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Should I cancel my trip

I recently purchased a plane ticket, booked an apartment and registered for a month's stay at a language school in Lucca. I will be in Lucca April 23rd to May 21st. Due to the earthquake activity, should I cancel the trip. I did purchase travel insurance. Thank you for your advice.

Posted by
11507 posts

No I wouldn't it's like 5-6 months away. Things will be in recovery mode by then and cancelling just means depriving the area with tourist dollars .

Posted by
19654 posts

Where do you live?
Lucca is a long way from the central Italian region that just experienced earthquakes.

Posted by
23178 posts

Are you expecting an earthquake in Lucca when you are there? If you do, then it would be wise to cancel the trip. Will the travel insurance cover an anticipated earthquake?

Posted by
6733 posts

Hey, if he's able to accurately predict earthquakes 6 months in advance, he should quit his job and turn pro.

Posted by
15043 posts

I have family in the province of Arezzo that is much closer to the epicenter than Lucca. Many of my family members are only 80 or 90 miles from the epicenter and they hardly felt the tremor. Most slept through it in fact. Lucca is more than double the distance my family is from the epicenter. There is no reason for you to cancel anything.

Posted by
23178 posts

David, he is a 60 year old, single woman.

Posted by
65 posts

I live in Queens, New York. I have lived through storms, riots and during 911 I was in a classroom with 34 ten year olds. I also taught in areas that most people wouldn't drive through. I just wanted some sincere advice. I am glad my question amused a few of you. I would like to thank the others for their sincere reply.

Posted by
4137 posts

Hello ,deesal , we have a monthly travel meeting , usually at Panera , 452 Fifth Avenue ( one block south of the 42st library ) . Keep an eye out on this site under travel meetings for the notice for December . Nice group , and lots of help and lively discussion .

Posted by
15679 posts

deesal2014, the most important points made above, IMHO, are about the distance between Lucca and the affected region, and what your insurance will cover. Given that distance, I personally wouldn't think twice about keeping the plan.

I also very much doubt that your insurance is going to cover any sort of cancellation for a 'might happen' scenario being there's no damage in and no travel warnings for Lucca or that region of Italy. I don't know what sort you purchased - some have coverage-for-any-reason riders - but what most of us buy wouldn't apply in this case.

Posted by
11613 posts

I really don't understand the sarcastic responses, this type of question comes up from time to time.

Recovery will be slow, but I would not cancel a trip. I will be in Orvieto next summer, same region as Norcia.

Posted by
1217 posts

You do need to do what is most comfortable for you, but I would strongly urge you to go. To me, you cannot live through what ifs and you will have such a good time.

Posted by
2791 posts

For an accurate report regarding local conditions, and to generally ease your concerns, you might check with the owner of the apartment you've booked- they'll be your best source of information ... and advice.

Posted by
19654 posts

OK, I surrender and edited out the sarcasm.
We are unduly worried about facing unfamiliar dangers in places far away.
We are unduly confident about facing familiar dangers in places close to home.

Posted by
65 posts

Sam

You just can't stop. "Unduly confident about dangers at home." I disagree. Sometimes you just have the misfortune to be in a certain place at a certain time and you have to woman-up (or man-up) and deal with it.
Everyone else, thank you. I have to pay the balance for the apartment twenty-eight days before I arrive. I will make my decision at that time. If I go, I will register with the State Department. There is a program called "Step." It may be a good idea for other travelers to look into it.

Posted by
15679 posts

deesal2014, just be aware that you'll be unlikely to recover your airfare if you cancel. You'd have to check the school about any late cancellation fees there.

Posted by
65 posts

Thank you Kathy. I gave the school a $150 deposit. It is non-refundable but I could use it as a credit for another date. I will get my rental deposit back if I cancel before sixty days of my arrival date. However, I am going to be optimistic. I am going unless travel to the area is prohibited. Let's pray for all those living through this disaster.

Posted by
1507 posts

Yesterday the shock was so strong to be perceived all the way up to Salzburg, Austria, so it is likely that strong shocks will be perceived also in Lucca. But the probability of serious damages in Lucca is very very low. Also note that the yesterday the shock was the strongest in Italy since 1980, and in spite of serious damages to homes and monuments there were no casualties.

Posted by
15679 posts

However, I am going to be optimistic. I am going unless travel to the
area is prohibited.

Good for you. And we'll hope for the Italians that no more unfortunate events occur anytime soon which would cause that sort of prohibition.

Posted by
366 posts

Deesal2014
you will love Lucca! when I retire in 2 years, I want to stay there for a month just to immerse myself in the beautiful town. There are so many things to do there and yet, sitting in Piazza Michele and just people watching can be so much fun too!
It is also on the Pisa/ Firenze train line, so easy to get anywhere from either of those two points! Enjoy!

Posted by
65 posts

Maria, Thank you so much for the information and suggestions. Sitting at a cafe people watching, drawing and being immersed in the culture is just what I want.

Posted by
65 posts

Roberto, I will try to arrange a day trip to Pistoia with some of the students from the school. I know the school organizes day trips to nearby towns. Thank you. I love your pictures!

Posted by
9363 posts

I register with S.T.E.P. when I travel alone abroad. I don't consider the places I go to be particularly dangerous or politically unstable, but it reassures my parents.

As far as canceling because of the earthquake activity, you can't predict that and it might be different - or not - by the time of your trip. I lived in Salzburg, Austria in 1976 when there was an earthquake in northern Italy that was felt in Salzburg - no damage, but definitely an experience! You will most likely encounter no problems, so go and don't worry.

Posted by
305 posts

If you don't already, pack a small flashlight. As a SoCal resident I always make sure visitors in my home know where the nearest flashlight is, just in case. It also came in handy on dark country roads in England :)

Safe travels.

Posted by
7737 posts

Easier than packing and carrying a flashlight is downloading a flashlight app onto your phone.

Posted by
1792 posts

Since your trip is still several months away, I would wait to make a decision. By waiting you have time to gather information as to what if any damage Lucca has suffered and what impact this may have upon your trip. Give yourself time to mull it over and think about the pros and cons. In the end only you can decide what is right for you.

If it were my trip, I would go, but I live in earthquake country.

Lucca is a beautiful city, I hope you get to enjoy it.

Posted by
2 posts

Don't cancel. Lucca is far from where the earthquake activity is happening. Go and enjoy Italy.

Posted by
616 posts

I would not cancel my trip.
I am very often in Italy. (Torino And Florence).
You have to know that Lucca is flat And not very far from the sea. Earthquakes happening mots Of the time, in the Appenine region or à bit less frequently in the Alps.
If you want to know more about earthquakes in Italy, you can upload terremoto app And see exactly where Earthquakes are. I am presently in Florence and no problems here.

Posted by
299 posts

deesal: I congratulate you for wanting to immerse yourself in the culture by learning Italian! Sounds like an incredibly fun month - lucky you!

Posted by
103 posts

I would not cancel the trip. That being said, I grew up in earthquake country (Southern California) and earthquakes are generally not a deterrent for me (hurricanes and tornados are a much bigger issue for me.) If I did anything, I would consider the age of the building I was staying in through. Unlike hurricane and tornados, there is no earthquake season, so you can't schedule a vacation around them. Just be aware of your surroundings and have a plan in case there is an earthquake.

Posted by
46 posts

What would Rick say? Same thing as me. Go and have a great time.

Posted by
324 posts

Don't cancel the trip. I was in Florence for both of the most recent earthquakes. The first quake, I thought I felt but never having felt the earth shake, I wasn't sure if what I was experiencing was a quake. The second quake was more noticeable but still just minor shaking. There was absolutely no damage to the Florence area, including Lucca. It's been 20 years between earthquakes. Hopefully, there will be another 20+ before the next one.
Also, to put this in some perspective, there has been talk over the years of a major quake hitting the east coast and we are long past a big quake on the west coast. With earthquakes and their entirely unpredictable nature, just go and enjoy the experience. I am envious.