Help! Do I cancel surprise trip?

[hoolydooly]

Sorry in advance for another coronavirus thread! Struggling with a decision and wondering if people can help me decide...

So, one week from now we are due to go on a trip to Japan, booked last September. DH and I lived there many moons ago and I booked this as a surprise - a huge surprise as we're more "camping in Cornwall" types rather than big international jetsetters! Going with 4 children in tow (youngest age 5).

Enter coronavirus. Japan has 20 cases so far. They are asking Japanese nationals they have repatriated to self-quarantine, rather than imposing quarantine as we have in the UK. Japan gets huge numbers of Chinese tourists, and has only restricted entry to those from Hubei province. According to this map (gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6) there are 5k cases elsewhere in China.

If we do go, we will be in Tokyo for a few days and will likely come into contact with a lot of travellers from China. I want to stress I am in no way being racist here (I have seen accusations of racism being bandied about on other threads). It's just a fact that there are more cases in China right now, so contact with Chinese travellers poses more of a risk.

So...now I am worried. I can't discuss with DH as he doesn't know about the trip! I really don't want to cancel. We'd get no money back, and it cost a fortune! But the thought of something happening to our children (or us) is giving me pause for thought. I suffer from health anxiety so perhaps I am worrying too much.

What do you think?

YABU = you're being silly, go and enjoy yourself
YANBU = not worth the risk - cancel your trip

If IABU, please be gentle! ;-)

I’d definitely tell him now. You can do the surprise bit together for your children. But seriously, give him time to process it all, and think things through with you as a team. You can still go through with the surprise, but he will be in on it!

Go. Change your mind if major outbreak in Japan. But as things are right now you should go!

However wonderful the surprise, I would want to be part of the decision making on something like this.
It will still be a surprise, but he will have a week of excitement about it, I love the build up to a holiday!

@JosefKeller Can I ask why you say you wouldn't take your 5-year-old? Your comment keeps ringing in my ears and I am obviously worried. I can't find any info on it being a particular problem for children (apart from possibly infants).

I think in a month or two it’ll be a lot clearer what you should do.

I personally wouldn't go as I read that Dr's there say its mutating. Which usually means it's getting more severe, harder to treat/immune to treatment. As of last night there is a 'suspected' case in London & another in Walsall.

Why do people keep recommending hand sanitiser, which is useless against viruses? It's not some magic bottle to protect against all ills. Far better to pack some soap!

Have a great time OP and enjoy the okonomiyaki and yakitori chicken!

Adding to the chorus of “go!” You are taking more risk getting in your car (if you have one) everyday. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Think of how many people are in the country, compared to how many cases there are.

You should definitely talk to your husband about it, though. Some people are very worried about the virus, and whether that's right or wrong, he wouldn't enjoy the break if he was worried about it.

You could always take masks to wear, if it makes you feel better. Given what we know about the virus, this would probably help.

I would go but I think you do need to spring the surprise on your husband now to chat through it with him.

Agree about hand sanitisers being not very effective though. Just wash hands with soap and water when you can.

Keep an eye on the news over the next week and government advice. But if there are 12 cases then that is still very small at the moment.

Don’t go.

But seriously tell him and discuss it as a couple today, even for just he might want to pack different items to what you pack for him for a trip of a lifetime?

The kids thing, kids hand hygiene isn’t as good, torching everything and toilet seats. You won’t know for 2 weeks after you arrive as to how bad the spread is. If you go wear face masks through the airport. Not wearing them you’ll stand out more now. I wouldn’t be able to relax so not a holiday for me.

I thought China was in lockdown? Any Chinese tourists in japan will therefore have been there for longer than the 2 week quarantine period (by the time you get out there) so you should be fine.

If the Japanese government are concerned surely they would cancel international flights from the rest of the world.

I actually don’t understand the panic. How many billion in China vs how many dead? The risk is minute. Not trying to start an argument here but genuinely puzzled.

Just go.

I’m in Japan at the moment and it’s honestly fine. In fact I’ve noticed the lack of Chinese tourists so I really don’t think the risk is as big as some make out.

It’s an amazing place to visit. I think you’ll regret it if you cancel.

Check if your travel insurance will still cover you. I bet there's a clause about such events in the small print.

Managing to keep it as a surprise up to now is impressive but might be time to tell him. A great part of a trip is the build up and anticipation and i’m sure he will be thrilled that you’ve hone to so much trouble. I’m currently sitting on a plane waiting to return to Japan where we live. Wearing a mask and have wiped down my area of the plane with Dettol wipes. So long as you are all fit and healthy and take normal precautions I think you’ll be fine. Lots of travellers from China were already unable to fly over for Chinese New Year - group travel was banned out of China really quickly.

See where you’re coming from in the self quarantine and also that two people evacuated to Japan from Wuhan refused to be tested which is absolutely ridiculous - when they asked for repatriation they should have been made to sign to say they agreed to testing.

Hope you have a fabulous time reconnecting with old places and friends.

I would definitely go and let it be the surprise you planned. Lots of viruses and diseases in the world, and it wouldn't stop me from travelling. Enjoy!

It's a week away. Tell DH. It needs to be a joint decision.
I'd probably go.

Oh and if you look at the instances of dying by flu each year, it far outweighs the amount of people who have (sadly) died from corona.

I know this isn't the point but are you going to do his packing for him? There's a difference between what I'd throw in a bag for a minibreak in London and a week plus in Japan!

I have read that children are largely unaffected by the virus, I don’t think any have died ?
Adults over forty, mainly those with weaker immune systems, seem most at risk. Get good health insurance, wash hands/wear gloves. It will spread in the UK soon enough, none of us will be able to avoid it. I am nervous as I am in my fifties, and although not quite asthmatic I am prone to chest infections and have weedy lungs. I am hoping the vaccine will be speedy but I imagine it will spread here before the vaccine is out.

@HerculesJohn Yes, I'll pack for him! He really won't care, trust me. He is super easygoing. I often surprise him with birthday trips - just not this far-flung!

Go! And enjoy. I would jump at the chance to go to Japan.

Have fun!

Do you already have travel insurance?

The flu kills thousands of people each year in the uk. And people still have terrible hand hygiene, coughing sneezing without tissues, work while sick, etc etc.
So i really struggle to get worked up about this virus. I'd be more concerned about catching flu here in the uk

• I was floored by flu for 2 weeks in 2017, in 2019 i had food poisoning/norovirus which was one of the worse 3-4 days in my life. Both caught locally. So I'd be no more worried about getting ill on holiday than i am about getting ill at home

I read too it was affecting older males more than children. Have we heard any reports of children dying? I guess China haven’t released full figures but it sounds like children aren’t being as affected.

You sound like you still want to surprise him at the last minute though?