Mexico with 4 DC and pregnant... help!

[PinkRosie321]

Me and DH recently booked holiday to Mexico in August for us and our family. We have 2 DS's (will be 16 & 3) and twin DD's (11), not to mention I will be 6 months pregnant with DC5 when we go!! Does anyone have any advice on how to manage long haul with so much to worry about? (I have considered inviting my parents but they wouldn't be able to afford Mexico and I don't want to offend them by offering to pay)

Offer to pay for their flights or accommodation! Yes l think you are a little crazy for attempting this holiday , but more so if you dont look for some help! I'm sure your DP would love to go.

Zika area - is six months too far on to be affected? Make sure you can get travel insurance, although it should have been bought already.

Travel insurance is all sorted luckily - travel agent did discuss Zika virus with us so we are prepared to be protected.

It's infected with Zika and so it's inadvisable for pregnant women in any trimester to go. Please say you've already got insurance?

You might be able to change destinations, or you might prefer to cancel - check if your insurance will cover everyone cancelling or just your share though.

Ah cross posts. I don't think there is a way to be protected, it's against medical advice for any pregnant woman in any trimester to travel to a place infected with the Zika virus. There are some guidelines for women who live in infected areas but they are not thought to be overly effective.

Are you covered on insurance for Zika now it you've accepted the risk?

From what we're paying for insurance I hope we are covered for this! I don't know about cancelling but I may have to look into changing destination if Zika is such an issue as I understand there is no way of preventing it... Does anyone have any recommendations of where to go?

Is be more worried about zika if I were you and personally wouldn't go if pregnant/ family not yet complete

No the preventions are to have no exposed skin at any time and not to go out between sunrise and sunset, and even then it's inadvisable. I definitely wouldn't risk Mexico.

I'm a bit worried about the rogue travel agent suggesting it's manageable...

Anyway I think you'll have much more fun elsewhere, without the worry. Are you open to anywhere or would you prefer to stay around the US?

Am I stupid for never understanding that Zika was such an issue? I just assumed it was like any other virus you can get abroad.

I think the advice on Zika is pretty clear. Women who are pregnant should not travel there.

How about the Canary Islands? Sardinia? Sicily? Or if you are looking for long haul South Africa or Mauritius?

A lot of great advice thank you. I'll have to discuss this with DH as I've now researched the area and the virus.

This travel agent was very remiss in selling you such a package in the first place particularly as you are pregnant.

There is also another reason for changing your destination; hurricane season in Mexico runs from June to November and that can affect the both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

Another here saying do not go- zika and ware Bourne issues which pregnant especially dangerous rather than a little risky

I agree with the others - I wouldn't go due to zika. No way.

The CDC travel advice is that a pregnant woman should not travel to Mexico if they are staying below 6,500 feet.

Id swap your destination to Mauritius. Probably cheaper than Mexico and no chance of getting Zika which you cannot protect yourself from.

Did you tell the travel agent that you were pregnant? if you have only just booked it then you are only a couple of months so unless you told them they probably didn't realise. if you did tell them then I would go straight back in there and demand a full refund for this holiday and either book with someone else or re-book somewhere that is Zika free.

There is no way that you can protect yourself from Zika. you will get bitten and it only takes one bite.

Before you re-book, print off the list of Zika areas to make sure you don't inadvertently book a holiday to somewhere else with the virus.

So shocked the estate agent sold you a package to Mexico 😱

Estate?? Travel. Different sort of agent. Can be equally dodgy.

I'm shocked that you didn't know that zika + pregnant makes it a complete no.

yep me too Frazzled2207 but I guess it has gone out of the news a bit recently. who can blame Mexico. Tourism is important to them and Zika must have devastated their industry. still always surprised at the people who don't research places for how hot it will be, hurricanes, health warnings etc before they book and just assume everywhere is safe.

travel agent, not expert travel advisor. Nowhere is safe and if someone comes in saying 'I want to go to Mexico' then that's what you get sold.

duff time of year, insect-borne disease (which much of the world has), or whatever.

I don't think anyone's done anything dodgy, and the OP simply did not realise the issues.

FCO advice is that pregnant women are 'recommended' to avoid all non-essential travel to Zika areas. Not sure if this would invalidate insurance or if that is only for 'do not go'.

anyway, definitely change your trip, too many risk factors!

I don't think it is a question really about insurance special subject. if you contract Zika then the issue isn't your treatment in the country where you got it and getting you home but the lifetime of issues if your baby is born with microcephaly.

from looking at other threads, women who are pregnant seem to have been able to get refunds/get their holidays changed because of the advice. recommended is a pretty strong statement from the FCO.