lia018

We are supposed to depart for Hong Kong from Korea in 5 days for a 6 day trip. The baby has a low grade fever right now of 100.6 F. Several of the babies in daycare just developed higher fevers, so I don't know she has the same thing. I'm trying to prepare various options. Hopefully she will get better, but she might get worse. Our adult flights were bought through orbitz and the infant ticket through the airline. The orbitz cancellation policy is that we can rebook for $200 fee each on top of the ticket price difference if we go in the future. The tickets we got were less than $200 each. We didn't purchase travel insurance, but from my quick research, it seems that travel insurance only works if the fees are totally nonrefundable, right? So, with the flights and the first night of hotel which is nonrefundable, we will be out $750 or so if we have to cancel. I'm guessing there is no point in getting travel insurance now or if it would even apply for our scenario. Also, we are concerned that if she has a fever, she might be denied entry into Hong Kong even if it's just a cold? Anyone know anything about this? Of course, if she is sick right before the departure date, we would bring her to the pediatrician to get his/her opinion on whether it's best to stay home.

qwovadis

www.insuremytrip.com

My experience mainly here with Amex Global Travel Shield

for a couple of bucks a day any costs related to cancellation

including rebooking fees were covered.

Always go with trip insurance has saved my bacon a lot

particularly since cold/flu season is heating up in Asia.

Happy Journey,

Cicerone

Lia, sorry to hear about the baby, hopefully she will be better soon. For trip insurance, you need to read policies carefully to see the conditions which would apply, as policies can vary.

From time to time since the SARS outbreak, Hong Kong has placed a temperature scanner at a point just before Immigration which scans all incoming travelers, and those with a fever would show up on the scan in a brighter colour and would be pulled out of the line. The person would then be examined by a doctor to determine if they pose a risk. The scanners are currently not in use, but of course could be re-instated at any time if there is a bird-flu or SARs type situation. I don’t think there is a risk at the current time of the authorities instituting the use of the scanners.

I have not filled out a landing card for Hong Kong in more than a decade (as I live in Hong Kong), but the landing card may contain a statement as to whether or not you or anyone you are travelling with has a fever. If the baby still has a fever at that time, it would be up to you to determine whether you want to provide this info to the authorities, and if you choose not to disclose it, whether you are comfortable signing an immigration form which contains a false statement. Again, at this present time, unless the baby is visibly ill, I think there is little risk of the authorities noticing anything.

For a list of all private hospitals in Hong Kong, see http://www.privatehospitals.org.hk/en/index.htm. My personal recco would be Adventist on Hong Kong Island, which I think is the best private hospital in Hong Kong. See http://www.hkah.org.hk/ . I go to a GP at the clinic there (Dr Monica Lee, call 3651 8808 for an appointment), but you may want a pediatrician, which they also have, see the website. You could also go the ER there and just see any doctor, as otherwise you may have to wait a few days to get an appointment with a doctor.

Kathie

You probably could not buy travel insurance now for this trip, as the baby is already sick (so it's a pre-existing condition). Hopefully, the baby will be better soon, but it is good to know that Hong Kong has excellent medical care available and to have a perosonal recommendation from Cicerone.