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Original poster

AIBU to still consider going to Rome end of March?

35 replies

MissMoiselle · 08/03/2020 09:35

DH and I haven't had a holiday together just the two of us in years. End of December, we booked 4 nights in Rome in a cute little hotel. DH is not fussed about Coronavirus, says it's just a nasty flu and everybody is bound to get it and will most likely be fine. I've been seeing pictures online about major Rome attractions being almost completely deserted. AIBU in thinking that with the big drop in tourists atm in Rome, it will actually be ok to go? Fyi, our bookings are non-refundable and we (stupidly) didn't take out travel insurance.

OP posts:
TrickyD · 08/03/2020 10:21

I sympathise, MissMoiselle. We were due to go to Florence for three days at the end of this month but will not go.

We do have travel insurance which will kick in if the OK Govt. advises against travel to the area which so far it has not done.

However cancellation for medical reasons is covered. As I am 75 with asthma, high blood pressure diabetes 2 and have a pacemaker, I am hoping my GP will recommend not going on grounds of being vulnerable.

MissMoiselle, have you checked your flights? Many have been cancelled, if so you would be entitled to a refund.

MrsP2015 · 08/03/2020 10:21

Are there still flights to Rome?

Aspoonfullofjam · 08/03/2020 10:30

Your DH is ignorant and inconsiderate. Yes it’ll just be a flu to him/you but you’ll traipse over to Rome when Italy is worried about a massive spread of the virus and having trouble containing then spread it around here where people like my brother who has 20% lung function may die if they get it.

It’s disappointing about your holiday. I understand that but this is serious for a lot of people and people like you and your DH only caring about yourselves are part of the problem.

GinDrinker00 · 08/03/2020 10:44

Didn’t they just shut down most of the country? YABU, it’s not a “nasty flu”, people get the flu all the time but you don’t see them shutting down countries over it.

AJPTaylor · 08/03/2020 10:46

Don't think you will be able to go anyway.

AriadnesFilament · 08/03/2020 10:51

By end of March I imagine that FCO advice will be to avoid Italy as a whole, given that the Italian government has just quarantined an area of 16 million people.....

AriadnesFilament · 08/03/2020 10:52

Oh, and your husband is very unreasonable.

hopeishere · 08/03/2020 10:54

I think by them travel will have been restricted anyway.

Having said that. The thought of seeing Rome without hordes of people is very appealing.

GinDrinker00 · 08/03/2020 10:55

Here’s all you need to know about the coronavirus www.youtube.com/user/Campbellteaching still think it’s the flu? Hmm Also if you do go by some small stupid chance of people being allowed to visit, I hope you consider the NHS won’t be able to cope with coronavirus as well as it’s being made out to be so if you get really sick, you’ll have to try and get on with it at home. Really want to take that risk now?

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 08/03/2020 10:55

We're just moving this thread over to the coronavirus topic. Flowers

SerenDippitty · 08/03/2020 10:55

We have a holiday booked in Florence in September. Really hoping it will be ok by then.

GreyGardens88 · 08/03/2020 10:55

OK it may just be a nasty flu to him, but what if you catch it and spread it around when you arrive back in the UK? My mum is in her 70s and if she catches it from people like you it could be the end of her

LaBarbera · 08/03/2020 11:04

Please don't come to Italy even if you technically can by that point. With the massive spike in cases over the weekend, the health services here are hugely overloaded, and Rome in particular is trying to keep infection out. I live well outside the exclusion zone, but even here local travel is on a necessity-only basis.

Random18 · 08/03/2020 11:07

I am guessing you have kids? What age? I am not overly concerned by things at the moment and would maybe travel if it were just me and DH. But I would have to think about the kids so wouldn't travel in case I couldn't get back to them.

Applesandpears23 · 08/03/2020 11:11

If you don’t have travel insurance how will you afford new flights and extra accommodation if your flight home is cancelled?

calllaaalllaaammma · 08/03/2020 11:24

If Rome is in the middle of a coronavirus epidemic then much of it will be shut down and it might get as bad as Wuhan province by then, what if you fall ill and the hospitals have exeded their surge capacity and are unable to supply you with antibiotics.

MagicalAnimal · 08/03/2020 11:43

You can still get travel insurance even now (although I am not sure whether it would cover cancellation due to Coronavirus). But you should get it anyway, it only costs a few £s and will cover you if you were very sick and needed to travel back home

Seventyone72seventy3 · 08/03/2020 11:49

Seeing as you don't have insurance, you are going to lose money anyway if you dont go. I would sit tight and evaluate closer to the date - Ibthink the best case scenario is your flights are cancelled and you get reimbursed. You could ask the hotel to move your booking or give you a credit.

BubblyBarbara · 08/03/2020 12:15

You might well be fine. However you may also get stuck there or come back to a 14 day enforced quarantine

Original poster
MissMoiselle · 08/03/2020 12:18

Thanks for your input. The more I read people's opinions, the more i want to avoid going. We were really looking forward to going, but I can see how irresponsible it would be to go. FWIW, we dont live in the UK.

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cologne4711 · 08/03/2020 12:27

Although the booking is non-refundable could you change destination? I'd contact your tour operator and see what they can do for you.

By the end of March events may have overtaken you anyway and the decision taken out of your hands is flights are cancelled.

Agree that day by day the chances of coming back to a forced self-isolation or official quarantine are growing.

Didn’t they just shut down most of the country No, the main area is Lombardy around Milan and a few other places. Nowhere near Rome.

MabelMoo23 · 08/03/2020 12:30

Why why why would you not get travel insurance???

If you go, and get seriously ill, how will you pay for your care? I think you are crazy for contemplating going, especially now parts of Italy are in lockdown

Acrasia · 08/03/2020 12:35

ooking at the latest info on Worldometers there are also national restrictions in operation that would impact Rome too: “ As in the north of the country, cinemas, theaters, museums, pubs, game rooms, dance schools, discos and other similar places will be closed.” So looks like a lot of the things tourists might want to do would be closed anyway.

Original poster
MissMoiselle · 08/03/2020 13:41

@MabelMoo23 I know, that was a silly thing to do.

@cologne4711 we are expecting an email from ryanair shortly, hopefully we'll be able to get a voucher or something. The hotel was booked separately but I guess I can try and get in touch with them and see if there's a chance of a small refund?

I will have to sit tight for how and re-evaluate closer to the date.
The thing is that there is so much conflicting information everywhere I look. Some of it is downplayed, some of it is hyped. Some "experts" say now is the time to travel and explore for "healthy" people because it's so cheap, other "experts" are all doom and gloom... it's hard to get a clear view on this whole thing because of this...

Someone asked if we have children. No we don't. But because we have a lot of pets we rarely travel so it ends up being friends and family visiting us which isn't really a holiday. That's why we were really looking forward to 4 romantic days away.

OP posts:
ListeningQuietly · 08/03/2020 13:58

A friend is in Rome at the moment and having a lovely time.
All of the big attractions are shut but she is just wandering around and enjoying the sunshine.