Coronavirus concerns
Discussion
Ali2202 said:
We're out at our home on Lake Como (Lombardy). No lockdown or reports of infection here as yet but bars & restaurants closing at 6PM due to some half-baked instruction from the Lombardy governors. Panic buying at the supermarkets....... 
.The Italians are VERY cautious and are predisposed to high levels of hypochondria.
Our 1st Airbnb arrival of the season is imminent however we fully expect a knock-on effect and cancellations.
Life goes on...
We're on the Piedmont side of Lake Maggiore, near Stresa. .The Italians are VERY cautious and are predisposed to high levels of hypochondria. Our 1st Airbnb arrival of the season is imminent however we fully expect a knock-on effect and cancellations.
Life goes on...
Everything seems normal here - there are no instances of supermarkets being emptied (per Palermo) and no quarantine introduced yet. That said, I'm not planning to spend much time in public places for a few days. (Ironically, I'm on a Huel diet because of various medical problems and I have enough to withstand a small siege...)
I was over on the far west of the Lombardy side a couple of days ago - Luino, Laveno and Varese - and the world and his wife seemed to be out and about.
The practical concern I have is that I have to return to the UK in a couple of weeks and, even if Piedmont does not go into quarantine in whole or part, all three airports that I might use to get back to the UK are in Lombardy - the two Milan airports and Bergamo. So if Lombardy locks down, things could get sticky. Turin Airport is a heck of a schlep but doable, I suppose.
None of this counts for much set against an epidemic but it is a practical consideration...
I'd guess that driving back is a possibility but that carries its own risks.
Needless to say, I won't be travelling at all if I think there's a possibility I've been exposed to the virus.
Lord.Vader said:
Off to Singapore and Bali in two months, not particularly concerned.
Some friends of friends planned to return from New Zealand via 3-days in Singapore, this week.They thought, “why take the risk?”, and contacted Singapore Airlines to see if they could just transit through.
“No problem”, said Singapore Airlines, “we have the seats - the cost will be £6000 each”
Every cloud has a silver lining, for somebody.
omniflow said:
Got a 2 week roadtrip booked - leaving on 6th March - France and Spain. Not concerned about week 1, but week 2 is 8 nights in Valencia for the Fallas festival. This consists of several thousand people packing into the main square for a firework barrage - twice a day, every day for two weeks - with a ceremonial burning on the last night. It's the large number of tightly packed people that concerns me.
All of this was booked independently and - if the festival is cancelled - I will be left with 8 somewhat expensive nights in a hotel in Valencia when there's not much going on.
The local paper had an article yesterday referencing the 2500 Valencia fans that have just arrived back from watching the side play in Milan. A few are reporting feeling unwell. All of this was booked independently and - if the festival is cancelled - I will be left with 8 somewhat expensive nights in a hotel in Valencia when there's not much going on.
I’m supposed to be spending Easter in Las Americas with wife and kids.
Not overly concerned at the minute but slightly worried as the hotel in quarantine had one Italian man with the virus who (I assume) didn’t travel to Tenerife alone. As in, with about 150 other people who were transferred to different hotels all over the south of the island after spending several hours on a plane with him...
Given a two week incubation period I could be heading there at just the wrong time🙃
Not overly concerned at the minute but slightly worried as the hotel in quarantine had one Italian man with the virus who (I assume) didn’t travel to Tenerife alone. As in, with about 150 other people who were transferred to different hotels all over the south of the island after spending several hours on a plane with him...
Given a two week incubation period I could be heading there at just the wrong time🙃
We're still a bit in limbo over our Thailand trip in April. As it stands, cost is £400 to cancel unless the Foreign Office advise against travel. I doubt our insurance through Halifax bank will cover anything until that time either, although need to check with them.
I'm a college lecturer and the mrs is a self employed hairdresser so if it came to needing a further 2 weeks off work after our 17 day trip, it would cause some problems.
I'm a college lecturer and the mrs is a self employed hairdresser so if it came to needing a further 2 weeks off work after our 17 day trip, it would cause some problems.
Obviously not in the same league as people with families who have booked big holidays, but I’m due to be getting tattooed in Rome at the end of next month, and it’s not a small piece.
Don’t think I fancy international airports and travelling to a confirmed case country whilst walking around with what is a large open wound.
Don’t think I fancy international airports and travelling to a confirmed case country whilst walking around with what is a large open wound.
Just back from a few days in Lisbon (no or very limited reported cases to date, but it must be there to some degree) - were I looking this trip now rather than January when we did I suspect I might have opted to stay at home. An international airport seems to be a cracking incubator.
Might normally be looking to book main holiday in the Autumn at this point, but will hold off for now.
I am also wondering what impact this has on travel insurance - are premiums increasing significantly or are there exclusions from cover for Coronavirus?
Might normally be looking to book main holiday in the Autumn at this point, but will hold off for now.
I am also wondering what impact this has on travel insurance - are premiums increasing significantly or are there exclusions from cover for Coronavirus?
We've got a driving holiday to the South of France in August, I've recently bought an A6 Allroad shed for the journey. My preparations have so far been limited to adding black Matt paint, a rivet gun and sheet metal to my Amazon wish list.
If society kicks off I want to have the appropriate vehicle for the apocalypse.
If society kicks off I want to have the appropriate vehicle for the apocalypse.
I owe British Airways Holiday £1200 (having paid £1300 already) for a family of 4 trip to New York at Easter. I really don't know what to do BA haven't cancelled anything yet, so If I withdraw I lose £1200 or if I pay the lot and they don't cancel I lose £2500. Or I pay the rest and hope they cancel and make the decision for me. Or I just go. Transit through two major airports, a massive Hotel and a populated city does make me a little concerned. We appear to be all healthy but Id be concerned for my two young daughters if we caught anything. In addition being stuck In quarantine for 2 weeks when we get back, or when we get there, will push my family to its limits! I have not purchased any travel insurance yet either.
oldaudi said:
I owe British Airways Holiday £1200 (having paid £1300 already) for a family of 4 trip to New York at Easter. I really don't know what to do BA haven't cancelled anything yet, so If I withdraw I lose £1200 or if I pay the lot and they don't cancel I lose £2500. Or I pay the rest and hope they cancel and make the decision for me. Or I just go. Transit through two major airports, a massive Hotel and a populated city does make me a little concerned. We appear to be all healthy but Id be concerned for my two young daughters if we caught anything. In addition being stuck In quarantine for 2 weeks when we get back, or when we get there, will push my family to its limits! I have not purchased any travel insurance yet either.
Why would you be considering cancelling a trip to New York ... ? As far as I can see, there are no confirmed cases in New York at all. Closest seems to be a single case in Boston. Our trip involves a stop over in Moscow and then on to Tokyo, and then the same in return, so slightly more concerning, but no present intention to cancel!
rossub said:
Just sorted the Travel Insurance.
Usually leave it right until just before we go, but definitely not worth the risk the way this is going.
Sub £200 for 3 weeks in the US still seems like a result in the circumstances!
Granny sucking eggs and all that, but you have started the insurance from today and not the date of the holiday, haven’t you. Otherwise, if it’s cancelled between now and the departure date (if that’s when you started the policy), you may not be insured...Usually leave it right until just before we go, but definitely not worth the risk the way this is going.
Sub £200 for 3 weeks in the US still seems like a result in the circumstances!
10126 Torino said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Bugger.
Was looking at doing a trip to Stelvio and the surrounding mountains in June.
Guess that’s off then, given how Italy appears to be the new China.
My travel to Italy isn't cancelled....yet ,just keeping on top of the news.Was looking at doing a trip to Stelvio and the surrounding mountains in June.
Guess that’s off then, given how Italy appears to be the new China.
In one region the authorities have isolated entire towns, granted only small ones so far, but it says to me they’re clearly worried and maybe know more than is being made public about the whereabouts and movements of known carriers.
I reckon things are going to get worse before they get better, and given how it’s taken China getting on for six months now to even begin to contain the issue, that wipes out most of the summer for Europe now that cases are rising here.
Air travel will become more restricted meaning more people will take to driving, which in turn is going to lead to huge queues at borders while everyone is screened.
So, although the risk from the virus may be small, the impact caused by preventive measures and containment could well make any road trip utterly miserable.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 26th February 21:17
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff