Holiday Abroad in May Booked: What to do?

We lived for many years in SA and visited the Kruger Park and some private game reserves during that time and afterwards. It would be such a shame to miss the opportunity of having a wonderful holiday for the small likelihood of contracting the virus. As other posters have said, despite your ailments, there are far more who die of other problems each year. The game reserves are fantastic - go for your trip and enjoy it!

Oops I posted too soon
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000drn4 is the link

Incidentally globally approx 500 000 people die every year from ordinary flu. WHO say it may be as high as 650 000

Stella - I know from experience never to argue with a scientist (my daughter is much more knowledgeable than I am) but I am concerned with the stats.

The percentages about how contagious it is are based on the numbers of reported cases, not on how many people have been infected.
BBC R4 More or Less 31 Jan looked at some stats comparing it with other infections

My hubby & I are due to fly to Tenerife in 3 weeks, to stay with my cousin who lives in Golf del Sur. I suffer with Polymyalgia, & hubby COPD. This holiday was to celebrate our Golden wedding anniversary. Had been counting down the days to our visit to cousin, & sunshine, but obviously in a dilemma now! Yesterday received a text from TUI airlines, telling us that we have been changed to another airline, but our flight date, & times remain the same. We are basically playing it by ear, & just trying to patiently wait & listen to whatever we are advised. Lots of hand washing, antibacterial wash downs, & lots of praying! Good luck to you all x

Simply meant you would not be reimbursed if you decided not to travel.

We were due to go away next week on a fly/cruise trip, but the worry would spoil the holiday so we’ve cancelled.

I haven’t got any holidays booked, but I have got tickets to go to the Tutankhamen Exhibition and the Van Gogh Exhibition in London, as well as tickets to a local music venue later this month. Whilst it doesn’t bother me about going, I do wonder if these will be closed for a while. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Can I ask if anyone would this week book a holiday abroad for June?( Spain) . My friend is thinking of doing so and I said if it were me I would wait and see what happens with this virus. Her and her sister both are over 60 and have asthma.
We were in a group of six ladies having coffee and they all said they would book a holiday this week and not be put of by virus, except me but I have more series health conditions. Am I being paranoid?

We've got a holiday booked to Scandinavia in May. I haven't heard anything about it having reached Denmark, Norway etc. but who knows what can happen in the next couple of months. We don't only need to think about us catching something there, I'm wondering if the countries we are visiting will want us to go in case we bring it with us and infect them.
We are both fit and have no health issue although we are over 70. If it's cancelled I wonder if it could be postponed to later in the year or perhaps next year.

We are due to fly to Barbados on 28th of this month. We are on a P&O cruise around the Caribbean & then sail back to Southampton with a stop in Portugal on the way home. Some of the islands have recently refused to allow cruise passengers to disembark. P&O have placed restrictions on passengers who have recently visited areas of concern or who have had contact with anyone with the virus. The problem however is that you may not be aware of having come into contact with it & now the UK has it, we should be considered an area of infection! P&O have advised that passengers take an extra 14 days of medication with them, that covers the quarantine period! If we pull out we stand to lose a lot of money but I am concerned. Being stuck on a cruise ship, potentially unable to dock at islands we are due to visit and confined to cabins in the event of an outbreak does not really fill me with joy.

We have booked to go to Normany on the children's Easter break. I have zero immune system due to RA, OA and Fibromyalgia, OH has high blood pressure and one of our 15 year old twins has asthma - the other is just freaking out about everything! Travelling from Plymouth by ferry, coming back via Portsmouth.

We have travel insurance but, for now, are being guided by the ferry company and where we're staying.

Other than taking sensible precautions, I don't really see what else we can do.

Oh yes. Do come. Bush trips/safaris are so interesting and relaxed and worth it.
I hope for all of us that the virus flattens out by May. Looking at the map of WHO very little of Africa so far is affected. And here at the southern tip - nothing yet.

We are due to go on a cruise leaving Easter Sunday for 14 nights. Yes I know cruise ships are a hot bed of germs anyway but it’s something we enjoy. We booked last year after three years of illness, followed by a bereavement and then a house move. The dog is booked into the best kennels in the area, also booked a year in advance and we were looking forward to it. Now not so sure but up to now the cruise company ( p and o) are still saying to go but take 14 days extra meds just in case! Decisions decisions !

Hi flossieflyby. I had an email from AllClear saying that if isolated abroad cover would be extended for 30days. Insurance as always seems to always have a wriggle out clause and much seems to depend on Government travel advice. Fine if not in vulnerable groups!

We have a family trip to Italy booked for mid April, to celebrate my 70th birthday with my daughter and her family who live in Emilia Romagna. They are already into their second week of precautionary school closures, with another one next week, and, I suspect, more to follow, so the chances of us getting there are getting slimmer by the day. I’m so disappointed as we’ve had it planned for months.

On my 60th, my daughter was due to come over for a surprise visit, all arranged by my husband and son without me knowing anything about it. However on the day, the volcanic dust issue ‘erupted’ and so she was unable to come.

Don’t think I’ll plan anything for my 80th, if I’m still around!

I have done a lot of research and don't think you'll be covered with insurance or credit cards - not for epidemics or pandemics.

My heart goes out to those who are in vulnerable groups. For those who are not travel potentially less worrying,although chance could pass virus on to vulnerable. I suppose it may come down to how much we trust the government to protect EVERYONE and how much we have faith in those who are not vulnerable to be as vigilant with regards to personal hygiene as those who are.
My friend and I booked a holiday to northern Italy a month ago and had choice of going the end of March or end of September. Coronavirus at time in relatively early stage. Gut instinct told me to hold out until September when felt either all be over or ...
Very glad did as all I may have to lose is small deposit.
Prime Minister has just been on TV and once again emphasised several times that for vast majority they would get through this. If in minority go with instinct and make sure good travel insurance.

I'm not having my week in Majorca in May. Just too anxious about it to take the risk. I'm 68 and have asthma and a heart rhythm thing going on - so I contacted TUI before the 70 day cut off date and actually my friend and I have deferred the holiday to September at this point, rather than lose both deposits if we cancel outright. Cost us £50 admin each to change and the week has cost a bit more, however at least we may still go although if the news is to be believed, we may still be in the throes of this epedemic. My 79 year old brother and his 73 year old wife stil plan to travel to Barbados next week.

We are booked to meet the lovely in-laws from Oz in Bergen. But their travel companions have backed out of their cruising plans - so in- laws have too. This leaves us with a very expensive trip to Bergen which we wouldn’t have done but for meeting up with them as they would have been in Europe. We have decided we will go anyway - unless our Foreign Office advised differently. Right now July is a long way away.

I think stress is a big issue in deciding what to do..... I have a week booked in a hotel in Spain at the end of March. I go there quite often just to relax, enjoy the warmth, the scenery, the culture. But it now seems a bit pointless to go when there is bound to be an undercurrent of tension about the spread of the virus and getting back. I’d feel differently if I was going for work, to visit family or with someone else but at the moment I’m asking myself if I want to put myself through it.

Stella because of where you going if you get ill there you are going to miles away from dr so will have not chance if you need medical help .
Postponed or cancel. But dont go .

We are going to Ibiza end of May, My Granddaughters coming with us, she is 18 months old. I'm only worried about keeping her safe.

We are booked (and paid) to go to Lake Garda in May. We are just waiting to see what happens. Northern Italy seems a place to avoid at the moment but things could change in two months. I have a history of pneumonia.

We have cancelled as our holiday involved flights. This virus is really infectious and on a plane you are breathing recirculated air the whole time. No way do I want to be ill or even self-isolated abroad, nor do I want to bring back coronavirus to all our friends and family. We help look after my 93 year old neighbour who is in poor health. Her cleaner has gone to northern Italy for a holiday and she has had to ask her to keep away for at least 14 days on her return. The trouble is you can pass on the virus without having any symtoms. I dont think our holiday is exactly essential and the company have allowed us to postpone it for next year with just a small admin fee.

Oscaroll, if you haven’t done so already, you should ring 111 and report your symptoms. They will arrange for you to be tested.