So have we all given up on our Easter holiday bookings?

[worldsworststepfordwife]

Haven’t had a holiday in so long and this Easter’s trip to Denmark has been booked since last Summer, I’m reluctantly coming to terms that we’re not going if things carry on as they are and stupidly because the country is so expensive we booked a non refundable hotel room to save money, that’ll teach us we’ve already been in touch with hotel and they’ve confirmed there’s nothing they’ll do regardless of the situation at the time

I'm booked to stay with DM for a week in Spain from 1st April and I'm certainly going.

The Region she is in had no cases a few days ago and has only in the last couple of days identified 3 cases, all people who had been in Madrid.

So I'm actually safer there than in the UK!

The selfishness of so many people is so disheartening. It's not just about YOU, whether YOU are more likely to catch the virus when abroad. It's about whether travelling from country to country potentially spreading the virus to vulnerable (sick, elderly, poor) people is a responsible thing to do. The government won't restrict travel or bring in other measures that will damage the economy unless they really have to.

It's not just about selfishness BlackInk. We are supposed to be travelling to UAE and Mauritius at the end of March. As things stand at the moment the flights are still operating and there are no restrictions on UK citizens entering either country. We have saved for years for this holiday (for a special celebration) and have spent somewhere north of £6k which is the most we have ever spent on a holiday. We will not get any of this money back if we just decide not to go. The small print of our annual travel insurance policy has an exemption for 'Epidemics and Pandemics' so is basically void. At the moment our choice is to go or lose our money. Truthfully I would prefer to rebook for later in the year or cancel if we could get our money back but I have spoken to our travel agent and neither of these options are open to us right now.

So I'm actually safer there than in the UK!

And if you take the virus there, you’re okay with that?

He said “there’s no point in doing that as you and the kids won’t be self isolating so we’ll be spreading stuff around anyway”.

Probably sensible for ever in the household to isolate themselves then! Don't we all have some personal responsibility?

Sorry everyone' in the household

So I'm actually safer there than in the UK!

You realise this is an unfolding situation don't you? Anywhere can become a hot spot at any time.

*He said “there’s no point in doing that as you and the kids won’t be self isolating so we’ll be spreading stuff around anyway”.

Probably sensible for ever in the household to isolate themselves then! Don't we all have some personal responsibility?

Me and the children will not be going on the holiday, I have told him to go on his own. He thinks I’m joking but I’m really not....

He says that when he comes back he will give any viruses to me and the boys anyway, and if we aren’t going to stay in the house for 14 days then he doesn’t see what difference it will make it he does or doesn’t do it.

He says that when he comes back he will give any viruses to me and the boys anyway, and if we aren’t going to stay in the house for 14 days then he doesn’t see what difference it will make it he does or doesn’t do it.

But if he comes back from what is then an infected area, you and the children may need to self isolate as you've come into contact with someone from that area.

Personally I wouldn't risk travelling in these uncertain times.

But if he comes back from what is then an infected area, you and the children may need to self isolate as you've come into contact with someone from that area.

Well between work and children that just isn’t feasible.

I have told him that he can go somewhere else and quarantine himself for two weeks instead of coming home but it’s not like he has anywhere else he can go.

He’s firmly in the “It’s all a load of OTT nonsense, it’s no different to the flu” brigade.

Unfortunately we have completely polar opposite views as to whether we should be going on the holiday or not.

He’s firmly in the “It’s all a load of OTT nonsense, it’s no different to the flu” brigade.

Does he have any elderly family members or friends? Any friends or neighbours with a suppressed immune system? Does he think of anyone other than himself?

For those coming to the UAE, they are locking down tight here. Right now anyone coming from a location with over 1000 cases is required to self isolate for 14 days, and tourists are told not to come...

DH has to go to Europe for work in the next couple of weeks - I am nervous about him getting sick and being quarantined in another country and/or bringing cv home with him. But what can you do? Until the govt cancels international travel, he can't refuse to go to work. I wish all govts had banned non essential trips weeks ago and then things wouldn't be so bad.
I think you'll be okay in Denmark though - it's a wealthy country with good healthcare. I wouldn't risk getting ill in a place where the health care isn't as good.

If you go on holiday you will be mixing with a large amount of people at airports, when sight seeing etc. Unless you are driving to the middle of nowhere then you at more risk of getting it and spreading it than if you stay at home.

I do feel for people which have booked holidays though. Its rubbish for everyone.

To be honest Hulk, that's what I'm hoping will happen before we are due to leave for the UAE on the 29th. That way we may stand a chance of postponing our holiday until later in the year, or cancelling and getting some money back...

We were due to go to Florence at the end of the month. As Italy is on the Govt. ‘essential travel only list’ we cannot go. Hats off to Travelzoo, with whom we booked, for agreeing a complete refund and sending a confirmatory email immediately.

Similarly DS2 was due to fly to Kerala tomorrow, but his GF has an Italian passport which India will not now accept. Citrus holidays allowed them to rearrange for November, no charge.

Just hoping things will be calmer by then, but she is applying for a UK passport to be on the safe side. She was born in the UK.

Luckily we have only planned a short break to Derbyshire for Easter - we are in a bungalow on the outskirts of Bakewell, will be meeting some friends to walk our dogs. Hoping for some good weather so we can sit outside a pub for some lunch then eat in the bungalow in the evening.

( yes I know there are people diagnosed with CV in Derbyshire- there is also someone in the hospital where I'm sitting at the moment...)

Surely now the WHO have declared a global pandemic the holiday companies and airlines need step up and stop people travelling?

If they continue to refuse to refund or change change bookings they are making the situation worse. A lot of people have their head in the sand and have the attitude 'If the plane is going I'll be on it' because otherwise they stand to lose their money.

Does he have any elderly family members or friends? Any friends or neighbours with a suppressed immune system? Does he think of anyone other than himself?

His dad is almost 70 with underlying heart issues.

My husband genuinely just does not see why such a big fuss is being made. He reckons people don’t have to be isolated during the flu period, despite many, many more people dying from that, so doesn’t see why it’s needed with Corona.

Do all insurance policies always cover cancellation due to FCO advice. We took out our travel insurance recently and it said we weren't covered for cancellation due to FCO unless we bought a travel disruption add on.

We’ve not planned any holidays this year as we got stung having to cancel Sri Lanka. Everything is booked last minute. We went to Porto and Lisbon over the Christmas holidays which broke up the winter.

Genuinely baffled by people still going and taking wipes. The thought of being stuck like those people in a Tenerife hotel room, or with flights out of Italy cancelled - and I’m sure there is worse to come. If you can’t get home and are told to self isolate in a hotel room with young kids, what a nightmare. I’d rather be quarantined at home than in a hotel room, any time.

It’s scary what risks people are prepared to take just for a holiday. We’re talking life and death here for many people.

What will 4K, 6k matter if you pass the virus onto relatives/friends who then die?

if you are happy to be potentially quarantined in a foreign country then I don’t see a problem. If not then don’t go. It’s only money and money that you have e already paid so not like it’s a debt as surely people don’t get into debt to go on holiday. Do they?

If it takes off like Merkel is predicting then 60% of pilots will have it, 60% of hotel staff, 60% of customs workers 60% of coach drivers etc etc etc.

It’s scary what risks people are prepared to take just for a holiday. We’re talking life and death here for many people.

I agree!

I think people are missing the point. This is heading to an international crisis. I’m not sure we will all be worrying about packing a suitcase to head off to UAE/ Eastbourne by end of next week. People will be in lockdown. Very few staff to run planes, trains & hotels. Italy is screwed- it’s closing businesses excepting grocery stores and chemists. Yet people think they’ll be mincing off on holiday...