If you are thinking of canceling your trip due to the virus.

We are going to London/Dublin for 3 weeks April 27. The area is not infected as of now, but unless they shut down the city, we are going, everyone has to make their own decisions.

The sense I have of a great many questions here about this, is not of the fear of getting the disease , but of getting caught up in containment measures (e.g quarantine) and the venues/sites being closed and 'lockdowns' by local officials where an "outbreak " is happening.

There is of course a sensible degree of concern about not wanting to catch the crud and all that entails to recover and be released from whatever confinement gets mandated in an effort to prevent the further spread.

I booked airfare to Venice April 24 and home from Florence May 2nd. Needless to say, my friend and I are watching the situation in Northern Italy. If China is an any indication, that part of Italy could be locked down for several months, especially if it continues to spread as it has done in other parts of Asia.
I’m on the fence now about going and hoping Delta might refund the cost of our tickets. My concern is getting caught in a quarantine and being stuck.

Today is the deadline for me to cancel my hotel reservations for London where I had planned to go the second half of March. And I am going to cancel. And it really has nothing to do with fear of myself getting sick. In fact I'm going to go to New York for a few days instead. I'm pretty sure that's just as 'dangerous' in terms of getting the virus as London is. The difference is if an outbreak occurs in London and all the museums, etc. close, or transit shuts, or whatever I'm stuck there till my flight. In NY I can just go home.

Most people canceling right now are doing it out of 'fear' but the fear is of a vastly different type of vacation if sites, restaurants, etc. are closed, transportation is interrupted and the possibility of quarantine. Hopefully in a month or six weeks the world will realize they are not going to stop the virus, but also that the whole world is not going to die of it either and the panic mode we are in right now will be replaced with more sensible measures. It's just that right this minute the authorities don't know what to do.

We are leaving for Ireland in a few weeks and I will admit I checked online to see if there were any cases of Coronavirus reported and there were dozens of suspected cases there but they all turned out to be negative. I'm not scared at all, and my daughter and I are definitely still going - can't wait!

We are going to austria, poland and hungary in mid may. Yet to apply for a visa. Don’t know if we should go ahead or stay at home. Friends say india is safest right now.
But have a gut feeling that virus will slow down with change in weather and onset of spring.
Agree with others that worst fear is being stuck in a quarantine like those poor people stuck on cruise ship. In Japan or in spain.

We are booked to Istanbul and Budapest April 20 - May 02. So far nothing about the virus in those places but who knows by the time my travel dates come around.
I don't have any plans to cancel my trip right now but if something happens closer to my departure date I would be guided by the airline's policy regarding the virus. I really loathe to cancel good travel plans :-)

If China is an any indication, that part of Italy could be locked down for several months,

At least so far, it's not like China. In China, the daily rate of new cases was increasing for weeks (ie, if you looked at a graph of new cases over time, the line started to get closer to vertical). In Italy, this rate has decreased every day this week (ie, that same graph line is flattening out.) Yes, the absolute number has gone up, but at this time it is not spreading the way it did in China.

I have often found that in times of strife, war, etc., traveling in Europe can be much less crowded and pleasurable.
We were in the Hofbrauhaus one Saturday night back in 1991 just before the first Iraq war started, and we were the only Americans there. It was more like the time I was there in 1970 when people were more fun and hospitable.
I would still keep track of where most of the health problems are, and maybe avoid those areas/cities.

I'm not yet cancelling my upcoming (early May) trip to Italy and Croatia, but I'm fully prepared to change my plans, if necessary. I'm not afraid of getting sick, but, as others have mentioned, I am concerned about the sites I want to visit being closed. Currently, museums in Venice are closed, for example.

Although it would be lovely to be there with smaller crowds, it would be disappointing not to see, say, the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome, if they end up being closed, when I am there. If that seems likely, I would go elsewhere and save my visit to Italy for another time.

As others have already noted, you have entirely missed the point that many tourist concerns are not about catching the disease, but the potential disruption from finding yourself in a "hotspot". None of us on this forum can predict, let alone control, that. And it changes rapidly - who'd have mentioned northern Italy this time last week? Or the Canary Islsnds?. Will you wake up and find your particular hotel has been quarantined because of another guest? Or that most local sights have been shut? Or that going home you're now on the list of people who need to self-isolate? Clearly in terms of actually being infected, I'd prefer it to happen whilst at home rather than abroad, but I'm not especially worried about it either way. It's the potentially mangled holiday that I find worrisome.

Anyway, we're due in Rome in a day or two. Currently, we're going ahead. I'll know in due course if that is a reasonable or foolish decision!

I am leaving the 3rd week of March for France. To say that I am very concerned, is an understatement. Here is why. I have an underlying chronic disease so my immune system is compromised. It's worrisome mainly because I can't imagine being in a foreign hospital with a disease, where I'm allergic to many foods, medications, and have to ingest a crap load of medication to function daily. i travelled in December and used a mask on trains, planes and buses, and anywhere that was crowded (for allergens mainly), and did not come home sick. BUT, will this be different? would I end up being quarantined over there or on my way back? I have 2 days in Paris then I'll be a month in Lyon so self quarantine would be okay in an apt, but still, am trying to figure out how to stay safe. I could die from the common flu, over here, I know this. Was wondering if to get a pneumonia shot, since I am prone to bronchitis as a complication from a severe cold or the flu. Has anyone had luck with travel insurance and airbnb's?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/02/06/worried-about-traveling-due-to-coronavirus-your-credit-card-might-help-but-you-may-have-better-options/#1285a9712e52

The coronavirus situation reinforces why purchasing trip insurance is a good idea. I have a European trip (river cruise) coming up in May and the Nationwide policy states that : "The Company will reimburse You, up to the Maximum Benefit shown on the Confirmation of Coverage, if You are prevented from taking Your Trip for any of the following reasons that are Unforeseen and takes place after the Effective Date: If the Center for Disease Control issues a travel warning that travel should be avoided to Your destination country or region for a period of time that would include Your Trip. This does not include flight connections or other transportation arrangements to reach Your destination." However, the policy also covers flight cancellation/change fees but not the cost of the flight. However, that cost is much less than the cost of the river cruise. So, I will continue to monitor the situation and if the CDC issues a travel warning for the country I will be visiting, I will pull the plug on the trip. If not, I will go.

Frank II,

That's great advice and you've adopted the same, well reasoned approach that I would if I were planning a 2 1/2 month trip to Europe. Hopefully the trip will go well and you won't have to change things "on the fly".

This is the first time I've been glad to not have a trip planned. We won't know for two more weeks how many people have the virus and are contagious today, that's a big problem.

I have googled for the answer on this question but cannot find one so I am asking here. If I am in Vienna and the hotel that I am staying at is tested positive for the coronavirus in one of the patrons and they put the hotel on quarantine who pays for the extra 14 days? Am I responsible? Thanks for the help.

Kregg

Generally you would pay. But laws vary around the world. As well as hotel policies. You pay for the food, you pay for the change in your airline return ticket etc.

This is the issue. 98%+ or more of travelers will have NO issues but for the small percent who do- it becomes a huge issue. It can also become a bigger issue depending upon where you are and if need exceeds capacity for medical services.

Richard, this is the first time ever, that I will travel with a heaviness inside me. I dread hearing where else is going to have a crisis on their hands, with this virus.

Onefastbob. I expect to pay for incidentals more wondering about the actual hotel room. But thanks for your answer it helps

I agree that its not the fear of getting sick it’s the possible disruption and closures. Yesterday medical face masks (not even the kind that do any good) were sold out at my local CVS. There is definite potential for hysteria if it gets out of control in any country. I don’t want to spend my vacation trying to figure out where to get food when the restaurants and grocery stores are closed in Scotland. I might have to do that back home but will be better equipped to fend for myself and won’t be wasting vacation time. It will be interesting to see whether western countries do a better job of containing it and see a lower fatality rate. My guess is no to containment but yes to lower fatality. Also I think China probably swept it under the rug in the front end which probably did not help. Hopefully the U.S. will not do the same. It’s a fine line between facing it head on and trying to avoid hysteria.

Kregg, you should check your source of travel insurance. Many cover costs associated with quarantine. Don't have travel insurance? Check what coverage may be associated with your credit card. It is worth taking the time to find out exactly what coverage is available.

We have canceled 2 international trips, one planned for April and one for July. Like others said, it's not out of concern for the virus itself but instead out of concern about getting caught in a quarantine situation, or closed borders. We are keeping the weeks as vacation weeks and will plan travel in the US instead. Disappointed to miss out on the canceled trips, but both were guided trips and we canceled before the PIF date, so we got all our money back and airlines were cooperative with making changes.

Kregg- sorry if I wasn’t clear. I mentioned incidentals as just a reminder of unexpected costs— much more then hotel room bills are at stake in a quarantine situation. There are always going to be exceptions— the US citizens flown back and put in isolation at military bases are probably not going to get a housing bill from the Air Force. I stress probably. And I would assume the cruise company paid for the charter-flight home.

In short, you pay. What about...... the answer is you pay. Now a major chain hotel in the US could possibly waive room charges (public relations move) but do not count on it. Smaller local hotel overseas, not so much. Be fully prepared to pay for your needs (housing, food, transportation, prepaid tickets, prepaid lodgings for later stops being missed, etc.) There is no “get out of debt jail” for those placed in quarantine.

Again the odds of such a quarantine are beyond extremely small and such a situation would be extremely rare. But if it happens, be prepared for it- you pay.

We are headed on a RS tour in England May/June. Staying around 25 days. Still planning on going. Hope I feel better soon, we have been passing our colds between our kids and grands!

Onefastbob. I kinda assumed that the hotel bill would be on me just wanted to know for sure. Have a trip planned starting on April 22 for 14 days did purchase travel insurance for plane tickets hopefully they will cover if we have to cancel of course we would love to just put the amount toward a trip later once this gets under control. I see you are in Davis California and watching the news tonight. Hope you are all safe and that the unfortunate woman (i think) will recover and that no one else is infected.

Also hard to believe just a week ago we were concerned about reclining our seats.

@Kim, hope your family can shake their colds before you fly. During the 2009 flu outbreak I flew to Beijing with a friend who ran a slight fever on the plane -- the fever was picked up by an airport scanner and she was put in quarantine for a few hours. No harm done to our trip, but it was pretty scary for a while.

It doesn't.

So far, there have been more than 83,300 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the world and at least 2,858 deaths -- the vast majority in China. And a good portion of those deaths the people had other circumstances like being smokers.

My friends in Bologna are constantly posting pictures of their lives out and about in Bologna. New media coverage and reality are very different.

I'm not heading over until the end of May and my nephew just bought his airfare to join us.

In the U.S., there have been 59 cases including the first of unknown origin

Not sure it is unknown anymore - pretty sure they are tracing it back to workers who came in contact with the Diamond Princess passengers quarantined - the workers were not wearing protective gear.

This is the latest I see regarding the case in Northern California, about 6 hours ago. I don't see that they have determined cause yet. Is there another source saying they have?

Investigators are now working to identify and locate anyone who may have come in contact with the woman. The CDC has sent 10 staffers to help trace her contacts. Some hospital workers who came in contact with her are now at home and being monitored.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-28/intense-search-in-california-for-others-exposed-to-coronavirus-patient

This is so disheartening! We are scheduled to leave on our first European Trip (Germany, Austria and Slovenia) in 12 days, most of which can't be cancelled for a refund. This was a significant expense, and at almost 70 yrs old not sure I'd risk it again if we can't go. As of now we are going, but it sure has taking the excitement out of the trip...and now I almost dread thinking about it. I don't fear the virus, just this mass hysteria. Not looking for a answer, just sharing my sadness in this whole mess.

We are in our middle 70s and arrived in Seville February 23 for a 22 night stay in Andalucia. A few days ago we learned that there are some coronavirus cases here. We have spoken to many Spaniards and they are keeping calm, taking precautions as they would with a normal flu. We don't know what will happen, neither here nor at home. There are now many reported cases in the US, and we don't know how many people with no insurance are sick and not going to a doctor, a sure way to spread the disease. We will continue to enjoy our trip and stay calm. And also hope for the best: that the disease doesn't become a pandemic, that we're not quarantined, that we don't get sick.

Can't advise anyone either for or against continuing with their trip. This is just an observation of what we see so far.

Carol, it's good to hear from you. We've been thinking of you with your trip to Spain and hoping that you stay healthy and can still enjoy your travels. Thank you for your observations.

Thanks, CWsocial. We have enjoyed our first week, hoping for more of the same.

We are supposed to leave next Friday for Germany. We are a family of 4, two healthy teenage boys and we are in our late 30s. I'm not fearful of us and the virus, but of being stuck somewhere. We actually have two flights- one to London then the next one I paid for separate to Austria. So, we are considering just going to Scotland and exploring Isle of Skye instead. But then I'm not even sure its worth the risk of all. I live to travel so I am thoroughly bummed and wish I had a freaking crystal ball.

Here are some disjointed thoughts: in France people who are returning from hot spots are given 20 days paid sick leave to self-isolate even if they have no symptoms. All European countries have sick leave, universal health care, strong public health bureaucracies, and test kits that work.
Now compare that to the US hourly worker who is already stretched to the bone, has lousy insurance and can’t afford to take time off even if ill, a gutted CDC, a month-lost due to poor coordination and non-working test kits.

Where is the disease less likely to spread?

Now, compare staying in hotel rooms and apartments rather than your own home that’s well-stocked with provisions and Netflix in English. It really is a toss up.

On the one hand, you’d probably be fine, but on the other as a parent you want to protect your children. It’s a toss up. I’m leaving tomorrow but there’s only the two of us old persons, but we’re not responsible for children or grandchildren on this trip.

So far it seems that most here are concerned about going to a destination where Covid-19 is active. What about the opposite? What if you originate from an area where Covid-19 is active. Would you cancel your trip even if you were asymptomatic and had no known contact with someone who tested positive for the virus? Would you be concerned that you might unknowingly spread the virus?

KcLyons: Unfortunately as Oregonians, we are beginning to think about that possibility. I doubt we will personally be infected. But if we are, or even suspect we might be, we will be self isolating at home not traveling abroad. Even if we are not infected, if the country we are going to, or even through, doesn't want us to come, we won't come. Unlike visiting an infected area, I don't think we have any real choice about that. Good people don't knowingly risk infecting others or violate travel restrictions.

I think it would depend on how many cases had been confirmed in ,my area of residence. If only one or two cases were confirmed and under control I would have no problem travelling. If there was a more widespread problem however I definitely would not travel. I don´t think that would be moral.

We've continued to plan travel, including Europe this summer. There are too many unknowns to just halt all planning. But everything we book is refundable in case we need to cancel. This will cost us some more not getting discounts on early, non-refundable reservations, but the risk is too high otherwise.

Our concern with the pandemic is not getting sick. We are young and healthy and not at risk from it. The concerns are quarantines and mass closures that would make the entire point of a trip meaningless or highly inconvenient.

I would be more concerned that I won't have the experience i planned as landmarks may be closed. The Louvre closed on Sunday and Monday (not sure about today), so that was a bust for anyone who had that on their itinerary, which I could see happening over and over. I think the concern is for the employees of the landmarks being exposed to thousands of tourist daily from all over the world.

We generally make all of our travel and lodging arrangements in late Spring for a trip in early Fall. With the way things are changing right now, that may be unwise. If the area we choose to visit, or our home area, becomes subject to restrictions, we could lose out. On the other hand, if we wait too long, we could lose on flights or B&Bs. It's a dilemma. We are certainly concerned with the possibility of getting stuck in another country, with one or both of us in a hospital for some indefinite time.

Right now, we're just waiting to see how this develops. We are also thinking about domestic trips we could take instead of Europe. At least then our health insurance would be applicable, and we wouldn't have to deal with the time difference if we had to contact someone at home.