Can't decide whether to cancel trip to New York or not. Help us decide?

[Apolloanddaphne]

DH and I have a trip to NY booked, flying out on Monday. We are not the worrying sorts but my DH is keen to cancel. He really has his eye on the ball with the CV issues as he is in charge of the current plans re the virus for the large international company he works for and he believes things in NY will get worse soon as he has been talking with staff there. He fears having to self isolate at any point. His work are already under massive pressure and I know they are already going to struggle without him for a week while he goes on holiday.

We can cancel our accommodation with no penalty and get a refund on our flights (we were using airmails to travel). Our trip to the the UN has already been cancelled due to CV concerns and refunded by them. We have tickets for a gig and a show. If they are not cancelled by them we would lose that money and they were very expensive.

Do you think it would be prudent to pull out now? Wait a few days and see what happens in NY? Go anyway? DH wants to discuss our plans this evening and I want to have my thoughts straight.

OP have you worked out how much money it would cost you to remain in NYC if you get quarantined while over there?

I'd go, but I'm very blasé about it all so not the best person to ask. Tempted to go myself as it's so cheap at the moment. We are going to do a weekend in London for sure as 5 star hotels are really affordable. Keep calm and carry on sums it up

I am pretty certain my DH wants to cancel and it will be me dragging my heels. I really want to go!

Personally it's changing far too fast for my liking so I'd be worried about getting stranded.

How good is your medical insurance? If it is very, very good then healthcare in the States is world class.
Personally I'd cancel but if you do go, be very very insured.

I would absolutely go.

I'm going long haul next week too. Unless the authorities stop me leaving the country, I am going.

We have decent insurance so that isn't an issue. The only real issue is having to self isolate or being locked down while we are away.

Contact the theatres direct and ask. Many of them are allowing refunds and rebooking for a future date.

There's a good chance the shows will be cancelled anyway, op.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/03/10/entertainment/concerts-festivals-canceled-coronavirus/index.html

I know there is a cluster about 20 miles away from Manhattan and I don't trust the administration in the US to act sensibly

Last I saw they've sent in the National Guard to enforce a containment zone in New Rochelle.

I'd be keeping a lot more than 20 miles away, personally.

This weekend will be an interesting one in the US. Last weekend it seemed that large group gatherings were going ahead as normal, schools and colleges were mostly still open, restaurants were full.

I suspect this weekend will be very different. Many universities have closed down and are sending students home. The mood generally where I live is that large gatherings should potentially be cancelled or postponed. Sports events are being held with no audience allowed in.

I don't think I'd go in your position OP, especially if you're there for a week or more. Things can and I think will change an enormous amount in that time.

I wouldn't I'm afraid. It is spreading fast there and you have said your husband would feel awful if he got stuck out there. Plus costs of one of you potentially ending up in hospital - I would check for limits in your travel insurance. Way things are going I would expect the shows to be cancelled

In terms of health insurance - if you end up in the ER they will treat you and bill you and/or your insurance afterwards. You will be treated but you will get a bill eventually.

DD went into the ER the other day with suspected appendicitis. She was in for 4 hours and the bill to our insurance is $11.5k.

Well it seems our flight route has now been suspended so i think we won't be going!

I've just been talking to a nurse, her son is a doctor. They've decided not to go to Spain next week. They don't want to get ill in a foreign country, they don't want to have problems getting home again and finally, they want to enjoy their holiday not be stressed out.

I think anyone who goes away at the moment is bonkers.

Well that's a blessing then @Apolloanddaphne

I think it will be a few days in Glasgow for us now! We have a voucher for lunch at a place there so we may go and have a few days mooching about. I like Glasgow and we haven't been for a while.

I would cancel.

In your circumstances, I would cancel.

Nearly a decade ago, when unrests started in Syria, I really thought it was good idea to go there for a holiday. Prices very really low. Amazing looking apartments for very little money. We didn't go. Later those unrests were called war.

DH is currently cancelling all our bookings. I feel a bit sad but also relieved.

My mum and dad went today- as you can get the money back that’s fine. If I’d booked Hamilton I’d still go.

We are not risking going just to see Hamilton. We can see it in London at some point.

OP if you can't get a refund on your Hamilton and MSG tickets then you could try listing them on Stubhub to make some of the money back.

I’m flying to NY for the weekend on Friday. I still plan on going so long as the flight is not altered/ the government recommendations do not change.

We're supposed to be going in three weeks! At the moment we're just watching and waiting - we will lose the cost of the flights unless the govt advice changes as that's the only way our travel insurance will pay out.

I just wish the govts would bite the bullet and be definitive with advice. Worst case scenario is we lose all our money, but turning up to a city on full lockdown won't be any fun either.