I'm not discounting people's feeling if they are going to Tunisia very soon, but nowhere is 'safe' and the best thing we can do is live our lives.

Terrorists can't kill everyone but they are scare and change all of us if we let them.

Aermingers · 26/06/2015 23:07

Don't go. I feel really sorry for the Tunisians, this is going to fuck their economy. But at the same time, I don't wouldn't want to risk my families lives. I think we need to really assist Tunisia with their borders and security services.

There was a thread on here a few weeks ago about North Africa. A lot of people were urging people to go on holiday there because there was no risk. And they were obviously wrong. So maybe Mumsnet isn't the best place to look for advice? Some people on here have an agenda which is more important to them than your families safety.

prepperpig · 26/06/2015 23:08

We changed our holiday plans after the museum shooting (DH knew the British woman who died which really brought it home how fragile things are in that area of the world). I would be surprised if all package tour goers aren't offered alternatives

TrickyBiscuits · 26/06/2015 23:10

I wouldn't go, and I've worked abroad in some fairly hairy environments so I've usually got quite a sturdy attitude, but I wouldn't take my family to Tunisia right now, no way.

It's madness that TC won't allow cancellations for holidays after 24th July, the situation in Tunisia has been getting steadily worse, they can't realistically claim that the threat level will be significantly better in a month.

DisappointedOne · 26/06/2015 23:11

DH is flying to Egypt in 12 hours.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 26/06/2015 23:12

I know what you're saying, MrsTerry, but I feel a lot safer in a western country than in the Egypt, Tunisia etc right now. I also think the rescue position would be a lot more reliable somewhere like USA or Canada after such an attack than those other destinations.

Twice now in a couple of years we have had to reconsider our holiday destination at a point where we lose money. I am not going to risk it again.

DisappointedOne · 26/06/2015 23:12

(We were in London for 7/7, and flew to New York as planned on 11/11)

Babyroobs · 26/06/2015 23:13

I wouldn't go. I'm surprised the country was considered safe after the other recent attack on tourists there.

Lucked · 26/06/2015 23:14

I think TC are saying only up to the end of July so that they can get replacement holidays for those due to depart soon. I think they will open it up to everyone due to travel once they have dealt with those customers.

Salene · 26/06/2015 23:17

No way would I go to any African country or Turkey/Egypt etc

I'd be cancelling

Zebda · 26/06/2015 23:18

I wouldn't go. Not for anything. What is different now is that the attack was right in a hotel, in the sealed off tourist area, not in the main cities, or in the known areas of unrest that you can usually avoid. Tunisia has in the past had excellent security around the tourist resorts, today has demonstrated this is no longer the case, and you can't be safe anywhere there right now.

When the museum shootings happened a while back, I advised another OP to consider travelling when her company had refused a refund. My view was that the centre of Tunis was not the same as the resort, and if they stayed in the resort, they should be ok. I no longer believe this to be the case.

What happened today is so sad. I've stayed in the hotel that was attacked today and it's a real, real shame that this will inevitably, but necessarily destroy Tunisian tourism for some time.

Sickoffrozen · 26/06/2015 23:23

Tunisia Borders Libya. Isis has a large number of Tunisians fighting for it and many more stopped from joining them. It's sad for all the decent people of Tunisia but it's just not safe enough. I would personally also avoid Morocco, Egypt and Turkey currently. I know it's only a small percentage of people that are affected by these events but it's enough to put me off. The Tunisian economy is going to really suffer which is exactly what Isis and it's supporters want.

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