Should I cancel my trip to Italy over coronavirus fears?
Simon Calder answers questions on the outbreak and Flybe’s collapse
Q I am due to travel to Orvieto in central Italy via Perugia tomorrow. I haven’t heard any absolute “do not travel to Italy” advice from the government except for the lockdown areas. Is that still the current situation?
Kaela D
A Flights are still continuing (albeit at a reduced level) from many UK airports to Italy, and the government has stopped well short of advising against travel to the European country worst affected by the coronavirus crisis.
The Foreign Office warns against travelling to the 11 small towns in northern Italy that have been sealed off in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19. So the official line is that there is no reason for you to call off your trip. This is in marked contrast with the US State Department advice to American visitors, which urges them to “reconsider” travel to Italy – and warns that any passenger on US-bound flights whose temperature is higher than 37.5C will not be allowed to board.
No doubt you will practice scrupulous personal hygiene while you are away, which will minimise the risk that you might contract the virus. But note that Public Health England insists that anyone returning from Italy who develops a cough, a high temperature or shortness of breath within two weeks – even if those symptoms are mild – should self-isolate: “Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people.”
You will be aware, of course, that the Italian government is taking some extraordinary measures to limit the spread of Covid-19. Travel restrictions at very short notice cannot be ruled out. And bear in mind that other countries are imposing draconian measures against travellers who have recently visited Italy; Turkey will refuse admission to anyone who has been to the country in the previous two weeks. These are strange times, but in your position I would certainly go.
Q I am meant to be flying on easyJet to Naples on Wednesday 11 March and then travelling on to Rome on Friday (originally for the rugby international which has now been postponed) before flying back from Naples on Monday. The hotels are booked separately through Hotels.com and Secret Escapes.
First, is it sensible to go? And second, if not, then what are the options regards refunds?
Matthew R
A The extraordinary lockdown of one-quarter of Italy’s population has traumatised travel to a country that would normally be hosting millions of tourists – some of them skiing in the Alps, others visiting great cities such as Venice and Milan.
Life elsewhere in Italy, though, continues. And while it has far more cases of the coronavirus than any other European nation, the south of the country, where you will be heading, continues to be warm and welcoming.
You must reach your own decision about whether it is sensible to go, but in your position I certainly would – unless I had imminent plans to visit one of the growing list of countries, from Turkey to India, that are banning travellers who have visited Italy recently.
The Covid-19 crisis has also traumatised the airline business. They are trying to strike a balance between shoring up their finances and being fair to passengers. While British Airways is offering some flexibility, easyJet is still saying: “Our flights continue to operate and standard terms and conditions on tickets continue to apply.”
In this fast-moving situation, policies can change swiftly, but I don’t anticipate the option of a flight refund in the next couple of days.
Regarding the hotels: all I can note is that because you have chosen to involve intermediaries, getting any kind of flexibility may prove extra challenging. I daresay that one of several long-term changes to travel habits when this ghastly business is under control is that independent travellers like you may appreciate the merits of dealing direct with a hotel – making negotiations easier in unexpected circumstances, as well as keeping the transaction value between you and the hotelier rather than paying upwards of 15 per cent to a middle man.
Given that you have presumably spent at least £500 per person, you would probably be throwing that money away if you abandon the holiday.
If you decide to continue, I wish you well with your trip, and would be glad to hear how it goes.
Q We had booked a direct flight from Birmingham to Avignon on 4 July, returning a week later with Flybe. It was a direct flight. This is no longer an option because the airline has collapsed.
Do you think there may be the prospect of another airline picking up this Birmingham to Avignon route? Our accommodation is already booked in St Remy de Provence, at a beautiful hotel, and we would be very upset to have to cancel. So we wondered if you could think of an alternative for us?
We would prefer either Birmingham or East Midlands airports, as we live near Nuneaton, and would prefer a direct flight, for the sake of convenience.
John C
A Birmingham to Avignon was just one of many weird and wonderful summer routes that Flybe planned before its sad demise. And I am afraid that I estimate the odds of anyone picking up the route to be about 1,000 to one. With so much competition to the south of France, serving a small Provencal airport from Birmingham looks to me like a certain way to lose money.
Avignon is one of very few places that has had services from provincial UK cities but not from London, and Flybe was the only airline that was interested in it.
With no obvious alternatives from Birmingham or East Midlands to Marseille, the obvious replacement airport in France is Nimes. It is served by Ryanair from Luton – 70 miles away down the M1. The air fares are frankly absurdly low for summer Saturdays: £30 outbound, £24 inbound on your travel dates. You might want to lock into those now.
The timing outbound is disagreeable: 6.35am. But looking on the bright side, the 9.30am arrival time effectively gives you a full first day in France.
For a terrestrial journey, consider the Eurostar direct service to Avignon from London St Pancras. Again, it’s an early start (7.19am), but it gets you to Avignon’s TGV station (some distance from the city) at 2.08pm.
The one-way fare is £114. Of course, being Eurostar, that includes a generous baggage allowance. All the train company says is: “You should be able carry and lift your bags safely.”
There is, unfortunately, no connection from Nuneaton that gets you to London Euston in time for the 10-minute walk across to St Pancras to catch this train. And whenever I have gone by rail to the south of France, I have always flown home to avoid the tiresome formalities at Lille heading north – where everyone must leave the train to go through security before reboarding.
Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments