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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To Cancel Holiday...

46 replies

NotSoGoodFaith · 14/02/2020 22:12

because of Coronavirus?

It's a European city, very busy and touristy (planned holiday is in a month's time.) I'm concerned about the place itself, the airports, etc...

Relevant: I do have an underlying health condition that could potentially make me more vulnerable.

I can't decide whether I'm being overly anxious and reading too much media coverage, or whether I should leave it and reschedule.

OP posts:

AlternativePerspective · 15/02/2020 14:10

And the one who had had a parcel from Amazon delivered which could have been from China.

Aridane · 15/02/2020 14:10

Did you take out travel insurance at the time of booking? A lot of policies provide for refunds if the government advise against travel.

Except Europe and Asia (China apart) doesn’t fall into that category

cdtaylornats · 15/02/2020 14:14

Assuming it is a modern European city your risk is essentially the same as staying at home. You don't know if the person coughing on you spent their holiday in China or works in a walk-in medical unit.

saraclara · 15/02/2020 14:17

It's Europe. You live in Europe. The risk is no higher for you holidaying in 'Europe' than it is for you at home.

Go! You would be seriously, worryingly, nuts to cancel!

(I do understand how worries can get out of hand, honestly - but there's is absolutely no reason to cancel, and if you do you will be passing on your unreasonable anxiety to your children, as well as disappointing them hugely)

Aridane · 15/02/2020 14:20

I'm not even sure if the insurance would pay out even if the advice is not to travel. - Force of nature and all that. i'm sure if they can find a way to avoid paying out they will.

If you have cancellation or curtailment cover and government advises against travel subsequent to booking, yes, travel insurance will respond

Standrewsschool · 15/02/2020 14:24

Where do you live? The risks will be the same in UK as abroad.

UnaCorda · 15/02/2020 14:32

All you can do is go with your gut.

How is the OP's gut going to tell her whether she will catch Coronavirus on holiday?

MollyButton · 15/02/2020 14:36

You should go.

You are far more likely to catch Flu at this time of year, and whilst that has a lower rate (probably as they don't really now yet) of serious consequences; overall you are far more likely to get a serious case of Flu than Coronavirus. If it spreads widely in Europe than the travel advice will change.
However at present there are places in the UK you are far more likely to catch it than most places in Europe.

Toria70 · 15/02/2020 14:40

I'm T2 diabetic, and have had pneumonia once from a chest infection that took me nearly 6 months to recover from. There is no way I'd risk travel abroad at the moment. They still don't know how the virus is spread.

If it's not going to leave you financially out of pocket, I would cancel and go when the disease is less active.

TSSDNCOP · 15/02/2020 14:42

We have cancelled an Easter trip to Thailand but are travelling elsewhere instead. I’d have no issue with going to Europe at all. DH has a colleague that’s just arrived home from Singapore and his firm have ordered him to WFH for 14 days!

Ferretyone · 15/02/2020 14:47

@NotSoGoodFaith

To put things into perspective [and unless - of course - we are not being told the whole truth] there are 17000 odd deaths in the UK from the "ordinary" 'flu virus each year and we do not really panic about that, do we?

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 15/02/2020 14:50

If you live and/or work in a city or large town, you’re at no more a risk anywhere else in Europe, OP. I own a pet sitting business and I can say that I’ve had a couple of clients cancel holidays to China and Asia, but no one is concerned about Europe, if that helps. At the moment I’d be happy to go, but take sensible precautions. Regarding the airport trays, I usually put all my electric, etc in small food bags, ready to be popped into the tray, then into another plastic bag, within my carry one luggage. That way you can remove them from the bags and either sterilise the bags with proper wipes or dispose of them. Wash hands and eat in nicer restaurants that actually leave space between tables, rather than stack customers on top of each other. Sight see early in the mornings, when it’s quieter and then rest, before eating during quieter times. Go and enjoy yourself.

ilovesooty · 15/02/2020 14:52

I don't see any issues with travelling to Europe. Just take appropriate hygiene precautions. You can't live in fear of what if all the time.

Lippy1234 · 15/02/2020 14:58

Last night I returned from a European city break and apart from noticing a few people with face masks on I didn’t don’t even think about it.

Roussette · 15/02/2020 15:17

To put it into perspective....

There are over 741 million people who live in Europe.

There has been one Coronovirus death in the whole of Europe. ONE.
And he was 80 years old and not in good health.

Why would anyone not travel in Europe when we are in Europe now?

I just don't get why anyone is worried about travelling in Europe. Unless you are the sort of person who worries about everything.

AcrossthePond55 · 15/02/2020 15:21

First off, I'd consult a doctor about your underlying condition and the risks of Coronavirus for you.

Second, I'd research my mode of transport and the current statistics for the area(s) I was going to.

Thirdly, after doing 1 and 2, if I couldn't put my worries to bed sufficiently enough to actually enjoy the trip, I'd cancel.

Konicek007 · 15/02/2020 15:22

I’m same.
I also got underlying health condition affecting my lungs ( no asthma)
If I catch that’s it.
Over. And I’m flying in 3 months away to Europe.
The airport’s make me nervous even without thinking about Coro...

Blatherskite · 15/02/2020 15:40

Like @TSSDNCOP, we have a holiday booked to Thailand for the Easter holidays - including a few days in Bangkok. I'm keeping a close eye on official advice.

I'd happily go to Europe though.

chachachaa · 25/02/2020 16:19

Travelling to Tenerife next week with my partner and son. Should I be concerned? Would you cancel? Been doing some research online and I don't think Expedia/airline will refund us or will our travel insurance cover this. What would you do?

Aridane · 25/02/2020 23:04

Of course travel insurance or holiday company wont refund - well, unless the FCO advise against non essential travel to Tenerife

Mumista · 15/03/2020 19:32

I have just cancelled a similar holiday for the same reasons. Annoying and probably a bit mental, but I'd rather lose the deposit than the rest of the balance if we can't go.

I'm not worried we'll be ill - it's more the complex or pool area shutting down making the holiday crappy. If it was a holiday cottage, I'd have continued with the booking.

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