Covid-19 Coronavirus Help

The_Fat_Controller

There is no quarantine in Thailand as yet, as @Caz3121 says, the health minister, not for the first time made a bit of a premature statement which was then removed.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1871589/thai-quarantine-flip-flop-throws-holidays-into-doubt

Darkangel

Hi, I've booked and paid for a short break to Naples in May with a few friends. The hotel is cancellable but seeings as I paid for everyone's flights what would happen if one of my friends didn't want to go because of the Coronavirus, even if Naples was still "safe" to visit? Would I be able to submit an insurance claim just for her flight or would I have put in a claim for everyones? I've never had to claim for anything before (touch wood) so advice welcome.

DG2000

Hi, i would value any objective opinions on my dilemma, Myself, my wife and my mum are due to go on a Tui (Marella) cruise to Norway setting off on June 6th, we have paid £200 each deposit and the balance of £5264 is due 14th March (10 days away as i type), the two of us are fit and healthy, my mother has just turned 80 and has slight Asthma. I can stand losing the deposits no problem compared to the £5k and of course the possible risk to health. Would you pay the balance? Would you not pay, lose the deposit and possibly be able to re-book it cheaper or go somewhere else last minute if everything turns out ok.
As far as i'm aware we all have insurance in place but with it being a cruise do you think the risks are a lot higher?
What would you do? What would you advise?

mugmonster

I read the email today and have booked AA Silver insurance. Just reading the policy wording and I note it says the following is excluded from cancellation and curtailment:-

"Circumstances known to you before you purchased your policy or at the time of booking any trip which could reasonably have been expected to lead to cancellation or cutting short of the trip."

Well I dont have Covid-19 as I type, the countries I am travelling to do not have advisories against them.   There is an outside risk I suppose that I may need to cancel or curtail my travel as a result of Covid-19, I might also get hit by a bus, or any other multitude of things. My trip may also, hopefully, go ahead. 

I trusted the advice provided on the email that they would cover Covid-19, but it wasnt (to be fair) explicit about whether this was new policies as well as existing ones.   Anything to be concerned about here - as I am still in my 14 day cooling off period

Westin

@Darkangel - it would be worth reading the MSE article. The current situation is covered under the section, “ No FCO warning in place? Don't expect to get a refund if you cancel (but check)”.
@DG2000 - quite a dilemma. It of course comes down to personal choice and June is a while off.  For what it is worth IMO, given the circumstances described, I would probably take the view of cancelling with loss of deposit. 

MKB

If you are staying overseas at a hotel, having booked directly with the property, and you find yourself quarantined there due to an outbreak in the hotel, do you have to pay for the additional accommodation and food?
I ask because I am due to travel to a high-end hotel in the Maldives in three weeks' time for five nights.  The hotel costs around £2000 per night, but I am paying nothing as I am using points rather than cash.  I simply could not afford to be quarantined there if I have to pay to stay any extra nights.  I want to go, but I don't want to be liable for huge sums of money if I am involuntarily detained.

lalasimmo

Would annual European travel insurance cover hotels and train fees if the London marathon was to be postponed? 

Westin

@lalasimmo Very doubtful, but check your insurance policy. Subject covered in the MSE guide (link first page) under “Almost all insurers said you WON'T be covered for the cost of travel if an event ticket's cancelled. ”.  Similar happened with the Tokyo marathon being cancelled and some holding flight and hotel reservations which had not been booked as a package.  You may find should the marathon be cancelled that the rail operators and hotels might be more flexible on refund policies. 

Westin

@MKB. I don’t think anyone can tell you for sure at the moment. The situation ever changing. If you booked a package holiday, from what we have seen so far, the tour operator/hotel has accepted the costs.  If booked separately, it all depends and the situation is fluid.  Much will also depend on the containment strategy of the Maldivian Government at the time should the worse happen. 

Daniel1111

Israel has moved to ban travel for residents/visitors from Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Austria. Other countries are sure to follow given the rapidly growing cases in places like the UK and Sweden.

Unfortunately, and not very lucky for me, I also have at trip to Israel planned in the near future. But no FCO advice to allow for a cancellation. Argh.