My girlfriend and I have been planning a trip to Germany and Austria for quite awhile now. She has never been out of the USA so has been quite excited about it. We bought our plane tickets and I am in the process of confirming our hotel reservations.

Her 23 year old daughter has been quite ill and has been in and out of the hospital for the past 5 weeks. They thought she had appendicitis but after the surgery she was not getting better so they went in again thinking she had an infection. Long story short after 24 days in the hospital (she is still there) they are trying to figure out what is wrong with her.

My girlfriend has pretty much used up all her vacation time for the year. She has insurance deductibles and other costs to pay that have broken her budget.

She thinks she has to cancel our trip. Thank goodness she bought trip insurance.

I think I still want to go. I don't know when she will be able to handle it financially for awhile and after reading my trip insurance I don't think I can get a refund because it is not my "family member" who is ill.

I guess I will try to cut back on my expenses by finding less expensive places to stay and forget renting a car and go by train instead (no navigator). I have no problem going by myself as I have travelled alone before. It is that I haven't saved enough money to pay entirely for the hotels we selected. I probably won't eat out as much as if I had a companion so should be able to save a bit there also.

The happiest ending to this sob story would be for her daugher to get well and go home from the hospital soon. Then we can decide how to proceed.

Oh Babs, I'm so sorry. Try emailing the places and explain the situation and see what they will offer.

Good Luck and hope her daughter gets well soon.

A bright bit of news, it's often much cheaper to get a room for one than a room for two, unlike in the US. You may find out that the trip really doesn't cost you much more than it would have had your friend gone along. And you will discover the delights of solo travel. If you tell us your itinerary we may be able to help cut your costs.

Thanks cigalechanta and Catbert. Flying into Frankfurt, train to Bacharach - 2 nites
Cologne - 1 nite
Aachen - 1 nite
Rothenburg - 2 nites
Nurnburg - 1 nite
Fussen - 1 nite
Obermmergau - 1 nite
Garmisch-Partenkirchen - 1 nite
Munich - 3 nites
Salzburg -2 nites
Hallstatt - 1 nite
Vienna - 2 nites

Visiting friends in Aachen, but plan on having a room.

Hit the button too soon. We had planned on renting a car upon arrival in Rothenburg and driving around Bavaria which is why a different hotel each nite instead of backtracking but that can be changed. We were going to take trains the rest of the time.

I am sure that your girlfriend is worried sick about her daughter and worried about how this affects her trip with you. Sending healthy vibes to that poor girl.

You may want to re-check that travel policy - many of them cover cancellation due to the illness of a traveling companion, and do not limit it to biologic family.

So sorry to hear about friend's daughter. Hope she gets well soon. Good luck with your trip planning whatever you decide.