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Original poster

Stuck on holiday with chicken pox and ear infection

8 replies

Hutchstar · 04/05/2023 06:39

Hi- just after a bit of advice please!
I am currently in Lanzarote on our first family holiday (me, DH, DS3 and DS 10 months). We were due to fly home on Friday (5th May). However my 3 year old now has chickenpox and the 10 month old a double ear infection and both have been told they cannot fly. The Spanish doctor said they wouldn’t be able to fly for another 2 weeks but everything I read says different things!
We fly with Jet2 whose website say 7 days from last spot and a fit to fly letter and ear infections also say 7 days. I am speaking to our rep again today and have been on the phone to insurance all day yesterday (who were not the most helpful) and will call again today.
Just wanted to know if anyone had any advice or had been through this? It’s been an emotional day or two- lots of crying on my behalf at the thought of where we will stay, when we can fly home, language barriers at the doctors not to mention the practical things like not enough clothes or formula for baby.
Any advice would be really appreciated!

OP posts:
FasterthanBolt · 04/05/2023 07:19

God, you poor thing, cry away! In practical terms do you have access to money to book somewhere after Friday? Maybe an Airbnb or apartment on booking.com? Can you ask the hotel about washing facilities and do a quick clothes wash? I hope the insurance company give you more help today.

AuditAngel · 04/05/2023 07:27

Ask your formula manufacturer for the closest Spanish equivalent. I always bought formula abroad rather than taking it with me on holiday (I know this is not recommended)

I’m surprised the hotel aren’t being more helpful.

Kickingupmerrybehaviour · 04/05/2023 07:28

oh Lord you have my full sympathies op! Poor you. All I would say is you need to get them home as soon as you can swing it and before the baby gets it. If the spots are anything like crusted by Friday I would be going and sticking a hat on them. You do not want to be abroad with a baby with chicken pox. My 6 month old caught it from her older sibling and it was so awful. I wish I’d vaccinated against it but I didn’t know you could at the time.

YouveGotAFastCar · 04/05/2023 07:28

The key point there is that it’s 7 days from last spot appearing; and when you’ve got a fit to fly letter - and Spain issue the latter after 14 days. So does the UK, as a rule.

Insurance should sort you out with somewhere to stay now, and depending on your policy, you might have extra entitlement which could cover things like extra clothes or meds. Your rep should be able to help with translation and pointing you towards washing facilities.

Then once that’s sorted; I’d tackle work.

It’s not the best and I don’t blame you at all for having a bit of a cry, but now click into action mode and make a plan. There’s worse places to be stuck and they will be better soon x

Twentynone21 · 04/05/2023 07:58

I used to work in the travel assistance industry.

Have a look at your travel insurance policy and check what it covers. It will at a minimum cover room only accommodation but may cover more. The insurance may book the accommodation and also return flights when your children have recovered and have been issued fit to fly certificates or you may be required to pay and submit a claim. Please don’t be tempted to travel before your children have recovered and are still infectious.

Your hotel reception and holiday rep will be able to direct you to the nearest pharmacy (farmacia) and supermarket where some English formula brands are stocked and also to the laundrette.

Try not to fret, it won’t help the situation and will just stress you all out. It can’t be helped. My DD seemed to always require a trip to the doctor while we were on holiday and was once hospitalised due to severe food poisoning. You get through it and is a story we bring up from time to time.

Skybluepinky · 04/05/2023 08:21

Sounds a nightmare, hope the other child doesn’t come down with chickenpox in the meantime, this could b y they r saying 2 weeks rather than 1.

Deathbyfluffy · 04/05/2023 08:26

Kickingupmerrybehaviour · 04/05/2023 07:28

oh Lord you have my full sympathies op! Poor you. All I would say is you need to get them home as soon as you can swing it and before the baby gets it. If the spots are anything like crusted by Friday I would be going and sticking a hat on them. You do not want to be abroad with a baby with chicken pox. My 6 month old caught it from her older sibling and it was so awful. I wish I’d vaccinated against it but I didn’t know you could at the time.

You also don’t want to spread it around a busy plane - luckily the doctor will remove a hat in a fit to fly check, so your plan wouldn’t work.

Qilin · 04/05/2023 09:03

Kickingupmerrybehaviour · 04/05/2023 07:28

oh Lord you have my full sympathies op! Poor you. All I would say is you need to get them home as soon as you can swing it and before the baby gets it. If the spots are anything like crusted by Friday I would be going and sticking a hat on them. You do not want to be abroad with a baby with chicken pox. My 6 month old caught it from her older sibling and it was so awful. I wish I’d vaccinated against it but I didn’t know you could at the time.

You shouldn't take someone with active CP on a plane full of other people! You're knowingly putting other people, and unborn babies, at risk.

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