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Original poster

AIBU to want to book a holiday?

115 replies

beckywiththeshithair39 · 07/03/2020 14:57

Are people still booking holidays? Dp and I just had a disagreement over our family summer holiday. We were hoping to book yesterday but he's now saying we shouldn't because of coronavirus and the Greek island we were looking at could be the next affected blah blah blah. I can totally see where he's coming from but feel really disappointed because it's something to look forward to. We were looking at a popular resort and hotel which might book up. We wouldn't be going until August. Is he right to be cautious or should we be just carrying on as normal?

Are the rest of you still booking holidays abroad for the coming months?

OP posts:
Whatelsecouldibecalled · 07/03/2020 17:30

I’m normally a holiday queen and love booking. We have 3 a year. Haven’t booked anything yet. Just a bit dubious at the minute. Also baby on the way in next 4 weeks. We were going to book for September but haven’t yet. Just waiting to see what happens

Original poster
beckywiththeshithair39 · 07/03/2020 18:08

@spiffing yes I have heard similar regarding insurance. This is a pre existing condition now and isn't covered under some policies for illness and additional costs if you get quarantined or can't travel back. Feel really disappointed but probably best to hold off for now

OP posts:
MabelMoo23 · 07/03/2020 18:42

I’m off to the US in June, the only way I won’t go is on FCO advice and our insurance covers cancellation if FCO says you can’t travel. So not worried

Fallstar · 07/03/2020 19:46

We're also going to the US in June. Had travel insurance in place from when we booked the flights a couple of months ago and we'll be travelling unless told otherwise.

MissOrganisedMe · 07/03/2020 19:53

@Geoffreythecat can I ask who with?

Our balance for our holiday in May is due on Wednesday for Magic Natura for a week. I was toying with just paying it if I can get adequately insured.

mollymoggs · 07/03/2020 20:12

We're booked for April, may and August. Last one to Italy. Hoping we don't have to cancel. I wouldn't book Italy right now but if we didn't have anything booked all year would probably book Greece for the summer. Make sure you have travel insurance straight away if you do book.

Geoffreythecat · 07/03/2020 20:34

It was Insure for Travel, via Money Supermarket Missorganised Smile

worldgonemad2020 · 07/03/2020 20:36

I wouldn't book. There will be plenty of deals later on but if you book now you'll be constantly asking your self if it's going to happen. Just wait a little...

bookworm14 · 07/03/2020 20:40

We are booked to go to Tenerife in the May half term (so last week of May). No current plans to cancel unless FCO advice changes.

Davincitoad · 07/03/2020 20:41

I’m scared for July but my dad just pointed out if it’s not over by then then we have bigger things to worry about. I’m so scared. Had a screaming argument with the hubby who says we go as we have paid. He can’t see the bigger picture.

Alsohuman · 07/03/2020 20:44

He can’t see the bigger picture

He can, you can’t. If it’s not safe to travel the FO will advise accordingly.

Strictly1972 · 07/03/2020 20:47

We are booked to the USA in May but I’m really torn. I’m thinking about it so much. Final payment due in 2 weeks so will have to decide then to minimise financial loss. Part of me thinks if we cancel & it all calms down we can just rebook. It’s an expensive hol so we don’t want to be restricted on what we can do when there which is our main concern.
If I hadn’t got anything booked I would be waiting to the last minute

KoalasandRabbit · 07/03/2020 20:50

I wouldn't be booking anything at the moment.

We've got a school trip to Italy for DD in June booked and Thailand / Malaysia / Borneo booked in August and both are looking high risk. Watching and watching but earliest a vaccine is likely to be available that I've seen is end of this year and middle of next is more the expected date. I thought at first I wish I'ld booked Europe but then its flared up in Italy and Milan and Venice are set to go on lockdown soon so hard to know where will be next. It's not catching the virus its more the chaos surrounding it, getting quarantined, flights cancelled and lots of get out clauses for insurance.

PointlessAddict · 07/03/2020 20:57

I’m so scared

About what?

CakeAndGin · 07/03/2020 21:00

I’ve a holiday booked for May, we booked it last June so it’s not something we expected - obviously. I’d already bought platinum travel insurance before coronavirus kicked off. At this moment, the location we are going isn’t too badly affected, we both have jobs in which we could work at home for two weeks and we can’t afford to lose the money for cancelling the trip. So as long as the foreign office advice is that it’s fine to travel to that country (or that country is still allowing UK nationals in), we’re going. We have vulnerable people in our circle but we will inform of them our our movements and allow them to assess whether they want to be around us (with no offence taken if they decide to avoid us for a while). Our insurance covers quarantine and what will be, will be.

It’s not a hard no for booking a holiday but I would take the following things into consideration - can you both work from home/get sick pay/afford the loss of earnings if quarantined on your arrival home? Are you prepared to self-isolate, if necessary, even without any vulnerable people in your family? Are you prepared to be quarantined in your holiday location? Then I would book with a ATOL protected travel agent (rather than yourself), pay by credit card and get some good insurance.

Indella · 07/03/2020 21:02

I wouldn’t yet. We have a holiday booked to Italy in May for our honeymoon. We don’t really want to go now but as flying to Italy hasn’t been prohibited outside of the lockdown areas we have no choice as our travel insurance only covers us if it’s in lockdown not if we choose not to go and we can’t afford to lose the money.

KoalasandRabbit · 07/03/2020 21:09

Davin Where are you booked to go to? Sorry you are feeling so scared by it.

Indella More areas in Italy are due to go into lockdown imminently.

NichyNoo · 07/03/2020 21:24

Hong Kong booked for Easter - still going. Ditto Portugal in June & July (work & holiday) plus South Africa in September (work).

Bubbinsmakesthree · 07/03/2020 21:32

People saying they “can’t afford to lose the money” - unless you are able to cancel/get a refund the money is spent whether you go or not. You’re not losing money - in fact you’ll spend less if don’t go, given you’ll need spending money on holiday that is almost certainly more than you’d spend at home.

What I assume people really mean is they can’t afford to book another holiday to replace the one they’ve lost. But that’s not a reason to go on a trip if you’re not actually going to enjoy it or you feel you’re putting yourself at risk.

If you don’t want to go, don’t go.

GreenTulips · 07/03/2020 21:35

plus South Africa in September (work)

DH travels to SA for business reasons. His company has cancelled all trips abroad and doing their bit to reduce the spread.

Your company should be doing the same.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 07/03/2020 21:37

We’re supposed to be going to Switzerland and Northern Italy over Easter. Costs largely non-refundable. If we were leaving tomorrow we’d go to Switzerland but replan the last few days to avoid Italy. However I’m fully expecting the situation will have changed significantly by Easter (probably for worse) so will just have to make a judgement call at the time. We’d be gutted to cancel but I won’t go if I feel we’re putting ourselves (or others) at significantly more risk than if we stayed at home.

Ken1976 · 07/03/2020 21:43

We are booked to go to Mexico in July. It has cost a fortune and I am definitely going. As far as I'm concerned , I have just as much chance of getting the virus here as there. Eventually it will be everywhere. I'm not panicking about it.in fact I'm going to see if I can get a cheap Greece holiday for September 🤣

Daisier · 07/03/2020 21:56

I'm not booking yet. I had to fly earlier this week, I wouldn't choose to go for fun at the moment. About 50% of people were wearing masks.

I don't want my kids in an airport unless they need to be. One has medical needs and the thought of being stuck overseas for additional weeks scares me.

bumblingbovine49 · 07/03/2020 21:58

Anyone planning a trip to Italy. The red zones have been extended by quite aot today. I have family in one of the cities.now under lockdown. It was announced this evening . The red zone now covers all of Lombardy. Many towns and cities in Emilia Romagna and some in Veneto. Bologna is just outside ( for now). No-one allowed in or out of those areas unless for emergencies. I think they will be allowed to travel within the area. My relatives are not sure yet.
This is to last up to the beginning of April at least

superoz · 08/03/2020 00:13

Anyone booked into UK? I really want to book a cottage for August but if everything goes into lockdown we would lose our deposit.
Have checked the cancellation policy and they have already put a clause in excluding the event of an epidemic and announcements by government/WHO. No insurance company will cover such events.
Wonder if I should just leave it rather than risk losing 300 quid.

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