AIBU to cancel AI holiday having lost sense of taste/smell?

[Ruggyleaf]

Due to go on holiday Wednesday. Have been unwell with what I think is COVID for x2 weeks. Lost my sense of smell and taste a week ago and haven’t regained them yet. Wondering what the point is going to be to go on an AI holiday without being able to taste anything.

I might be better by then but I literally can’t taste anything. Adding bucket loads of cinnamon to my yogurt and cant taste a hint of it.

also meant to be meeting some friends for lunch and just want to cancel 😂😭 feeling very down.

Are you going alone?
If its only you and you wouldn't enjoy a holiday without tasting food then yes, cancel.
If anyone else is going with you then you should still go

Is it just you or are you going with others? I would probably still go for the sunshine.

I lost mine a few years back and thought I should really just eat broccoli and brown rice as everything tastes like cardboard anyway. I quite quickly found i could enjoy textures and taste some things, although Ive never fully recovered. You can train yourself by deliberately smelling all the scents you can find aa much as possible- look at the Fifth Sense charity website.

is food the only reason you were going?

An AI isn’t just about the food. Use it as a chance to enjoy your holiday while eating sensibly

You will surely lose all your money
I’d still go. Hope it comes back soon

I would still go and try having a glass of wine or a cocktail every hour just to check if my taste has come back..

I’m not surprised you feel down but you’ll still need to eat even if it isn’t very enjoyable. I’d go for the break and sunshine.

You’ll still need to eat and taste will be back by then. What a weird reason to cancel.

Surely you'll still need to eat?

I honestly didn't think anyone went on AI holidays for the food. It might actually be better without a sense of taste.

I was on AI this summer. It was not special so poor sense of taste/smell made no difference. If anything, it's probably better!

Depending on your age, COVID might not be the reason things don't taste the same. If you're of a certain age, you'll be disappointed to learn that loss of taste/smell is another unfortunate aspect of 'the change'.
If you have had COVID, and there is some about, I doubt you are infectious now but you could wear a mask in the airport/on the plane.

@Vodkamartini3olives has sensible advice here since you are unlikely to recoup a full refund. And sitting on a lounger in the sun is surely better than whatever you have planned for the foreseeable.

Thanks everyone. I am in my mid 30s. Going with toddler and baby and DH. I do enjoy food at AIs tbh… I am also still very congested despite being on day 7, so I am scared my ears will hurt on descent.

I think we’ll go anyway. I think so strong vitamin D will definitely do me good. Struggling right now with this severe congestion 😭

You’re unlikely to get a refund this late in the day so i’d just go and hope taste comes back soon. Mine was gone a week or more with my first covid.

Get some Sudafed to help with the congestion. I hope you feel better soon.

This was my first thought too. Enjoy the sunshine if nothing else OP, it’ll do you good.

You still have four days before you go and hopefully the congestion will start to ease by then. I suffer with sinusitis where I lose taste for up to two weeks. I swear by facial steamers, if you haven’t tried that yet. Do it two or three times a day before you go (doesn’t need a decongestant oil added)

Take antihistamines and Sudafed before the flight. The rest and sun will help you feel better.

Well you're wrong. Why wouldn't people go for the food? It's a huge part of the holiday for a lot of people

The last ai I went on the food was lovely. Huge range of delicious meat, fish,vegetables and salads and different options daily.

@DarkForces @ConnieHeart that’s my point… there tiers of AIs I would say. The one we picked seems decent foodwise!

still no smell or taste :(

That doesn’t sound like enough of a reason to consider cancelling. You might be a foodie but surely there’s other things about holiday you will enjoy? And your husband and child’s enjoyment must count for something.

With Covid it can take a long time for taste and smell to come back, mine took about 2 and a half years! Hopefully it will come back much more quickly for you, but I wouldn't cancel a holiday for that reason (as long as you are well enough to go and no longer infectious.)

You'd give up the opportunity to be in a new place, presumably sunny, with interesting new sights, not having to lift a finger or spend another penny if you don't have to, just because you can't taste the food?

It is miserable when you can't smell or taste anything, you have my sympathies. Many years ago, long before coming came along, mine disappeared for a couple of weeks. I still ate but it was truly dull.

BUT

• there's more to a holiday than food
• I doubt you can cancel for free
• your holiday insurance won't cover you

so you might as well crack on and make the best of it.

Ive suffered with this for about 10 years, mine can go for a couple of months at a time. Many a holiday I have not been able to taste or smell and although I dont go AI, we always go self catering, we go on holiday primarily to experience the food, new flavour experiences, new restaurants, bars etc etc. We are all about the food and its incredibly depressing when that happens

Also Im a bit perfume collector so I always go into home made or independent perfume shops while on holiday and that gets ruined if I cant smell too.

You just have to make the best of it as I doubt any insurance would pay out to refund due to loss of taste and smell.