Travel to Israel, Jordan and Egypt in April-may 2011
 

My wife and I have scheduled tour of Israel, Jordan and Egypt from Apr 19-May 04 with Globus Tour. I have purchased our plane tickets(2) with United. Neither Globus nor United Airlines have cancelled the tour and flight for the scheduled date. The tour starts in Israel and ends in Cairo. With the latest politcal developments not getting any better, ie, tension in Libya, should I proceed with our tour? Is it safe to go? I have purchased travel insurance, but will lose about $ 300 if i cancel at this point. I'd really like to visit these places as we are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary on 01 May. Need your input/advise.............thanks.............

I think it is necessary to sort out the facts. The airlines and the tour companies don't have to cancel the trip yet given that the trips are still in the future. From business point of view, they would rather hold off canceling until the last minutes hoping that you will cancel on your own will, so they don't have to refund you.

Is it safe? Really nobody knows. I highly doubt that sane operators would solicit business to locations when the State Department has a travel warnings out. In the end you have to decide which recommendations are relevant to you and which are self-motivated statements.

I had a tour of Egypt for March but was canceled by the tour operator.

Presuming that the trip insurance is cancel for any cause type, you might also want to think about the opportunity cost. Say you hold out longer, but the airline and the tour operator canceled the bookings and refund you the money. Is that the outcome you want or you would rather have canceled now but save your anniversary in May somewhere else by rebooking right now?

If it is not safe, Globus will cancel. We are traveling to Israel and Jordan with Tauck this May. They have cancelled their Egypt trips through March, but not the Israel amd Jordan trips. As of now all trips for April are a go.

www.travel.state.gov

monitor for travel alerts and follow directions.

Today students are demonstrating for return of tourists

at the pyramids so things seem to be quieting down.

Personally I would not cancel unless things flare back up

but I would have a back up plan that would be safe.

Globus has a great reputation an have always treated me right

So odds are great you will be fine.

Happy safe journey,

I would hold out for them to cancel. You might inquire as to how many people are booked on your departure (likely they will not be honest with you) but if bookings are very light they probably will not operate it in which case you will be in better position to get your money back. Is it safe? I would not go to a country that my government has a serious travel warning on...but that is a personal decision. As for trip cancellation insurance you might want to check your coverage...most have not covered for this "civil unrest" if you decide now to cancel. The timing is unfortunate but I think just doing nothing right now might be the best move.

One consideration is what would be your Plan B, and how soon would you need to switch to it to avoid high prices. I had planned to visit Tunisia at the beginning of March, but switched to a Plan B (London and Lisbon) at the end of January as airfares started going up. Luckily the only thing I had paid was tickets on Tunis Air and they are refunding minus 30 euros. For a while, it looked like things might have been fine - but maybe not, as there were new, violent, demonstrations in Tunis just yesterday. The situation in the whole area is just too fluid right now for anyone to predict conditions in April.

israel and jordan shouldnt be any problems...

i would highly recommend to keep a very close eye on the egypt part of the trip... since there actually isnt a propper governement in action, you should think of the consequences should something happen to you and nobody is actually there to help or feels responsable for you..
fortunately, the situation in egypt is not as grave as in other places... but dont expect a fully functioning society ready to take on its usual stream of tourists...

maybe you shouldnt cancel it too far in advance out of a short panik or uncertainty.. however, i would allways keep the option on hand to cut out the egypt part of the trip...

>>i would highly recommend to keep a very close eye on the egypt part of the trip... since there actually isnt a propper governement in action, you should think of the consequences should something happen to you and nobody is actually there to help or feels responsable for you..
fortunately, the situation in egypt is not as grave as in other places... but dont expect a fully functioning society ready to take on its usual stream of tourists...<<

travelzomg - got a couple of questions for you regarding this paragraph.

- >>since there actually isnt a propper governement in action, you should think of the consequences should something happen to you and nobody is actually there to help or feels responsable for you..<<
You are right, there is no "proper" government in place right now, but before the Revolution who did you think would be the ones to "feel responsible for you" should something happen?
Before, as in now, if something "happened" to you, you would go to your tour operator, a hospital, or to the American Embassy to get help. It is the same now.
There was no one to sue before and there is no one to sue now, unless you are working with an American based tour operator that you can sue... if that is your desire.
I don't understand what might "happen" that would have been different before the revolution. Can you offer an example?

>>... but dont expect a fully functioning society ready to take on its usual stream of tourists...<<

We dont have to worry about this now, as we don't have the "usual stream of tourists" in town. Egypt/Cairo can certainly handle what is here and many more when they decide to return.

if everything is so far working that Egypt can accompany tourists, then go ahead...! i didnt say its not possible,

its hard to tell, what is back working or not, how much society is back on its tracks, how far tourism is safe again...
but i do sincerly hope that it soon will, and that the two can take their trip, including egypt...

all i said was, and btw - i even encouraged them not to cancel the trip - that they should just keep an eye on the developements... thats all.. ^^

As far as things not open - I do understand that the Islamic Museum has not reopened yet. We survived with it under restoration for about 5+ years though, so I guess we can go on without it open now for a while.

The previous poster is on a roll - posting their advertising on various forums.

Right on Oreet! Where is our monitor? Let's get rid of these posts please! Especially at this time when alikhan seems to be capitolizing on the issues in Egypt.

I just returned from 17 days in Israel and Jordan. At this time, you should have absolutely no concerns about traveling to these two countries.

Thanks and much appreciation for all our postings/ideas/concerns. My tour was indeed cancelled last week by Globus. I have scheduled a tour with Gate1 14 days Jordan/Israel to start late April. Hopefully, this trip materialize as planned. I just want my wife to be happy four 30th anniversary.

For takemealong: do you know by chance how much is taxi from
Amman airport to hotels downtown like Ramada Hotel? Our flight arrives at 1:40 am. thanks.........

Fernando1130 - I think we are on the same tour - but we are not going to Petra first.
See you in Israel.