Coronavirus crisis: What should you do about your overseas holiday plans?

In the midst of a pandemic, it might seem trivial and in bad taste to stress over holiday plans. But amid global health concerns, travel restrictions and consumer rights queries, it is essential to be informed.

Coronavirus is now in six out of seven continents and many Northern Ireland travellers are asking: is it safe to travel abroad, not just currently, but at Easter and during the popular summer months.

The spread – and threat – of coronavirus has already had a devastating effect on the travel industry.

Cruise ships and hotels have been quarantined. Cities have been put on lock-down. Flights have been cancelled. Coronavirus was the nail in the coffin of Flybe - the first high-profile casualty in the travel sector.

Many have opted to cancel or curtail their holiday plans – sometimes at great personal cost. But many are seeing the positives. Crowd-free cities. Cheap holiday deals. A boost for NI staycations.

So should I stay or should I go? It’s the question that seems to be dominating travellers’ minds as the coronavirus sweeps the globe.

We asked News Letter readers for their thoughts.

Co Antrim man William Woods has booked to go to Malta on March 31 and has no intention of changing his plans.

The 60-year-old from Whiteabbey is travelling to the Mediterranean island with his wife Sheila.

‘‘We’ve spent £800 and I don’t want to waste that. It’s the first foreign holiday I’ve had in a year,’’ he said.

Mr Woods said he hasn’t any concerns about travelling.

‘‘It would be different if everybody was dropping there, like in Italy, but at the moment there’s 12 cases in Malta.’’

Mr Woods said he has another holiday booked for Valencia, Spain, in June and again in September. He’ll be travelling with family and staying in Airbnb accommodation.

‘‘I’ve got insurance and I’ve paid by credit card, so we’ll see. I think being in an Airbnb is going to be pretty good because we’ll not be in a hotel mixing with anybody else.’’

However, other readers expressed a more cautious approach, with one saying: ‘‘I’m seriously considering cancelling my cruise.’’

Another said: ‘‘We are meant to be going to Lanzarote at Easter but as we are older, we don’t know - we’ll have to wait and see.’’

‘‘We are going to New York on April 3. Hope we can still go,’’ said a concerned reader.

Others, like Mr Woods, said they had ‘no intention’ of cancelling.

‘‘We are for Turkey mid-April. We are going unless the government says not to. If we catch it (Covid-19), we’ll deal with it.’’

Another said: ‘‘Holiday booked and paid to Spain in July - if you’re going to get Coronavirus - you’re going to get it.’’

Some other readers are adopting a wait-and-see approach.

One said: ‘‘Really hope to go to Portugal in September but not willing to book anything just yet.’’

Another reader said: ‘‘Nothing booked but waiting for the discounts to appear. I’ll be heading to Croatia and Portugal and taking my chances.’’

Speaking about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on passenger travel rights, Richard Williams, head of Transport Policy at The Consumer Council, said: “If you’re concerned about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on your existing travel plans, then we advise that you check with your airline, tour operator, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers immediately.

“It is also important to check with your travel insurance provider as your travel insurance policy may cover non-refundable cancellation costs in specific circumstances.

“If your airline cancels your flight then be sure to check our ‘Plane Facts’ guide for more information on your passenger rights as you may be entitled to compensation. If you choose not to travel then your rights are different and you should check our website for further information.”

Richard added: “We also have a dedicated website with further help and information for Northern Ireland travellers whose travel plans may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The website can be accessed by visiting www.consumercouncil.org.uk/coronavirus.”

The Foreign And Commonwealth Office (travelaware.campaign.gov.uk) is also a great source of guidance for safe travel, but if you are planning a holiday in the coming weeks - or months, here’s some further advice to consider.

Don’t assume cancellation is the only option

Rather than cancelling a trip altogether, and risk losing money, travellers are being encouraged to postpone their plans temporarily. Etihad, for example, has temporarily removed all date change fees for flights and holidays booked between March 8 and April 7, 2020.

Tour operator Kuoni have also fast-tracked the launch of their Kuoni Flex initiative, which offers customers the flexibility to reschedule their holiday to alternative travel dates without charge up until seven days before departure. This applies to several destinations - including Mauritius, the Maldives, Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean, Mexico and select India group departures - and is available for a limited booking period until March 16, on holidays departing from now until the February 15, 2021.

Appreciating this is a fast-moving situation, Royal Caribbean International has also announced a ‘Cruise With Confidence’ policy, permitting changes in travel plans up to 48 hours before sailing. Applicable to both new and existing bookings with Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea, the policy (which applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020), allows guests to re-book with full credit on alternative cruises with the company in 2020 and 2021.

Monitor FCO advice to ensure your insurance policy is valid

In terms of no-go zones, keep checking the FCO website for details. Currently, Iran, Hubei province in China and Italy have been ruled out for all but essential travel.

If you booked a holiday before the FCO advice was issued, then travel insurance will cover you for unused and non-refundable travel and accommodation costs in that destination. But in the first instance, you should always approach the airline, your tour operator or your travel company for a possible refund, or to see if they will amend your itinerary, advises Chris Rolland, CEO of specialist medical travel insurance provider AllClear Travel (allcleartravel.co.uk).

You will also be covered for emergency medical expenses if you contract coronavirus in a country where there was no FCO advisory at the time of departure.

Check the fine print thoroughly

‘‘Travel insurance policies will cover emergency medical expenses and repatriation costs if treatment is needed as a result of the coronavirus,” says Rebecca Kingsley, brand manager of consumer awareness initiative, Travel Insurance Explained (travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk).

“Policies may also be extended should you be unable to return on your scheduled date, due to quarantine restrictions.”

But she advises checking to find out exactly what is covered. Some policies, for example, will cover additional accommodation and food costs incurred if you are quarantined while away. She also warns that delays are often only covered on outbound (and not return) journeys, so check this too.

Even staycations require insurance cover

Right now, a holiday at home might seem like the safer option, but don’t neglect insurance cover.

“Although we have free medical care in the UK, travel insurance will cover you if you need to cancel your holiday or return home early and cannot claim back the cost from elsewhere,” says Kingsley. “In addition, some travel insurance policies will offer to cover the cost of pre-paid, non-refundable excursions and car hire, if you are unable to make your trip.”

It’s worth noting, however, that some policies will only cover UK holidays if they are more than a minimum number of nights in duration.