Canceling travel plans?

[Nakmuay887]

Question for you fine gentlemen,

 

Ive had quite a few people from Canada and the states contacting me about how it is here with Coronavirus. Because it's slow season now many come for boxing from the west because it's cheaper. 

 

I can't give a responsibile answer as I'm not married with kids etc, but would you guys be postponing holiday plans here if you WEREN'T already here? Or is it business as usual? Several of these people would be coming with younger children and their families. 

 

Thoughts? Concerns? 

[CharlieH]

I would say it depends entirely where they are going and where they are staying etc. There will also be guidelines posted on their respective countries information systems on travel recommendations.

 

They can take reasonable steps and precautions to avoid the problem but there is obviously no guarantees. They should ensure that their Travel insurance will cover them if travelling against the advice of the authorities. They should also take into account any "quarantine" they may face when returning to their home country.

 

 

[from the home of CC]

My friends from Canada have had their flights changed 4 times in the last month in their attempt to fly to Vietnam for a few weeks and then onto Thailand. If it would of been me I would of cancelled, ate the costs and tried again when things settled. IMO you don't subject a child to the possible health risks but some parents are selfish, never discovering that having a kid involves some sacrifice if your priorities are in order..

[scubascuba3]

if it was paid for already I'd go but if not then i would delay until this corona clears up. It may be just kicking off in Thailand

[from the home of CC]

big insurance are going to have a field day with rejected claims out of this mess..

[thaibeachlovers]

I wouldn't worry about catching it, but I would be worried about being either returned to departure country ( has happened ) because country banned while in flight, or being put into quarantine for 14 days on arrival ( is happening ).

Then there is the possibility of being quarantined on arrival home.

 

BTW, I've been saying on climate change threads that mass/ cheap air travel should be banned to reduce pollution. I never thought it was actually going to happen! Funny old world.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

My friends from Canada have had their flights changed 4 times in the last month in their attempt to fly to Vietnam for a few weeks and then onto Thailand. If it would of been me I would of cancelled, ate the costs and tried again when things settled. IMO you don't subject a child to the possible health risks but some parents are selfish, never discovering that having a kid involves some sacrifice if your priorities are in order..

They could always leave the kid at home with granny- she might like that. Fellow passengers certainly will.

[karibu]

  I agree with everyone's input don't come now delay especially  if you are bringing children

[CharlieH]

One other thing that will impact from now until mid May is the Thai school holidays !  Some have even finished earlier than usual because of the virus situation. This will lead to family places and interaction with children greatly increased for the next two months.

[transam]

Yes, stay home...

[RichardColeman]

I return to the UK every 9 months to check on my property and to visit my consultant and get a full health check and get 9 months of essential tablets from the NHS.

 

I recently e-mailed the pharmacist at the hospital that I know well and have asked her if this time they could send my tablets direct rather than risk the flights as I have a condition that could be considered in the at risk catagory. Awaiting answer when she talk to consultant today and suggests video or e-mail appointment.

[NCC1701A]

the problem for tourists is they are shutting everything fun down. my domestic travels plans cancelled so far for me is the Moto GP race in Buriram, Music festival in Pattaya, car show in Bangkok and the full moon party have all gone away.

 

waiting to hear about the Rocket Festival in Yasothon. 

 

i think they will shut Songkran down too. just a matter of time before the announcement. 

 

monitor Canada  and USA policy of returning from Thailand.

Edited March 5, 2020 by NCC1701A

[ivor bigun]

A couple  i know who come 3 times a year at least now not coming next month ,but add that to the four that decided not to come as the baht was to strong.

well thats 6 spenders keeping their money in the UK .

[Chivas]

Stay home period. Will not be booking next trip until this is under control. Not bothered about catching covid-19 as the chance of that virtually non existant but disruption from it is now immense.

Abort until vaccines are produced.

[thaibeachlovers]

9 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

the full moon party have all gone away.

They've shut the FMP. Hallelujah. Oh how I wish I was in LOS, as I'd go and enjoy the best beach in LOS without the yahoos.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Stay home period. Will not be booking next trip until this is under control. Not bothered about catching covid-19 as the chance of that virtually non existant but disruption from it is now immense.

Abort until vaccines are produced.

Don't hold your breath. Will take about a year to allow for testing after development, which is supposedly about 2 months away.

[1FinickyOne]

My 14 year old niece is afraid and easily agrees not to go too far past school... no shopping malls etc...

 

Personally, I would be more afraid of the potential consequences of travel then the virus, but the thought of getting on a crowded airplane is never appealing... 

[NCC1701A]

and think about this, a 29 year-old Italian man who arrived in Thailand on March 1 and was diagnosed with the virus at a hospital in Chonburi province on March 2 is in quarantine. Everyone sitting within one meter of this guy on the plane will be tracked down.  

[transam]

1 minute ago, kenk24 said:

My 14 year old niece is afraid and easily agrees not to go too far past school... no shopping malls etc...

 

Personally, I would be more afraid of the potential consequences of travel then the virus, but the thought of getting on a crowded airplane is never appealing... 

You will probably see the car coming that runs you over, but you will not see Corona coming to run you over...????

[NCC1701A]

300,000,000 kid's schools are closed world wide.

[CharlieH]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

You will probably see the car coming that runs you over, but you will not see Corona coming to run you over...????

Unless it was a Toyota Corona ? .....sorry, couldnt resist.????

[1FinickyOne]

10 minutes ago, transam said:

You will probably see the car coming that runs you over, but you will not see Corona coming to run you over...????

The potential travel consequences I was refering to were being quarantined or having flights cancelled... not everything is about cars... 

[AlienHermit66]

Well, these same type of Western parents think nothing of quite regularly taking their small children and babies to Thailand and other areas of SE Asia, such as that dengue hell hole that some people call Bali. Their children are at huge risk at the best of times, since children are most likely to die from malaria and dengue. Coronavirus, on the other hand, seems to lack an affinity for the young. Thus, travel disruption and the possibility of being thrown into quarantine at some point should be foremost on their minds, not whether they are going to get their children killed. 

[Chivas]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Don't hold your breath. Will take about a year to allow for testing after development, which is supposedly about 2 months away.

Having seen some live video from Walking St at 1am this norning Pattaya hasn't got 2 months let alone 12 months for testing

Death spiral at the moment

[JWRC]

I'm not quite sure whether you think everyone on here is a gentlemen, or you only want replies from men???

Anyhow I would not be so worried about visiting Thailand so much as having to spend time in airports and on the plane, for that reason alone I have cancelled my proposed travel plans.  I personally think it better to stay home than take the risk.

[DannyCarlton]

2 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

big insurance are going to have a field day with rejected claims out of this mess..

Not really, most hospitals are covering up cases of Covid-19 by diagnosing them as something else such as common flu or pneumonia. Pneumonia cases in Thailand have tripled in the last couple of months.

 

Unlikely to have "Covid-19" on your insurance claim.

[pgrahmm]

Kind of the flip side here....We're planning to RV the US from August to January, we usually go out for 4-6 months & changed up this year to get lots of snow/winter.....

I'm delaying any ticketing until about May & make a judgement call then....

Once on the open road there we can effectively avoid problem areas & crowds.....

 

The plane ride would seem to be the biggest risk to me.....I've had pneumonia twice - almost didn't make it the 2nd time - Dr said they "stole me from the grave"......

I'm guessing it could/might even be safer to stay here.....

It seems like the numbers are being suppressed/under reported, but if this goes big through the free world the numbers won't be able to be held down....

Edited March 5, 2020 by pgrahmm

[fruitman]

If you say it's all safe and they get the virus they will always blame you...

[bermondburi]

I'm based in Saudi and was planning to meet my family coming from Thailand in Bahrain and then travel onward to the UK. 

 

Been monitoring the situation closely over the past week. At first I was only concerned with whether the family could enter Bahrain but as things have developed the Saudis have put more and more restrictions in place. 

 

Over the past couple of days with the big spike in UK numbers, I've now decided to cancel the trip. Couldn't take the risk of being away and then the Saudis changing the rules about re-entry. I work in a military environment and having to go to a 3rd country for 14 days after being on holiday would not go down well. Also a PITA, and increasingly difficult to find somewhere virus free to stay for 14 days. 

 

End result. $400 down on flight refunds, and about £300 down on hotel costs. Wife and kids upset as they were looking forward to the trip. Had elderly mother crying on the phone earlier when I told her the news. 

 

Just can't take the risk of getting stuck, or being unable to come back. 

 

Looking at the numbers across Europe, its going to get a lot worse before it gets better. 

 

Won't be going anywhere for a while. 

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, bermondburi said:

I'm based in Saudi and was planning to meet my family coming from Thailand in Bahrain and then travel onward to the UK. 

 

Been monitoring the situation closely over the past week. At first I was only concerned with whether the family could enter Bahrain but as things have developed the Saudis have put more and more restrictions in place. 

 

Over the past couple of days with the big spike in UK numbers, I've now decided to cancel the trip. Couldn't take the risk of being away and then the Saudis changing the rules about re-entry. I work in a military environment and having to go to a 3rd country for 14 days after being on holiday would not go down well. Also a PITA, and increasingly difficult to find somewhere virus free to stay for 14 days. 

 

End result. $400 down on flight refunds, and about £300 down on hotel costs. Wife and kids upset as they were looking forward to the trip. Had elderly mother crying on the phone earlier when I told her the news. 

 

Just can't take the risk of getting stuck, or being unable to come back. 

 

Looking at the numbers across Europe, its going to get a lot worse before it gets better. 

 

Won't be going anywhere for a while. 

Good decision.