Long awaited June trip to London on hold because of surgery

Don’t fret or stress. I had open heart surgery and was on a trip to Washington, D.C. seven weeks later. Got around by train, subway and lots and lots of walking. At nine weeks after the surgery I flew to Scotland for three weeks which included the RS Scotland tour. Everything was sanctioned by the medical teams taking care of me including having checkups the day before I departed. Upon my return I began the recommended cardiac rehab on schedule. Upon completion I headed off to Europe for two more weeks. Two months after that I went to Africa for three weeks. That trip was cut short by the covid shutdown. Your husband’s body and his team of physicians will let him know when the time is right. An advantage that I had was the love of walking long beforehand and immediately after the surgery. I am fully recovered - senior citizen.

On another note I signed up for a tour to Russia back in 2019 which was then postponed to 2020. Surgery interfered with the first and Covid the second. It’s unlikely that that trip will ever happen. I’m truly at peace with that.

So sorry to hear about all of this. I can relate to this in two ways. Our Germany Christmas market trip was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 (due to markets being cancelled) before we finally made it in 2022 so I can relate to the "third times the charm" mentality. In regards to the heart surgery, my father just went through that and has really struggled. We have some other friends and neighbors who had similar surgeries, but who were younger and/or in better shape, and they have both made it back to full recovery and taken trips. So I guess it is possible he could be fit enough to travel again, but only time will tell. I am hoping it all works out for you!! (fingers crossed!!)

We are out about 650.00-had bought non-refundable/non transferable Harry Potter tickets, two theatre shows. I had just bought Churchill War rooms, Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle tickets several days before taking him to ER.

Contact all these places and see if they will give you a compassionate refund.

I am so glad your husband is recovering well. Don’t forget to make claims on your travel insurance for any costs you are out.

Thanks for the replies

raymonelee- Thanks for sharing your experience. Wow you have given me some hope that he might be able to travel this summer. Of course it will be up to his doctors and my husband. This has been a life changing event for sure, needing to change his food habits entirely. He is 56 but has been on meds for high blood pressure for about 10 years now. I'm sorry hear about your Russia trip but I admire your attitude to accept that it may never happen.

Charles-So sorry to hear about your missed trips and glad you finally made it to Germany last year. I hope your father is on the road to recovery. Fortunately, my husband and I are walkers. We started about six years ago-I walk about 3 miles daily and then we both do 10k on the weekends. Our trip to NYC last summer, we averaged 10-15 miles a day. We love to walk, the best way to see and explore a new place.

AussieNomad-thanks for the tip, I just figured I was out the money. I might try to contact them via email but I did read terms and conditions and they all seem to clearly state no refunds.

Carol- Thanks for the well wishes-we did not purchase travel insurance, so there you go.

Sometimes entrance tickets to attractions are actually valid for 12 months not just the booked day of purchase. (This is so they qualify for Gift Aid for British tax payers.) Worth checking.

Folks have occasionally reported here that they had sightseeing tickets extended for a considerable time after something like this happened. It's worth inquiring, for sure.

Some theatres have a provision to cancel or exchange tickets. Check that, too.

You may have some travel insurance coverage that you weren’t aware of through your credit card. It is worth checking into.

Hoping for your husband’s full recovery.