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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
shebird · 26/06/2015 23:25

I would try and get an alternative destination or this is not going to be the enjoyable relaxing holiday you want it to be. While it is true that these awful attacks could happen anywhere they are probably more likely to happen in countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

Zebda · 26/06/2015 23:27

OP, I just wanted to add, you should call TC ASAP to re-locate your trip before non North Africa destinations run out. I suspect the won't refund until the FCO call no travel, but they will rebook for another destination

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/06/2015 23:35

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. I used to think that but after Katrina... I wouldn't trust the Americans to save me in the event of a major incident.

Whereas I had fabulous care in Thailand after I got very sick in Cambodia. I do consider healthcare and disaster response when looking at where to travel. The response in Tunisia appears to have been quick and efficient but who knows at this point.

Before this Tunisia was 79 on the global peace rankings before this attack so not 'safe' before this happened. But then I was in China (108) recently and it felt extremely safe to a foreigner.

TheHormonalHooker · 26/06/2015 23:41

I wouldn't go. I wouldn't be able to relax. I wouldn't book a holiday to Tunisia, Morroco, Eygpt or Turkey atm.

In your position, op, I would be on the phone to the Thomas Cook tomorrow because the majority of people booked to go to Tunisia are going to want to move or cancel I would have thought.

Original poster
googlenut · 26/06/2015 23:42

Can't believe TC would still let people go there - but going to hang fire until Monday to phone helpline as want to free it up for people flying more immediately.

OP posts:
Original poster
googlenut · 26/06/2015 23:43

Ok so maybe I'm being too selfless here - should I get on phone tomorrow

OP posts:
BuntyCollocks · 26/06/2015 23:48

I wouldn't. My family (including me when younger) have went to the royal kens, right next to the imperial marhaba, for coming up on 20 years (god I feel old!), and my mum, dad and granny are booked to go at end of August. I am trying to dissuade them. Too much of a risk.

fairyfuckwings · 26/06/2015 23:50

I agree with sickoffrozen I wouldn't go to any muslim country in the current climate. There's loads of nice places to go where the threat of being shot or blown up is much less so I think I'll just stick to those.

fairyfuckwings · 26/06/2015 23:52

Yes phone tomorrow. I definitely would!

Pugthug · 26/06/2015 23:57

I would try to get money back but sod the money - stay away!

springsprang · 27/06/2015 00:00

you're going to 'hang fire'? Hmm

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 27/06/2015 00:02

I don't know why people are still going on holiday to North Africa after the events of the last few years. Particularly on beach holidays. If they have no interest in the culture of the place and just want heat and beaches, why not go to one of the thousand other places that have hot beaches?

lem73 · 27/06/2015 00:03

I know lightning doesn't strike twice etc but I can't believe anyone would consider it. Look, I was in Egypt when there was all the trouble after the Muslim Brotherhood got kicked out. We were far from Cairo but it was scary and when we decided to cut our holiday short, it was really difficult to find a flight home. Don't go.

sunshinerunner · 27/06/2015 00:08

I wouldn't go either.

Feel so so sorry for all the ordinary Tunisians just trying to make their livelihood Sad.

SillyStuffBiting · 27/06/2015 07:38

I'm travelling next week to SE Asia via UAE and I am scared. Where I am going, according to the FOC is fine but still.

NewFlipFlops · 27/06/2015 07:49

What Aermingers said.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/06/2015 07:52

I wouldn't be able to go OP. Do you really think you'd be able to relax and have a good time if you do go. Even if nothing happened, I'd be thinking about those poor people as I traced their steps.

googoodolly · 27/06/2015 07:57

Statistically, isn't the safest time to go right after an attack, because all the security etc. is heightened and there's extra police/army presence, etc?

That said, I wouldn't feel safe going at the moment, but that's just my personal worry. It's no more dangerous going there than it is anywhere else, when you look at it logically.

AmorVincitOmnia · 27/06/2015 08:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrianButterfield · 27/06/2015 08:16

I wouldn't go either and I was just saying last night that I don't think that idea of "straight after an attack is the safest time" applies any more. How can it? They can't watch every hotel, every tourist area, every beach...

DamsonInDistress · 27/06/2015 08:17

I wouldn't go. Wouldn't even contemplate it. In fact there's almost nowhere outside the UK I'd be willing to travel to just now. Just not worth the hassle. I've discounted France for a few years now because of the endemic ethnic & racial tensions, have never been a sun seeker so north Africa, middle east etc never on my radar anyway, wouldn't do many of the CEE countries due to their previous religious/ethnic histories (they strike me as ripe for emerging islamic radicalisation risks in Europe), wouldn't do much of the baltic states now due to the aggressive Russian position atm, would have to weigh up America v carefully, might consider Canada, parts of Scandinavia, and possibly Austria, Germany, Holland, Belgium. Spain & Portugal maybe depending on region (Eta history). It's just a minefield, quite literally in some places, and where's the fun in trying to wade through all that just to plan a holiday?

Frankly we'll be sticking to the Peak District this year and probably the next two or three years too.

NiceViper · 27/06/2015 08:21

"WTAF!!! Why didn't we know this?"

The information isn't and wasn't hard to come by. It's not secret, and can be found quite easily if you read the news fairly regularly and follow links to background pieces.

The risk of terrorism was serious in FCO travel advice, even before these attacks. The risk itself hasn't changed, though the risk they warned of for many destinations has now turned into actual event on one of those places.

The willingness of the public to run those risks may have changed significantly.

DamsonInDistress · 27/06/2015 08:22

I agree that people need to make more informed choices Amor but anyone who bothers to look at a map can't have missed it surely! Which means they know and are still ignoring the risks?

Sconejamcream · 27/06/2015 08:23

I would not have gone there anyway. Same goes for places like Morocco, Egypt, Kenya..... Just not worth it for so many reasons.

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