Holiday Abroad in May Booked: What to do?

My DD & SIL are due to fly to Rome in 10 days and had tickets to see the Six Nations Rugby which it seems will now be played but 'behind closed doors' ie no spectators. We are looking after their 3 young children for the 4 days they are away. The big dilemma here is, if they should be unlucky enough find themselves in a quarantine situation, that 4 days will become 4 weeks. But unless the foreign office advises against travel, they will forfeit the whole cost of their holiday. Really, all they can do is wait and see and prioritise the children best interests.

Stella I think that being business class on a plane means there are fewer people around you but surely the air con is for the whole plane and since the virus is airborne amongst other types of transmissions then everyone is at risk. We are booked in April to travel to Perth, Australia then Bali, back to Perth then Sydney, back to Perth then home via Doha. I was already worried about all the travel by air but now it is really worrying me. Unless all air travel is banned then what happens to flights? Do you get refunded or has that not been decided?

Absolutely, if the Foreign Office advise against travel, we’re all covered by travel insurance if we cancel. In fact if we travel against Foreign Office advice, it makes travel insurance invalid! The problem is that Boris Johnson has said that the government won’t advise against travel abroad “since the virus is everywhere”. I think that is ridiculous as airports, aircrafts etc will be like plague pits. I have noticed that their focus is on protecting the economy. Working age, healthy adults are at little risk and those of us drawing a pension are expendable- or am I too cynical?

We have just paid for our holiday in Portugal in May on a credit card so we might have some comeback. If the foreign office say you shouldn't travel to that area then we are insured - otherwise we will take our chances and practice our usual good personal hygiene.

We've got a holiday to a place near Rome booked for July and I have to confess I'm having a bit of a wobble.

DD's boyfriend is currently being tested for the virus after returning a fortnight ago from a ski trip at a place that's classed as high risk - I am hoping and praying it's negative as I spent the weekend with her!

As a family we have booked a holiday in France for the end of May. We will not be flying we are going by ferry from Dover to Calais as usual and will be staying in private rented accommodation so we plan to go. It is a really small town we are staying in and we will be doing our own catering except for some drinks when out and about. I feel it is safer because we are not using an airport/flying

In April we are due to visit my sister-in-law who lives near Pisa. We are really not sure now and have not booked flights yet. We will wait and see if the virus calms down. A virologist on TV said airports are one of the worst places to catch it. Husband has COPD and I've had pleurisy in the past.

Yes we are going to the USA for our first holiday abroad for four years at the beginning of May. Thankfully we booked our accommodation subject to our being able to cancel and as well as that we have paid for our flights and travel insurance. We will wait and see what the advice of our government and the USA is, there may well be travel restrictions which will make the decision for us. Being on a plane for 10 hours isn’t the ideal situation but like DoraMarr we are also looking forward to this holiday and all we can do is make sure we keep our hands clean and take a good supply of antibacterial wipes which we always use to give the drop down food trays a good clean.

Thanks girls. It’s frustrating that I need to decide on the lodge by the end of March when things could look different altogether in may.

Sodapop, I hear you, but nearly the entire trip will be spent at a small safari lodge with not many people and daily safaris, so fortunately, not a trip with traditional tourist spots as such.

Oopsadaisy3, I sympathise with your dilemma

Doramar, I understand where you are coming from too. We really want to go on our trip and (notwithstanding new information over the coming weeks), I think in the end we will go, albeit wearing a mask (the type with a ventilation valve so it does protect) around the airports.

I'm in this dilemma about going back home to the UK for the upcoming school holiday in 3 weeks. I'll have to fly through Geneva which has been the WORST airport for crowding and being disorganised I've ever experienced.

My flights are booked and paid for I doubt any refund is possible. I'll be devastated if I can't spend the time with my family BUT equally don't want to take stupid risks.

Stella14 I think you have to add to the equation any stress and worry that you will suffer if you go on holiday. If you can take reasonable precautions and provided things don't worsen dramatically then enjoy your holiday it will be fine. If however you will spend the time worrying and not visiting tourist spots then I would stay at home. Don't underestimate the effects of stress.

Well, I am going to France and Spain by rail in mid-April and I am not changing my plans. I’m always careful about handwashing and will just continue as normal, unless things change radically. I have well- controlled asthma. It seems a pity to cancel a holiday you have been looking forward to.

We are due to go next week, only the Canaries, We both have Asthma And DH has a chest infection at the moment. He’s coughing and spluttering all day

And I wouldn’t want to sit next to him on the plane if he was a stranger!

What to do?