Change of plans? (coronavirus)

[ellen]

I just read that all of Italy is locked down now. It was posted by News of Italy on Twitter.

Everything is closed until at least April 3, per the Prime Minister's statement yesterday. Even outdoor sites like Pompei and national parks like Vesuvio are closed.

Also, as of this morning all ski facilities are closed: https://www.ansa.it/english/news/20...ovt_ecc954f2-de9b-4852-8bab-b09924b5a285.html

 

[artnbarb]

Our next trip in scheduled for April, and I'm very, very conflicted. Being the realist that I am, I always assume there will be at least one idiot who think's they're the exception, one person who traveled to China and 'feels fine' or one person who has come into contact with that person without even realizing it - and all it takes is one.

We had an email today from the agency who put together our travel package - flight and overnight in NYC, TA cruise stopping at Halifax, Belfast, Dublin, Le Harve, Cherbourg, Portland, Southampton, 2 nights in London, then flight from LHR to Tampa. They will issue the same credit as the cruise line is offering (good until the end of 2022), issue vouchers for the 2 flights (good for one year). For the remaining land/hotel charges they'll issue a credit good for their agency, good for one year. The biggest problem with the agency credit is that their deals are usually more last minute, so it's really hard to know if we'd use it or not.

I don't want to be penny-wise and pound foolish. I don't want to catch the virus, nor spread it. I also don't want to add to the hysteria. At this point we're just 4 weeks away from our scheduled departure.

 

[Cameron]

This is concerning:

American Airlines said Tuesday it will suspend flights to China and Hong Kong until Oct. 24.

If Italy continues to be locked down, I wonder if they’ll suspend there, too. I’m supposed to be in Bologna on October 24 for a week.

 

[NoSpin]

Our next trip in scheduled for April, and I'm very, very conflicted.

I don't want to be penny-wise and pound foolish. I don't want to catch the virus, nor spread it. I also don't want to add to the hysteria. At this point we're just 4 weeks away from our scheduled departure.

I would say take the trip, but the thing that concerns me is the cruise portion. We have a trip to South Africa starting April 17th. We intend to go unless the airline cancels the flights, or the safari is cancelled. However, if we had to go by ship, we would not at this time.

P.S. Since you posted this I assumed you were open to comments from the peanut gallery, if not, please disregard.

 

[Pauline]

At this point we're just 4 weeks away from our scheduled departure.

I would cancel. They say the UK will be at its peak of coronavirus then.

 

[NoSpin]

This is concerning:

American Airlines said Tuesday it will suspend flights to China and Hong Kong until Oct. 24.

If Italy continues to be locked down, I wonder if they’ll suspend there, too. I’m supposed to be in Bologna on October 24 for a week.

You know what's concerning about that, I have suspected that China is lying about the extent and progress of the virus. I'm wondering if AA has more info than the general public has right now.

 

[RojBlake]

A friend said to me this morning that she thought it would be mad to go to anywhere at the moment. She's just come back from a short break in the UK, though!

 

[joe]

If I had plans to travel in the next few months, I'd cancel or postpone. It's not so much a question of the statistics, it's just the fact that instead of relaxing and enjoying the travel experience, you are in an almost constant state of mind of worry and of pondering what-if scenarios. One travels to expose oneself, and in this case you are in a state of containment. Don't do this and don't do that. Not to mention the unknowns concerning sudden developments and decrees that come out of the blue.

As I wrote elsewhere, our plans for a short October trip to Italy are on hold, and for me there is no question where I will prefer to be if this virus remains even on page two. At home.

 

[artnbarb]

The idea of being on vacation without being able to socialize is very much a factor for me!

 

[NoSpin]

You make good points Joe. If the traveling is going to put a person in a constant state of worry, or if someone can't afford the possibility of being held in quarantine for 14 days, then it is not right for them. Everyone has to make a decision they are comfortable with.

I look at it this way, there are currently 41 cases in little Massachusetts and only 7 in all of South Africa, so I'm more likely to catch it here then there. (Note: I don't doubt Tim's warning that they just might not be testing enough for it and there may well be more than 7 cases.) My outlook on it is I have to die of something and I love traveling, so I might as well die while doing something I enjoy. I should add that I wouldn't take extraordinary risks. For instance even if I could travel to China, I wouldn't do it.

My wife has always expressed her belief that when it's your time to go, it's your time, and when it's not your time, it's not. She points that out every time in the news either someone dies who should not have died or when someone survives who should be dead. Such as when someone was supposed to be on a plane that crashes and by some freak incident couldn't get on the plane they were trying to board. She would say it just wasn't that person's time.

I don't necessarily subscribe to that belief, but that's her outlook on things. So for different reasons neither one of us is willing to cancel our trip. Obviously if it is cancelled for us, that's another story.

 

[joe]

I look at it this way, there are currently 41 cases in little Massachusetts and only 7 in all of South Africa, so I'm more likely to catch it here then there. (Note: I don't doubt Tim's warning that they just might not be testing enough for it and there may well be more than 7 cases.) My outlook on it is I have to die of something and I love traveling, so I might as well die while doing something I enjoy.

Well, I didn't mean that the risk is of dying, of course, but of having to replace the usual travel mindset of fun and adventure with one that takes away much of the pleasure of traveling. Although in your case, Paul, I can see the point you make with regards to the lack of a serious problem - in the meantime - in South Africa. You are probably right in not changing your plans - although a lot can happen in the five weeks you have remaining until your trip...
For me, even getting the flu or a bad toothache while traveling would wreck my experience. But these are things I can be more in control of beforehand.

 

[Tim W]

Trivial update - Silver linings etc: AirBnB cancelled with full refund on both places - no quibbles and really nice messages from the hosts. Ryanair finally conceeded defeat and refunded my money today (the whole £40 return fare from London to Bologna). The only money I have "lost" was the £1.70 "insurance" on the airport parking that ensured that was refunded as well.

Overall, I am financially no worse off and although I am going to miss my Italian break it might (Local infection rates allowing) enable me to visit some relatively local places. The Cotswolds is less than 2 hours away, yet I've never visited.

 

[NoSpin]

Sorry to hear you had to cancel your trip, but as you have said, Italy will still be there.

Interesting that you said you might go to the Cotswolds. My wife and I have this on our bucket list. Our house here in Massachusetts is described as a Cotswold cottage. It's not really, but it is fieldstone construction with a wood roof and much of our furniture is in an English style. Most likely it will be one of our destinations in 2021.

 

[Cameron]

Uh -oh -- From American Airlines

Europe

• Suspending service to Rome (FCO) from Philadelphia (PHL) effective immediately through the end of April.
• Extending the suspension of service to Milan (MXP), and suspending flights to FCO from Chicago (ORD) and Charlotte (CLT) through early summer.
• Delaying the seasonal resumption of flights to Barcelona (BCN) from CLT and to Venice (VCE) from ORD to early June. Also delaying the seasonal resumption of flights to FCO from New York (JFK) and DFW through the end of April and suspending operation of our second daily flight from DFW to FCO for the summer.
• Reducing service to Paris (CDG) and Madrid (MAD) for parts of May and June.

The full news today on their website

 

[JeannieL]

We are currently all booked to leave for Paris the end of April, then 7 day river cruise, and two weeks in Menerbes in early May. I don't want to remember this trip by 'empty' shelves in the stores, closed markets in the villages - and the possibility of not being able to return as scheduled due to increased virus activity in the region. Because we are already in the 60 day window, AMA is offering a cruise voucher at 50% for future cruising. Delta Airlines will do waivers for the travel. Not sure how much of our Provence rental we would be able to get back at this late date - it would need to get re-rented to get any back. We still have a few days to make our decision. The uncertainty is worrying though.

 

[artnbarb]

Peter Greenberg's take: https://petergreenberg.com/2020/03/...kk3-Qt_wkIdUZDMy7J0HpPcRj8omXrJUlr5FqDKuDDYqk

 

[BryanS]

Just received this from the US Consulate in Naples:

On March 9, the Italian government released a decree prohibiting movement in public places except for justifiable work reasons (commuting, public and commercial transport is allowed), basic necessities (i.e., food shopping), and health emergencies. The decree also cancels sporting events and public gatherings and closes schools, universities, and recreational facilities through April 3. The Italian government has stated the new decree does not prevent travelers from departing Italy.

The Italian government has announced that law enforcement authorities would establish checkpoints at airports and train stations to collect self-declaration forms from travelers specifying the purpose of their movement and their destination. Italian officials have also noted that checkpoints may established on highways to collect these forms.

Public transportation including airlines, trains, and buses continue to operate, but with reduced frequency. Travelers should check carrier schedules for the latest updates and work directly with the carrier or travel agent to arrange or reschedule travel. Travelers should be prepared for the possibility of additional travel restrictions to be implemented with little or no advance notice.

We live in a small mountain town in the south so our biggest disruption is the closing of the bars at 6PM. Too bad they didn't close the borders of the northern regions earlier, we may not be in the current situation if they had.

 

[Tina]

Day 1 Wednesday in Lombardy - Coronavirus is a problem happening elsewhere in the world.
Day 2 Thursday - oops a case in Italy, of a 38 year old amateur athlete in Intensive Care.
Day 5 Sunday - Panic, lockdown for 50,000 people and schools etc closed for 10 million
Day 7 Tuesday - perhaps we're exaggerating, what about the effect on tourism, half price aperitifs to ' beat the fear', schools should reopen..... comments
Day 12 Version 1 Panic again, cases are increasing, intensive care under pressure
Version 2 What a fuss it's just a sort of flu, let's go skiing, to the restaurant and have fun
Day 18 Last Saturday During the day. Perhaps it would be better to enlarge the red zone to another 2 towns
By the evening, orangish nearly red zone overnight for 16 million people.
25 thousand flock onto any available means of transport to 'escape' overnight taking any infection with them
Day 19 Sunday Version 2 people are still having fun. Hospital intensive care is reaching full capacity
Day 20 Monday Many more people start to take on board that this is a problem for the whole country (and beyond, obviously)
Day 21 Tuesday, yesterday, Orange zone extended to whole of Italy, self-imposed total lockdown by many communities
PS a probable case in my isolated Alpine village of 80 inhabitants.

I love travel I really do but this is a time to rediscover the pleasure of staying at home and being thankful that oneself and one's nearest and dearest are well enough to do so. The virus travels with people.....slow travel also means staying at home and slowing it down.....
Just my opinion, other people may have different ideas and I can understand them but I live in Lombardy and actually being in the middle of the situation is different from reading news about distant places.

 

[joe]

I love travel I really do but this is a time to rediscover the pleasure of staying at home and being thankful that oneself and one's nearest and dearest are well enough to do so.

Well said and I completely agree. Good luck over there.

 

[Pauline]

Here in Israel things are escalating. No meetings of more than 100 people. Tourists should go home. Delta has cancelled all flights starting March 14. Other European airlines have cancelled all flights. So, we changed our flights and are flying home Friday.