You’ve planned this great holiday through Egypt and Tunisia. Then the news headlines come “Riots in the Streets of Cairo”. What on earth do you do? Do you go on your planned trip? So you change your plan and you organise a cruise through Scandanavia starting in Oslo. Your bags are packed and then you read the headlines “New Volcano in Iceland blows its top!”. What on earth do you do?
It sounds like this traveller is having a dose of the bad luck blues, doesn’t it. Well actually it’s all of us, you and me. It’s without doubt that we have all been in a similar situation more than once in our travelling life.
In my travel planning business over the last twenty years I’ve experienced everything; two Iraq wars, nationwide strikes through France (often!!), Bird Flu, the attacks of 9/11, volcanoes, recessions and regular regional country unrest.
There's always something that may disrupt our travel plans? What do you do?
On 1 June this year I have had a trip planned escorting a tour group through Morocco and the South of France. Four weeks ago however I advised my group that I had cancelled my group travelling through Morocco, and instead we were going to travel to Portugal. My travel members were beginning to show anxiety to the Arab unrest that was sweeping the north of Africa. I advised them that it could have been possible to proceed but that we would need an escape plan in place in case things turned nasty in that country. John, one of my travellers said “but when I go on holiday I don’t want to worry about anything – I never want to be looking behind me to see if any trouble is brewing”.
So instead we are now going to Portugal, Provence and Paris, and we are going to have a ball!
Anyway, days after making the decision not to travel to Morocco, there were headlines announcing the bombing in the central square in Marrakech, where ten tourists were killed. So we travel to other destinations with a good feeling in our travel legs!!
But now that we are just about to begin our tour of Portugal, where I will arrive in a few days, we get news of another volcano – if it’s not one thing it is another!!
What is the situation when you have to cancel your travel plans. Travel insurance will certainly cover you for travel plans disrupted by health and other issues, but when it comes to unrest in a country, the situation is very complicated. Most travel insurance companies will only reimburse you in “extreme” situations – even if your country offers a travel advisory not to travel to a country this is not enough to immediately claim for a travel insurance reimbursement.
So on Wednesday I meet my group in Lisbon, where we will begin our three week tour. So providing no more international disasters take place in the next few days, think of me over the weekend sitting in a plane for several days as I happily make my way to Portugal about to being our own “journey of discovery”. I look forward to updating you on my progress!
I’ll go to Morocco another time!
Good luck John! The ash cloud seems to be clearing quickly enough. I think you’ll be alright in southern Europe anyway. Have a great trip.
Jools, when the ash cloud arrived I was thinking the worst, but all seems good today!!! Phew!
Enjoy Portugal and the rest of your trip! The Algarve is one of my favorite areas. I hope to return.
Actually Lisa despite tha last minute change to travel to Portugal I’m so excited, but this time we won’t make it to the Algarve!
Great attitude John. I think you made a smart decision. I can’t imagine how stressful it would be to lead a group in an emergency escape situation. Why take chances when there are so many other wonderful and safer places a the moment. I can see how wondering about an escape plan wouldn’t seem like much of a vacation.
I agree, you’ll see Morocco another time. I would have changed my plans, too. It’s true, it’s not much of a holiday when you worry incessantly about your environment.
Enjoy your trip!
John, I am biased on this one but good call. I haven’t been to Morocco but Lisbon is one of my favorite cities! So that would very much be a trip I look forward to!
Fortunately for me, I’ve never had to cancel a trip. I guess this is why some people invest in travel insurance!
Civil AND geologic unrest. You can’t win!
I think the decision is affected by how many people are coming and what everyone is expecting to get out of the trip. Sounds like you made the right decision. Good luck!
It’s a bummer that most travel insurance won’t cover expenses due to civil unrest. I guess it makes sense, but that really puts travelers in a lurch! It would be a hard decision to make whether or not you should take the risk or pay big bucks to change an already set itinerary.
Glad it all worked out for you, though!
To John and Fellow Travellers.
Very cold in Auckland tonight (Wednesday – June is here)
Wish we would be with you, Portugal is on our Bucket
List, with part of Spain. Best of luck for the next 3 weeks,
enjoy the beauty of Provence, and Van Gogh and Paris.
Safe holiday, and return to New Zealand.
Rose & Vic Fans of the French Way Travel.
[…] This is the scene that was set for me as I chose at the last minute to lead an escorted tour through Portugal. (Read about why I chose Portugal here). […]