A World Travel Expert answers some pressing questions people have with traveling to places like Europe after the continued news of the Coronavirus outbreak.
While certain places like Italy, Iran, and China have been deemed unsafe to travel to for non-essential travelers, do you think that’s premature since specific regions seem to be affected and not the entire country?
Tammy Levent – Yes, I do think it is a bit premature. The Coronavirus outbreak in Italy is concentrated in the Lombardy and Veneto regions which contain the cities of Milan and Venice. Even though this is in the north, I have people wanting to cancel their trips to central and southern Italy. As an agent, traveler health and safety, is, of course, my number one concern….but that is like saying you want to cancel your trip to New York because there was an outbreak in Virginia. The biggest problem with premature canceling is that you are less likely to get a refund.
For those set to travel in March to Europe, namely areas close to Italy like (Geneva) Switzerland, (Paris) France, Brussels and The Netherlands (Amsterdam), should those trips be put on hold immediately or should people just be a little more careful and not jump the gun and cancel their trips?
Tammy Levent – In my opinion, they have to just be careful, Scrub your hands with soap and water, don’t touch your mouth, take sanitizing wipes and use them! Basic health precautions like this go a long way. In fact, handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.
What should people do with trying to get their money fully refunded even if their lodging or transportation was deemed non-refundable?
Tammy Levent – I am actually in that situation right now. One of my clients has a non-refundable hotel room and they are supposed to be leaving in two weeks. It’s too close and the hotel doesn’t feel that it’s necessary to give a full refund. This is exactly why I recommend buying “cancel-for-any-reason” travel insurance along with medical travel insurance when booking the trip. If you haven’t purchased travel protection already, this won’t help you now. So if you are in this situation, I recommend postponing your trip to a later date, instead of canceling altogether. In most cases, it is much cheaper to reschedule than to cancel.
Does the threat of life give credence to making the necessary reimbursement happen?
Tammy Levent – Absolutely, but the CDC or WHO has to deem the area a no-travel zone. If it is an official no-travel zone, the airlines and hotels are forced to cancel and refund your trip.
Is there somewhere that people could visit online showing of closed attractions, places to visit, etc?
Tammy Levent – Sites like https://www.viator.com/ update regularly and may provide some insight.
Beyond what’s been asked, what do you believe is important for people to know upon planning their vacation?
Tammy Levent – Even in the DIY digital age of Airbnb and TripAdvisor, it’s best to consult with a travel professional. Most people wrongly assume it costs more to use an agent but to the contrary, agents receive their pay from airlines and hotels, not from the consumer. This way you have an advocate on your side that will fight for what you deserve (not to mention get you the cheapest deals.) However, if you do go it alone, always check cancellation policies before booking a trip and most importantly, get travel insurance! I know no one wants to spend money unnecessarily…but insurance truly does safeguard you. When you need it, you’ll be glad it’s there.
ABOUT TAMMY LEVENT
National TV Travel correspondent, Tammy Levent is the CEO of Elite Travel, an award-winning national travel agency named the fastest-growing and most trusted in the nation and she is also the founder of TASK™, a business that helps struggling travel agencies successfully adapt to this new age of travel.
For more information visit: https://elitetravelgroup.net
