Swine Flu: Travel – Yes — or No?
Posted in Travel, Travel Planning | By Shelley Gillespie | Tags: Health concerns, Travel, Travel Planning
There always seems to be a reason to worry about traveling. If we listened to everything we heard, it would mean that we never leave our homes. That’s claustrophobic!
So, for the intrepid traveler, here are some considerations:Are you in good health?
If you are, then your immunity should help you. You might consider bolstering your vitamins, especially the whole alphabet group that you read about that helps immunity.
Were you planning to travel where there is an outbreak of something, a tsunami, an earthquake, a war, etc.?
Well, the simple answer is – go somewhere else. Or travel nearer to home. A vacation can be staying at a great hotel near you – just disconnect from your regular life and give yourself a break.
Can you postpone your trip a bit?
If you can, that seems like an obvious approach to having your travels and enjoying them with less concern.
Have you studied the various publications that deal with the issue, spoken with an expert or taken precautions?
We may not all have confidantes at the CDC who can cue us where safe locations are, but we can talk to knowledgeable people and make informed decisions. Years ago when I was living in Germany and planning to travel to several locations that might have an outbreak of a particular disease, I got inoculated.
Are you a germophobe?
If you, like my generation growing up, heard that we’d wind up eating a pound of dirt before we die and you panicked at the thought, only go to locations where you can be sure of cleanliness. If smoking makes you sick, make sure you stay somewhere that has no smoking and avoid restaurants in cities that don’t provide non-smoking areas or no smoking altogether.
Be prepared to bring medications and over the counter items you may need.
Language barriers may make it hard to be sure you can receive what you need. Again, while living in Germany, the oddest thing happened to me. I had a massive sinus drainage that flowed – not just dripped. Panicking, I headed to a local doctor. That was when the language barrier got in our way. Translating what he said, it seemed that he was saying, “my brain was draining.”
Try that on for size! A pretty scary proposition. I calmed down enough to figure out what was wrong, then I laughed. The problem never happened again. I think the doctor’s look was priceless when I reacted to his diagnosis. He looked petrified!
If you must, make other arrangements.
Try going somewhere unpopulated. Camping, anyone? Take precautions and visit a store, like REI, where you can get necessary items for disinfecting water. (Not recommended if you hate sleeping in a tent.) A cabin, anyone?
Also, check with the airline if your reservation can be changed, since many of the airlines are waiving fees for changing because of this situation.
Don’t let things panic you!
Life’s too short and the globe, while shrinking all the time, still allows for places away from the hustle and bustle.
The above is just my take on travel. I have no legal expertise and I will not be held liable for these suggestions. They make sense to me. Make your own decision.
If you are concerned, buy trip cancellation insurance when you book your trip.
And, make sure the insurance covers outbreaks and health conditions (others and yours).
Example: I bought trip insurance when preparing for a trip to Bermuda. I was VERY pregnant. After one day, I was slapped in the hospital and never got to enjoy the rest of my vacation. I tried to collect on the cancellation insurance. After a lot of correspondence, I could not get the company to honor the insurance. Nowadays, I would go to the Attorney General’s office and get their help. Then, I was too busy caring for a new baby to immerse myself in the fight.
Tags: Health concerns, Travel, Travel Planning